There is a simple Christmas carol called, I Wonder as I Wander (John Jacob Niles, 1933). Do you know it? With its haunting melody and simple words, it reflects the awe of the coming of Jesus as Immanuel, God with us. I wonder as I wander out under the sky How Jesus the Saviour did come for to die For poor orn'ry people like you and like I; I wonder as I wander out under [...]
Pictured: A middle-eastern sheepfold. Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth… When we think of Bethlehem, we think of the manger. We think of Mary and Joseph traveling from their home in Nazareth while Mary was heavy with child. We think of their arrival in Bethlehem to find no room for them because of the crowds arriving for the [...]
Advent is the name we traditionally give to the weeks preceding Christmas. In Latin, advent means “coming.” During Advent, we prepare to celebrate the coming of Jesus as a sweet, helpless infant sent to be our Savior. In this series, I invite you to join with me in contemplating the Christmas story from these perspectives: Prophets, Bethlehem, Shepherds, Angels, Christ. First, the Prophets. To fully grasp the significance of prophecy as it describes the coming [...]
Who is like the Lord, Our God? He spoke, and all of Creation came into being from nothing. He spoke, and the wind and the waves obeyed. He spoke, and the sick were healed, the dead were raised, the demons were cast out. He is the Lord, our God, who says, Isa. 46:8 “Remember this, and be assured; Recall it to mind, you transgressors. 9 “Remember the former things long past, For I am God, [...]
How big is infinite? Can you imagine it? Try it. Start with something large. Maybe an elephant. Now imagine something larger… like a mountain. Can you picture something greater in your mind? The earth perhaps? You have heard how big it is and you have seen pictures of it, but can you really wrap your mind around how extensive it actually is? What about the sun? Or the entire solar system? You have seen drawings [...]
The few glimpses we have into the glory of our God are beyond our ability to even comprehend. Here are a few for you to read about and contemplate: God revealing Himself to Moses and the people of Israel from the heights of Mount Sinai. (Exodus 19:1-20:21) God revealing Himself to the prophet Ezekiel, seated on His glorious throne and surrounded by the enigmatic and glorious cherubim and seraphim. (Ezekiel 1-2) God revealing Himself to [...]
Have you ever noticed that one of the first words toddlers often learn is, “Mine!” Sharing is something children must be taught, but a sense of ownership comes naturally. Culturally, there may be differing concepts regarding whether certain things are owned individually or corporately, or in regards to whether they can be owned at all. For example, when Europeans came to America, they had very different concepts of land ownership than Native Americans had. Europeans [...]
There is sometimes confusion over what the Bible says about pride. On the one hand we are told, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (Jam 4:6, 1Pet 5:5) Then on the other hand, we see the Apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians, saying he wants to give them an occasion to be proud of him. (2Cor 5:12, see also 2Cor 1:12-14, Phil 1:26) As is often the case, the lack of [...]
Do you long for spiritual breakthrough? Do you long to see God work in miraculous ways in your life? Do you hear others talk about the power of God at work in their lives, but you are embarrassed to admit that you have not experienced it? Do you wonder why some Christians seem to experience something more in their faith? I have come to understand that it is in the nature of God to work [...]
Have you been with Jesus? In the Book of Acts we are told that when the leaders and elders of the Jews heard unschooled, ordinary Peter speak, they were amazed and they recognized that he had been with Jesus. Was it because Peter had learned to carefully repeat the words of Jesus? No, it was because Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. The very presence of God was with Him. (Acts 4:5-13) The Apostle [...]
