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 »
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 »
[Note: Every Friday on First Thoughts we host heated, half-serious, half-cocked arguments about some aspect of pop culture. Today’s theme, which was suggested by reader Don McClane, is the best newspaper comic strips. Have a suggestion for a topic? Send them to me at jcarter@firstthings.com ] . . . . Continue Reading »
Normally, I consider myself immune from the effects of advertising. But the new ad campaign by Dockers—” Man-ifesto “—makes me want to wrestle a bear, smack the eyeliner off some emo dude, and then go out and buy some pants: Once upon a time, men wore the pants, and wore them . . . . 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 »
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 »
The older I get the lonelier I get at Christmas.All my grandparents are gone now, so I will not eat Granny’s pie, see Nana’s Christmas play, or hear either Papaw tell a story. Aunt Karen will not help me direct this years play and Uncle Roddy will not make me laugh, because they have . . . . Continue Reading »
Maybe it’s poor form to use this forum to point to one’s own blog, but . . .At this link you can download eight songs on the incarnation for free, from various new . . . . Continue Reading »
This whole global warming scam increasingly seem to me like a snake eating its own tale. In Switzerland, a scientist looking for renewable energy deep in the earth has been sued for causing earthquakes. From the story:A geologist has gone on trial in Switzerland for allegedly causing . . . . Continue Reading »
Subscribe
Latest Issue
Support First Things
