Monthly Archives: December 2010

The Birth of the Perfect Lamb of God was first announced to men who prepared lambs for Passover sacrifices.

Have you seen the show on Discovery Channel, called Dirty Jobs?  The show profiles the unsung American laborers who make their living in the most unthinkable — yet vital — ways. They highlight jobs such as Charcoal Maker, Disaster Clean-up Crew member, sewage plant worker, and bone black plant technician. It is interesting to noteContinue reading “The Birth of the Perfect Lamb of God was first announced to men who prepared lambs for Passover sacrifices.”

In Christmas, we encounter a Savior who was refused lodging so that heaven might be opened to us, not as temporary lodging but as our eternal home.

It was likely late December 5BC when the time came for another Census to be taken and everyone, including Mary and Joseph, was directed to go back to their ancestral homes to be counted. The First Couple traveled 90 miles to Bethlehem where they found the residences overflowing with family members and the local hotelsContinue reading “In Christmas, we encounter a Savior who was refused lodging so that heaven might be opened to us, not as temporary lodging but as our eternal home.”

Christmas: Deep Happiness or a Dull Reminder that We’re Depressed?

The Nativity, the birth story of Jesus, is a very human story with the hand of God’s providence orchestrating  each and every detail to bring Good News of Great Joy to us through the Birth of the Son of God. But is our “ho-hum” response to the Christmas story wrapped up in the fact thatContinue reading “Christmas: Deep Happiness or a Dull Reminder that We’re Depressed?”

Does the Baby Jesus ever grow up?

Sometimes kids help us to question things we’ve always accepted. Like the one child who asked his father, “Does the Baby Jesus ever grow up? Seems like he’s the same age every Christmas.” There’s a scene in a recent Will Ferrell movie where he is praying to the baby Jesus. He responds to the criticismContinue reading “Does the Baby Jesus ever grow up?”

Casting off Adult Appropriateness for Childlike impulses

As children, we’re taught by our parents to know our place, not to intrude or interrupt because doing so would be rude and inappropriate. But when we apply these same rules to our relationship with God, we settle for a rigid mechanical connection which barely ever touches our hearts. I love the example of theContinue reading “Casting off Adult Appropriateness for Childlike impulses”

Transformation and the rewiring of your brain

Neuroscientists have long known that people’s changes in attitudes, lifestyles, and habits coincide with the rewiring of their brains. But they haven’t always known the catalyst for the rewiring and change. Recent research has revealed that an important part of how people change is through the process of telling their stories to an empathetic listener.Continue reading “Transformation and the rewiring of your brain”

With Jesus, even givers become receivers

The way it works with those who trust Jesus is that our seemingly inadequate resources are multiplied. This doesn’t mean that we can be stingy and Jesus will make us look generous. It means that when we bring it all under His Leadership and Direction, then He will pour out blessings on us and othersContinue reading “With Jesus, even givers become receivers”

As long as we are self-sufficient & self-sustaining we live in a delusional field of self-deception & vulnerability

Can you imagine Jesus looking you square in the eye saying, “You give them something to eat.” That’s exactly what He commanded the disciples in the story of the Feeding of the Multitudes. When they pooled their resources they found themselves woefully inadequate to meet the needs they were commanded to meet. Jesus knew theContinue reading “As long as we are self-sufficient & self-sustaining we live in a delusional field of self-deception & vulnerability”