As we head toward another Advent season it is inevitable that the Incarnation is going to get some airtime in our churches. Perhaps you will hear sermons on the classic Christmas passages in Matthew 1-2 or Luke 1-2. Maybe you will hear sermons on John’s prologue, or Isaiah’s Immanuel prophecy, or Galatians 4:4. Hearing about […]
Christmas is just a day away. It’s hard to believe that! Yet it’s impossible to ignore the bright lights and familiar melodies of Christmas that are everywhere. For me this time of year generates mixed feelings. I love the days leading up to Christmas, the anticipation of fun & tasty family traditions and restful moments […]
This post was originally written for ‘extratime‘ part of the Evangelical Movement of Wales’ Aberystwyth Conference. ————————————— “You don’t need to be alone… It’s real love.“ So says John Lewis / Tom Odell / John Lennon! I’m certain that this is the love we all want. The love that we all spend our lives, time and money trying […]
The holidays for me, like many of you I’m sure, are a mixed bag. Christmas is not only a wonderful season of thinking about the gift of God in the flesh. It is also a time of tasty traditional foods, gift-giving, great fun with family and friends, and happy memories of previous holidays with those dear to […]
Why does Matthew end his great Christmas narrative with a whimper? Other sections of his gospel finish with strong summaries, so why not the first two chapters? Why have a great story end with some geographical details, an obscure reference to an unidentified prophecy and a comment about Jesus being called a Nazarene? After fleeing […]
Christmas is a time when many people head home, or think of home, or long for home. For some it is a special time of great joy and satisfaction. For others it is a painfully empty season when memories of a home now broken by death or divorce come flooding back. The Christmas story as […]
