-
Ripped from the headlines today: “Archbishop’s $2 million mansion gone with the wind?” A story on CNN.com goes on to explain that Atlanta Archbishop Wilton Gregory has apologized to his parishioners after he approved the construction of a $2.2 million mansion to serve as the bishop’s residence for his diocese. The archbishop moved into the…
-
We three kings of orient are Bearing gifts, we traverse so far Field and fountain, moor and mountain Following yonder star We add them to the Christmas story every winter and yet, perhaps the most mysterious accessories to the Nativity tale are those “three kings of Orient.” Who are they? And where did they come…
-
The Christmas Story we proclaim typically begins at the manger but it does not end until long after the cross. It is the Gospel Story, the good news that watchmen looked for in the Old Testament. It is the light that would shine in a darkened world, the peace that that would quell the storm…
-
Sometimes we tend to think of Jesus as some stoic, hovering spirit-being — a man who never smiled (after all, smiling is a sin, right?) and who never broke stride. But Hebrews 2 makes it clear that Jesus was just like us in His humanity when it says, “he had to be made like his…
-
But Isaiah 7:14 prophesied that a virgin — which could also be translated “an innocent young maiden” — would be with child and that child would be “God with us,” which is “Immanuel.” A young virgin would become pregnant without intimately knowing a man. Even Mary knew how miraculous and unconventional this was. It was…
-
The incarnation of Jesus Christ still remains one of the universe’s great mysteries, perhaps second only to the Triune nature of God. How could God Himself fulfill all the prophecies concerning the messiah? How could He become flesh? And why would He choose to do that?
-
The grave is not the end of life nor is it the last time we will see our loved ones. Because God in Christ took on flesh and blood, died on the cross, and rose again we will have life eternal and our bodies will be glorified. No more cancer, no more Alzheimer’s, no more…
-
When hope is fulfilled, there is joy. When Simeon and Anna saw their hope fulfilled, what was their response? Simeon held Jesus in his arms (quite a contrast to the role Jesus plays as the Good Shepherd!) and praised God. “My eyes have seen your salvation,” he said. Anna also thanked God and then immediately…
-
One day in the future, someone will ask about us — what kind of a person we were, what our hobbies were, what our faith was like. What will they learn about you? What do you want them to know?
-
Are you living in the knowledge that the King will return any day? Are you doing your best to live in godliness and be found holy for that day? Or are you living with the mindset that Christ won’t return in your lifetime — that you’d better get the most out of this life before…
J.C. Newton 