Category: Christmas

The many messages in Christmas

I have always loved the Christmas season, and I’ll admit, I’d be hard pressed to pick a favorite “thing” – because I love just about everything about it. The warm sweaters, hot chocolate with candy canes, seasonal lattes at every coffee shop in town. The lights! On houses, lining city streets. The fun of finding… Continue reading The many messages in Christmas

Ever been in Mary’s shoes?

Last year I read through Kenneth Bailey’s book “Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes” – and his observations in the opening chapter around the birth story of Jesus, as told by Luke, captured my attention. Bailey set the story in the context of the way homes were built and how the culture of hospitality worked in… Continue reading Ever been in Mary’s shoes?

Zechariah & the Christmas Story

Every year when I unpack the Christmas decorations, there’s a devotional book on advent that I unpack as well. It’s called “God is in the Manger: Reflections on Advent and Christmas” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. It’s a compilation of sermon notes, letters he wrote to his fiancé when he was in prison during WWII, and quotes… Continue reading Zechariah & the Christmas Story

Lamenting at Christmas?

I have found myself a bit more somber as of lately, and its been hard to know what to chalk it up to. Sure, 2020 has been interesting, to say the least. I think its more like a culmination of things, between the hard things I have watched our nation go through, the new (but… Continue reading Lamenting at Christmas?

Me and Advent

I have been doing a lot of thinking this time of year, specifically paying attention to sermons on Advent. Admittedly, I have never really been one to focus on the meaning of Advent before… yet this year is different. This year, the lessons of Advent are speaking to me more than I have ever heard… Continue reading Me and Advent