The Nativity. A familiar story. Very familiar. Too familiar? When we think about the Nativity story, about the birth of Jesus, we often play music in our heads to the tune of Silent Night, Holy Night. Where all is calm, and all is bright. Or perhaps for you the song is Away in a MangerContinue reading “Why telling the Nativity Story could get you killed”
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Mercy and Grace – What we all need – Luke 1:57-80
Last week I asked: What do we all need? The amazing message of Christmas is that God wants to shower us with his mercy and grace! That is our need! Zechariah’s song proclaims the good news of salvation that is found in Christ. That salvation is found nowhere else. We need God’s grace and mercy.Continue reading “Mercy and Grace – What we all need – Luke 1:57-80”
Pool Noodle, Plate of Cookies, Card Table – The Monday Messy Office Report – 12/15/14
My office is tidy Friday, mysteriously messy on Monday. Here’s what I found today: 1. Card Table – Truth be told, I put it there. A family in the church borrowed it, and after worship yesterday, they returned it. They gave it to me in the parking lot, and I decided to leave it forContinue reading “Pool Noodle, Plate of Cookies, Card Table – The Monday Messy Office Report – 12/15/14”
What we all need
It’s what the family that just lost a loved one needs. It’s what the single mom needs. It’s what the young man who just made a really bad choice needs. It’s what we all need. What do we need? It’s what I need and what you need. On your worst days you want it badly.Continue reading “What we all need”
What was the Annunciation really like? – Luke 1:26-45
This past Sunday, Phil introduced us to the writings of Walter Wangerin. As we continued our study through Luke, Phil chose stories that retold the events of Luke 1:26-45, often called The Annunciation. The angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will be the mother of the Christ child. Wangerin encourages us through his writingsContinue reading “What was the Annunciation really like? – Luke 1:26-45”
Box of books, Background Checks, Planbooks – Monday Messy Office Report – 12/8/14
My office is tidy Friday, mysteriously messy on Monday. Here’s what I found today! 1. Box of Discipleship books. Thanks to Al Giles who helped us get a nice discount on copies of Building a Discipling Culture. We’re going to have a discipleship roundtable discussion with Al on January 17th. If you’re in the LancasterContinue reading “Box of books, Background Checks, Planbooks – Monday Messy Office Report – 12/8/14”
Why we need to listen to an unmarried pregnant teenager
After giving surprising news to Zechariah and Elizabeth that they, a barren elderly couple, going to have a son who will be a great prophet, the Angel Gabriel a few months later visits Mary. Mary is teenager living in Nazareth, a backwater town that barely makes it onto the map. Mary is betrothed, but herContinue reading “Why we need to listen to an unmarried pregnant teenager”
John the Baptist was not supposed to Baptize – Luke 1:1-24
This week we started a series studying the Gospel of Luke, and we learned that John the Baptist was not supposed to Baptize! What was he supposed to do? What was his mission? What is the difference between John’s birth prophecy and mission and Jesus’ birth prophecy and mission? For many people, it can beContinue reading “John the Baptist was not supposed to Baptize – Luke 1:1-24”
Reflections on a month of free coffee from Starbucks
Originally posted on Engaging Scripture:
I admit, I started with doubt. My wife came home with what Starbucks calls the January refill travel mug. For $30, it was a relatively inexpensive Christmas gift to each other. The concept of the January mug is pretty simple: you buy the mug, and during the month of January,…
Who was the most intelligent person who ever lived?
Who would you say was the most intelligent person who ever lived? Google it and Einstein and Stephen Hawking’s pictures are prevalent. There’s also Marilyn vos Savant from Parade magazine. I remember reading her column each week really impressed with how she always figured out reader’s questions. There were also a few other people IContinue reading “Who was the most intelligent person who ever lived?”
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