We all have difficulty relinquishing things that we cherish. I still remember my first ten-speed bicycle. It was a fully equipped, Schwinn beauty that I received as a Christmas present. Not long after I received it, I allowed a friend to borrow it for a quick ride. She proceeded to get hit by a car … Continue reading Advent Week #2: Relinquishing Riches To Make Us Rich
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The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy
"She brought forth... she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes" (Luke 2:7). It is indeed very beautiful, but oh the pity of it, the tragedy of it, the loneliness of it, that in that hour of all hours, when womanhood should be surrounded by the tenderest care, she is alone. G. Campbell Morgan Let us marvel … Continue reading The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy
Augustine: Why the Incarnation?
During Advent we marvel at the purpose of Christ’s incarnation. He became poor to make us rich. Here is an excerpt from a sermon by Augustine, a North African pastor from the 4th century: “The Word of the Father, by whom all time was created, was made flesh and was born in time for us. … Continue reading Augustine: Why the Incarnation?
Advent Devotional #3: Receiving the Riches of Grace
Have you ever seen or read about someone who devoted themselves exclusively to the preservation of their own life and their own resources with no regard for others? How would you describe their life? I have one word: Misery! Remember the original Bah-humbug man in “A Christmas Carol ” – Ebenezer Scrooge? He was a … Continue reading Advent Devotional #3: Receiving the Riches of Grace
Advent Devotional 2: Relinquishing Riches to Make Us Rich
We all have difficulty relinquishing things that we cherish. I still remember my first ten-speed bicycle. It was a fully-equipped, Schwinn beauty that I received as a Christmas present. Not long after I received it, I allowed a friend to borrow it for a quick ride. She then proceeded to get hit by a car, … Continue reading Advent Devotional 2: Relinquishing Riches to Make Us Rich
Advent Devotional #1: A Riches to Rags Story
During Advent we remember and celebrate Jesus’s first coming when “the Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.”(C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity). We also look forward to our Lord’s second coming when He fully establishes His peaceable kingdom. To grasp more fully the magnitude of Advent, we want to … Continue reading Advent Devotional #1: A Riches to Rags Story
The Cradle, The Cross and The Crown
Cradle The cradle of Christmas proves that God is with us - Emmanuel. We are not alone in this world. We are not alone in our guilt, shame and struggle. We are not alone when we walk through the valley of the shadowlands. Cross The cross of Calvary proves that God is for us and … Continue reading The Cradle, The Cross and The Crown
A New-Born King: The Irony – Matthew 2:1-12
Have you ever lived in a city where it was difficult to become an insider? No matter how hard you tried, you always felt excluded and on the fringe. Our experience in church can oftentimes be the same. Have you ever attended a church where you felt like you didn’t measure up and no matter … Continue reading A New-Born King: The Irony – Matthew 2:1-12
The New Born King – The Agony – Matthew 2:1-12
The Agony – How do insiders respond to this news? The birth of this King troubles and agitates insiders… the power brokers of the establishment (both political and ecclesiastical). Rather than rejoicing at this news, they are troubled by it. Now, if we are honest, most of us find repulsive the idea of someone ruling … Continue reading The New Born King – The Agony – Matthew 2:1-12
The New Born King – The Ecstacy – Matthew 2:1-12
The Ecstasy – How do outsiders respond to finding the King? When they find the newborn King, what do they do? When I mention the word ecstasy, I am talking about a state of overwhelming, overpowering emotion. In this case… rapturous delight. See Matthew 2, verse 10. The most arresting verse of the entire passage. … Continue reading The New Born King – The Ecstacy – Matthew 2:1-12
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