This is the eighth part in a twelve part devotional commentary on “O Holy Night.” See the introduction here.He knows our need, To our weakness is no stranger,Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!Behold your King, Behold your King.Being God, Jesus obviously knows what we need. His . . . . Continue Reading »
Biblical Archaeology Review has a good scholarly discussion of why Christmas is celebrated on December 25. And it is evidently NOT because it was superimposed on a pagan holiday: The most loudly touted theory about the origins of the Christmas date(s) is that it was borrowed from pagan celebrations. . . . . Continue Reading »
It’s funny because Linus makes the grave reading of Luke 2 for Charlie Brown and says, “That’s what it’s all about, Charlie Brown,” and we feel like something really important® has been said by Dollie Madison cakes and Coca-Cola. But Luke 2 isn’t in a vacuum. The matter of what happened on the night in question in the city of David when there was no room in the inn is not really about anything – unless there is something more to this child than a birth in poverty into an indifferent world. Continue Reading »
This is the seventh part in a twelve part devotional commentary on “O Holy Night.” See the introduction here.The King of Kings Lay thus in lowly manger;In all our trials Born to be our friend.The King of Kings is a lofty title. I used to think of it merely as God ruling over all the . . . . Continue Reading »
Here is the fascinating story of how scientists used St. Nicholas’ skull to do a reconstruction of his face, and the results look identical to an ancient icon of Nicholas of Myra. Read the story here. Here is what Nicholas looked like, first the reconstruction of his head and face based on the . . . . Continue Reading »
I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Christmas than to start an argument by attacking one of our favorite Christmas hymns.“Hark the Herald Angels Sing” has that one line “veiled in flesh the Godhead see,” and I just thought it would be fun to nitpick that . . . . Continue Reading »
I’m growing older, as my wife reminds me dutifully. One thing about growing older is that you enjoy things in a different way than you used to. I don’t know about you, but for me the best part of Christmas gifts is now giving gifts, not receiving them. I love to give my loved ones gifts. . . . . Continue Reading »
Each time I read a golden nugget like this from St. Augustine, I’m once more reminded that, when you are reading St. Augustine, you realize you are in the presence of a great and profound mind. Thanks to Pastor Alms for this gem. Augustine said:My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, of . . . . Continue Reading »
This is the sixth part in a twelve part devotional commentary on “O Holy Night.” See the introduction here.So led by light of A star sweetly gleaming,Here come the wise men From Orient land.These two lines again point to the star over Bethlehem. But there is a subtle difference to its . . . . Continue Reading »
It’s the lovely time of year where people of all faiths, denominations and economic status levels do their absolute best to reduce the Yuletide season down to the most innocuous, commercially viable standard of celebration. These actions are, in turn, responded to by loud proclamations . . . . Continue Reading »
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