Category: Holidays
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We 3 Kings
You probably know the song, We Three Kings of Orient Are: We three kings of orient are, Bearing gifts we traverse afar Field and fountain, Moor and mountain, Following yonder star. The song is based upon the account of the Magi, in Matthew 2. And though it may be a little less than an accurate…
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The Cry of a Tiny Baby
A lyrical contemporary retelling of the Christmas story. Music by Bruce Cockburn.
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The Nativity
by C.S. Lewis Among the oxen (like an ox I’m slow) I see a glory in the stable grow Which, with the ox’s dullness might at length Give me an ox’s strength. Among the asses (stubborn I as they) I see my Saviour where I looked for hay; So may my beastlike folly learn at…
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The Christmas Distraction
Jared Wilson counsels: There is a great danger this Christmas season of missing the point. And I’m not referring simply to idolatrous consumption and materialism. I’m talking about Christmas religiosity. It is very easy around this time to set up our Nativity scenes, host our Christmas pageants and cantatas, read the Christmas story with our…
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This is Christmas
Check out this simple, original Christmas song by my old, dear friend, Ginny Owens. You can also check out Ginny’s Christmas Album, Bring Us Peace, on I-tunes.
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The Santa Question
Years ago, as a newly minted minister in my first year out of seminary, I made an off-the-cuff comment in one of my Christmas season messages. I don’t recall exactly what I said, but it was something to the effect of: “I don’t really care what you do with Santa”. My intent was to demonstrate…
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Christmas Gospel: Glory Triumphs Over Tragedy
What happens when the glory of God’s grace collides with the tragedy of man’s sin and consequential brokenness? Paul Tripp’s answer: “Christmas!” God’s glory triumphs over the tragedy of our brokenness.
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Star of Bethlehem
As a follow up to my post Saturday concerning the debate about the date of Jesus’ birth, (which was an excerpt from the message I delivered Sunday,) a friend from church sent me this video to check out. It is filled with fascinating, coroborating information.
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Date of the Nativity of the Christ
Much debate arises, in some circles, during this time of the year concerning the actual birth date of Christ. While the traditional date for most of the world is observed on December 25, many are adament that this is erroenous, perhaps even heretical. Many of the most passionate insist that Jesus’ birth must have been…
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Good News From the Front in the War on Christmas
With all the War on Christmas rhetoric that has seemingly spewed these past few years, LifeWay Research has some good news from the front lines. While I am not certain any full fledged war has actually existed, it seems there have certainly been a variety of insurgences erupting. Such things have probably almost always existed…
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Advent Conspiracy
Advent Conspiracy is designed to remind us of what really matters during this Christmas season. While there is nothing inherently wrong with our traditions of gift giving and celebration, consumeristic forces are constantly at work, eroding our connection with the reason we celebrate. What is helpful to remember is that Christ Jesus came into the…
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A Christmas Reflection: Allowing God to Work in Us
Consider Mary’s response to the angel. The angel has come to Mary and says: “Mary, you are going to give birth to the long-promised Messiah.” This was a unique promise, and unrepeatable. There is something totally unique here: the birth of the eternal second Person of the Trinity into this world. What was her response?…
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Thoughts on Easter Giveaways
I was stunned the first time I read about the plan of a church in the area where we then lived to give away prizes at an Easter gathering. And they were not just going to give stuff away, they were planning to create a frenzy. A helicopter was leased, piloted by some guy in…
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When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
I could never myself believe in God, if it were not for the cross. The only God I believe in is the one Nietzsche ridiculed as “God on the Cross.” In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it? I have entered many Buddhist temples and stood…
