Happy Birthday Jesus and Merry Christmas Too Segregating the Two Sides of Christmas Is Christmas an important holiday to you? I suspect you’ll say, “yes.” And if you follow Jesus, you may say Christmas is the most important holiday because it...
Like other holidays with historical religious meaning, Easter has been significantly skewed by both custom and commercialization. Over time, the risen savior has been superseded by bunnies and eggs (reportedly symbols of fertility)...
My wife and I aren’t romantic types. I’m not sure if I’m just bad at the planning and execution or if it’s not all that important to her. Nevertheless, I do put forth a futile effort from time to time. Years ago, it all started a...
Love God More (Visiting Church #39) Today we attend our final church service of the year. With it falling between Christmas and New Year’s Day, I expect a light turnout. We are greeted by friendly faces and hearty handshakes. The sanctuary seats...
When my daughter was in college, there were all manner of dorm rules and restrictions. Some made sense (such as “no candles or open flames”), while others were quizzically arbitrary (as in “all Christmas decorations must be down before you check...
Traditionally, the new year is a time when many people resolve to make changes in their life. Making new year’s resolutions, however, is a practice that I tend to avoid. It seems arbitrary and contrived to target January first. After all, if a...
It is hard for me to imagine, but 2019, which seems like it just started, has come to an end. The practice of staying up late to greet the New Year has always seemed like a strange practice to me. However, as a teen, any excuse to...
Be Thankful (Visiting Church #33) We only recently learned of today’s congregation, discovering them in a printed directory of churches. Their rural location seems further removed from us than our 8.8 mile drive. Their scripture for today is...
Happy Thanksgiving! I’m thankful for family, friends, and faith. I’m thankful for food, clothing, and shelter. Everything else is a bonus—and I’m thankful for that too! May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
What is Pentecost and Why is it Important? Christmas and Easter focus on Jesus, preparing for Pentecost to complete his work and reveal the Holy Spirit Though it’s been co-opted by secular society, Christmas remains as the most popular Christian...
