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Saint John’s Day: December 27

Of the Twelve, John alone did not forsake Jesus in the hours of His suffering and death. With the faithful women, he stood at the cross, where our Lord made him the guardian of His mother. After Pentecost, John spent his ministry in Jerusalem and at Ephesus, where tradition says he was the bishop. . . . . Continue Reading »

27 Dec 2009

Thy Manger is My Paradise

O Jesus Christ,Thy manger isMy paradise at which my soul reclineth.For there, O Lord,Doth lie the WordMade flesh for us; herein Thy grace forth shineth.He whom the seaAnd wind obeyDoth come to serve the sinner in great meekness.Thou, God’s own Son,With us art one,Dost join us and our children . . . . Continue Reading »

26 Dec 2009

Christmas Means Heaven’s Gates Stand Open For Us

A meditation on what the incarnation means for you and me:An unspeakably great, unexplorable divine mystery is at the bottom of all this. God’s holiness and righteousness must shut the doors of heaven to us sinners, and He knows that neither we ourselves nor any creature in heaven or on earth . . . . Continue Reading »

25 Dec 2009

All My Heart, This Night Rejoices!

This is Pastor Paul Gerhardt’s great Christmas hymn. It first appeared in a collection of hymns published in Leipzig by Johann Crüciger in 1653, with the tune that Crüciger specifically prepared for it. The hymn is a sermon on the meaning of Christmas, and a deeply devotional . . . . Continue Reading »

24 Dec 2009

When Christmas is Not “Merry”

I am thinking a lot this Christmas about the fact that for many people, more than would ever be willing to admit openly, there is very little, “merry” about Christmas. They are caught up in personal troubles and situations that are causing them intense pain and anguish of heart and mind, . . . . Continue Reading »

22 Dec 2009

Are We a Small and Arrogant Oligarchy?

I can’t think of a more foolish attitude I harbor at times than when I look back on previous generations and assume they were ignorant, unenlightened, unaware and totally outside of what I’m thinking and experiencing today. I was reminded of something the British writer G.K. Chesterton . . . . Continue Reading »

19 Dec 2009

Why is Christmas on December 25?

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 »

18 Dec 2009

O Lord, How Shall I Meet You? A Classic Advent Hymn

hymn, n [from the Latin hymnus, song of praise] 1: a song of praise to God 2: a metrical composition adapted for singing in a religious serviceFor centuries, Christians have sung hymns in order to praise God. Anyone who knows a hymn like “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” or “Now . . . . Continue Reading »

18 Dec 2009

Dining at the Religious Buffet: The American Way?

Thanks to Dr. Gene Edward Veith for this post. Like many ancient Israelites before the exile, more and more Christians think they can add pagan beliefs to Christianity. Here are some findings from The Pew Forum:Mixing religions: Many Americans have beliefs or experiences that conflict with basic . . . . Continue Reading »

18 Dec 2009

Have you seen St. Nick?

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 »

17 Dec 2009