“Keep Us Believing” by Danny Evans Let us move toward The Lord as a reward this season as we choose to address our brothers by blessing our brothers. This time we dare to prepare for the birth of Maker of the earth. It’s a season we make the choice to hear His still, small voice. … More “Keep Us Believing” by Danny Evans
“With Care” by Danny Evans This Christmas season, let us not commit holiday treason by excluding anyone from celebrating the real reason. It doesn’t matter how long someone has known God; give everyone the nod. Some people will enter under a steeple for the first time this December, so give them Him to remember. While … More “With Care” by Danny Evans
“Glee” by Danny Evans This time comes but once a year, but let me make it clear that everyday we should hold the real meaning dear. This is the time of Jesus’ birth, who would give us worth here on this earth. It’s okay to give gifts, but let us not drift from what it … More Glee by Danny Evans
A while back I picked up and read a couple lesser-known Christmas reflections written by C.S. Lewis compiled in the book God In The Dock. I found his little rant called “What Christmas Means to Me,” written back in the 1950s(!), quite spot-on accurate as I nursed a stomach flu on the couch all day … More “What Christmas Means To Me” (C.S. Lewis)
I miss the iMonk, Michael Spencer, whose cancer diagnosis came around Christmas in 2009. He now celebrates Christmas with the saints above and One who came down to earth to save us that first scandalous Christmas two thousand years ago. Here’s an excerpt from a classic Advent sermon by the iMonk called “The Unlikely Outreach … More iMonk: The Scandal of Christmas
“Come to me all you who labor and are heavy-laden and I will give you rest.” -JESUS Each of the last four days there have been news accounts of a few more funerals held for the killed children from Newtown, CT. It is hard to watch those stories as the short lives of 6 year … More Advent 2012 – Come to Me (by David Brown)
Here’s a Christmas poem I wrote back in 2003. -JB WHEN HOLINESS CAME DOWN Silent night, Holy night All is calm, all is bright But was it really? There must have been some serious noise in the Heavenlies as demons shrieked and Satan yelled seeing imminent his utter defeat. Holy perhaps was the night before … More When Holiness Came Down
Here are some of the Old Testament prophecies that foretold Jesus’ birth compiled by Mark Driscoll: 4000 BC: Adam and Eve receive the prophecy that the Messiah (Jesus) would be born of a woman. Promise: Genesis 3:15 – “‘I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise … More Christmas Foretold by the Prophets
I absolutely LOVE turning our cute little “house on the hill” into a warm, cozy winter abode — our own little winter wonderland. Keri put all of my fire-making attempts to shame this past week with the best fire we’ve ever had in our home. It burned and crackled for hours without needing to tend … More I’ll Be Home For Christmas
One last Christmas quote from Bonhoeffer — a bit late. (Though we’d do well to celebrate the scandal of the incarnation all year long.) “For the great and powerful of this world, there are only two places in which their courage fails them, of which they are afraid deep down in their souls, from which … More QUOTABLES: God Is In The Manger
Some fun facts to ponder from Allan Bevere: -In 1836, Alabama became the first state in the USA to declare Christmas a legal holiday. In 1907, Oklahoma became the last USA state to declare Christmas a legal holiday. -Oliver Cromwell, in England banned Christmas Carols between 1649 and 1660. Cromwell thought that Christmas should be … More Christmas Fun Facts
Jeff Dunn has a nice piece at iMonk today on the scandal of those shepherds being in our nativity displays. He begins: If I were to be in a Christmas play, I would want to play a shepherd. I mean, they get to wear cool robes and carry a stick. I like carrying sticks. I … More “Losers Who Win” (Dunn)
The commercialized Christmas of our culture has become a celebration of excess. A plump santa full of cookies, Christmas trees full of gifts, little elves full of cheer, and credit cards full of charges. But as we reflect upon the true meaning of Christmas, survey the long unfolding story preparing the way for the Christ, … More Christmas Manna
Jeremy L. Berg 