William Hendrikson illustrates how a child thinks: A merchant had a pile of gold coins outside his windowsill with a sign, “Take One.” All day long people passed by thinking, “this guy can’t fool me.” Evening fell and the owner was about to remove the pile. But just before he did, a child came by,Continue reading “Coming to Jesus with child-like qualities”
Category Archives: Encountering Jesus
When Jesus welcomed the little children into His presence, He was insisting on a paradigm shift in thinking related to the VIPs in the Kingdom of God.
One of the highlights of our year living in Uppsala, Sweden was being invited to participate in an event for the U.S. Ambassador to Sweden. The Swedes rolled out the red carpet for the Ambassador and treated him like a V.I.P. A red carpet has been traditionally used to mark the path taken by kings,Continue reading “When Jesus welcomed the little children into His presence, He was insisting on a paradigm shift in thinking related to the VIPs in the Kingdom of God.”
The Most Familiar Scene in the Gospels
It is perhaps the most familiar scene in the gospels; the scene when Jesus took the little children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. Through his prayer and blessing His heart of love and compassion goes out to the little ones. Every child with equal importance and attention. To thoseContinue reading “The Most Familiar Scene in the Gospels”
The gospel should make us sing!
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there is a veritable plethora of singing competitions on network television these days. I like to sing too; in the car, in the shower, mostly alone but sometimes to newborn babies and to sweet folks during their last remaining days on this side of heaven. I do singContinue reading “The gospel should make us sing!”
Game Shows or Soap Operas?
When I was a kid I remember being fascinated by TV Game Shows. Maybe it was because we weren’t wired for cable TV until I was 12 years old and thus had to settle for 5 channels and limited choices during hot summer days like “The Price is Right” or “The Young and the Restless.”Continue reading “Game Shows or Soap Operas?”
Happiness is not found in being conservative or liberal but in simple devotion to Christ.
Do we sometimes get caught up in placing our hope in our conservative or liberal way of looking at Theology, the Bible, Politics and the World and miss the main thing? I think sometimes we place our too much faith in our ideological lenses which influence our vision, magnify some issues over others and curbContinue reading “Happiness is not found in being conservative or liberal but in simple devotion to Christ.”
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?”
Lead, Laugh, Love 