Archive for December, 2007
« Previous EntriesA Strange Christmas
Monday, December 31st, 2007This has been a strange Christmas for me and my family. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know that we moved from California to Texas a few months ago. I left Irvine Presbyterian Church after sixteen and a half years as Senior Pastor to join the staff of Laity Lodge. My […]
Inspiration from the Pray the Gospels
Sunday, December 30th, 2007Excerpt
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:35
Click here to read all of John 13:34-35
Prayer
O Lord, today I’m impressed to pray for Your church. Thank You for the ways that we demonstrate to the world that we are Your disciples through loving each other. Thank […]
Christianity Today’s out of Ur Top Ten for 2007
Saturday, December 29th, 2007One of my “must read” websites is Christianity Today’s out of Ur. If you’re unfamiliar with this website, or if you haven’t been keeping up, check out their “Top 10 Posts of 2007.” I agree that their first entry, “Willow Creek Repents,” is a huge one.
California Memories
Saturday, December 29th, 2007My family and I are in California for the holidays, seeing family and friends, hanging out at old haunts, etc. The other day I took a walk along one of the lakes in Irvine. (Yes, it is man-made.) Texas has some fantastic sunsets. But Irvine doesn’t do poorly in this regard either.
Both photos were taken […]
Favorite Holiday Songs (Section 2)
Friday, December 28th, 2007Part 4 in the series: More Christmas Carol Surprises
Permalink for this post / Permalink for this series
Three years ago I posted the list of the top 25 Christmas songs according to ASCAP (The American Society of Composers and Publishers). This list reflects the songs that have been performed the most in the past five years. […]
Favorite Holiday Songs (Section 1)
Thursday, December 27th, 2007Part 3 in the series: More Christmas Carol Surprises
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I can still remember the moment many years ago when my youth leader at church said, “You know, ‘Jingle Bells’ really isn’t a Christmas carol. It’s more of a winter song.” I was stunned. This had never occurred to […]
Eyewitness Testimony in Mark’s Gospel
Wednesday, December 26th, 2007Be sure to check out my guest blogger, James Arlandson, whose latest post is entitled “Eyewitness Testimony in Mark’s Gospel.”
Favorite Christmas Carols
Wednesday, December 26th, 2007Part 2 in the series: More Christmas Carol Surprises
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What are your favorite Christmas carols?
From one perspective this is an easy question. My guess is you already have some answers in mind: “Joy to the World,” “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “White Christmas,” “Jingle Bells,” and, perhaps […]
Advent Calendar for December 25
Tuesday, December 25th, 2007Click here for the December 25 Advent Calendar entry!
Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 25th, 2007May God give you a blessed and joyful Christmas
as you celebrate the Incarnation of the Word!
BALDUNG GRIEN, Hans
Nativity
1520
Oil on wood, 105,5 x 70,4 cm
Alte Pinakothek, Munich
Image c/o Web Gallery of Art
What a striking painting of the entry of the Son of God into a broken, ruined world. He comes for the healing of all […]
Christmas Resources
Monday, December 24th, 2007I’m putting up links to several Christmas and related resources. I’m doing this, in part, for listeners of the Hugh Hewitt radio show. Today Hugh and I will be talking about Christmas together, and the resources to which I’m linking are related to our on-the-air conversation.
On the Historicity of the Gospel Accounts of Jesus’s Birth
The […]
Advent Calendar for December 24
Monday, December 24th, 2007Click here for the December 24 Advent Calendar entry!
Christmas Devotion: The Lighting of the Christ Candle
Monday, December 24th, 2007Christmas Eve or Christmas Day
[Re-light the three purple candles and the pink candle]
We Celebrate the Birth of Christ
In the season of Advent we have used the Advent wreath and its candles to help us get ready for this great celebration of the birth of Christ.
When we lit the first purple candle, we asked God to […]
Advent Calendar for December 23
Sunday, December 23rd, 2007Click here for the December 23 Advent Calendar entry!
Advent Devotion: The Lighting of the Fourth Candle
Sunday, December 23rd, 2007The Lighting of the Fourth Candle: Waiting for the Son
For the Fourth Sunday of Advent (or thereabouts)
[Re-light two purple candles and the pink candle.]
We Remember the Meaning of Advent
Advent is a word that means “coming” or “visit”. In the Christian season of Advent we prepare for the “advent” of Christ at Christmas. Our preparation […]
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