Month: December 2015
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The Garbage Gets Picked Up Tomorrow
You’re out of room. Whether we’re looking at an over-crowded closet or garage or some other venue, the problem’s the same: too much stuff for the space. Two options: get more space or have less stuff. Either way, to move forward the formula involves a better balance of space and stuff. Organizational experts, whether paid…
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Joseph’s Packing Up & So Are We
Joseph’s finishing up packing. He lives in Cincinnati but will be with us for New Year’s. As he sorts out what to bring here and what to leave there, he frequently texts or calls or sends a picture of whatever’s in question. “Dad, should I bring this with me?” I follow his conversational suit and…
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Just Before the Christmas Eve Service
She raced ahead of her family into the sanctuary. It was Christmas Eve, a worship service was about to start, and I was hurrying to take care of one more unexpected, uh, detail. She stopped right in front of me, big grin on her face. I knew what was important in that moment, so I…
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Moving from The Manger
One final burst from the heart and mind of Christopher Wright — (but if that line makes no sense to you, please scroll down now to December 26 and 27 here for backstory and context and source) Q: How has your perspective on global Christianity informed your reading of Lamentations? A: Lamentations helps us face the…
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“Much of Our Worship is Cover-Up”
Picking up where we left off yesterday, more Q & A with Chris Wright. If that sentence makes no sense to you, please scroll down and read my blog from December 26 before this one. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m shutting up and listening to Chris — Q: What role should a book like…
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Kill This Child, He Said
It’s not a nice warm fuzzy part of Christmas. It’s the part of the Christmas story, the Bible’s birth and infancy of Christ Jesus narrative, that we skip over. Traditionally called “The Suffering of the Innocents,” you can read about in Matthew 2. But we seldom do. I don’t think I’ve ever talked or written…
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Merry Christmas from Isaiah
To us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over…
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“With love to Mrs. Ries”
Jane Ries is a teacher who claims to be retired, but I’m still learning from her. An active member of our congregation, she has many talents and gifts. Several are evident in this piece, which she has graciously given me permission to share with you. Some gifts are so special that you never forget them. I’ve always…
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She Had a Good Question
“Shouldn’t Advent be all year long?” Advent is a a time to get ready. Advent is The Season of The Gospel that precedes Christmas. Four weeks long, it includes four Sundays. She asked, “Shouldn’t Advent be all year long?” We look both backward and forward in Advent. We look back at the long-promised coming of Christ…