Christmas: Prepare for a Party
As we prepare for Christmas, we prepare for a party, to celebrate. For many years, I’ve thought about Christmas as a time to “prepare room” for Jesus. I’ve usually thought…
What Repentance Has to Do With Christmas
It was only this year that I learned that the four weeks of Advent (the season in the church calendar that leads up to Christmas) have different themes. They come…
The Healing Work of Salvation
How is salvation "healing work"? Early on in Matthew’s Gospel, he writes that the angel told Joseph to name Mary’s son Jesus because he would “save his people from their…
Rest Beside This Weary Road
When the kids were little, we got in the habit of singing “Christmas church songs” before bed. We no longer sing these songs all year round, but in December, we…
Advent, Hope, and Canceled Parties
This year the calendar walks us through a season of Advent, hope, and canceled parties. The weird thing about being a practicing Christian in America in December is that the…
Walk With Me Through Advent
The Christmas decorations took over our local CVS months ago, and our kids made their annual transition from constant conversation about Halloween costumes to constant conversation about Christmas gift lists…
Coming Home to Love
In this season, can we say we are coming home to love? One of the commands in the New Testament is to “abide” in God’s love. Not to be good.…
#25: Merry Christmas
Episode #25 — Merry Christmas: Our children will open presents today, and their joy at receiving gifts that they cannot buy for themselves will remind me of the extravagant and…
#24: Birthday Party for Jesus
Episode #24 — Birthday Party for Jesus: Our tradition on Christmas Eve is to throw a birthday party for Jesus. As we approach the mayhem of Christmas morning, we remind…
#23: Light That Guides Us
Episode #23 — Light That Guides Us: Living with Jesus, living in the light, means we start to see the things that God hates in this world. Injustice to people who…
