New Year Resolutions for me used to include vague ambitions such as, “Read More Books.” And after so many years of never knowing whether or not I actually read more books, I changed my resolution to read, “Keep track of books I read.” It’s specific and measurable…like a good resolution ought to be. With the simple change of wording, there was no pressure to hurry through stories or finish books I didn’t like. I simply committed to write down the titles I read. In some years, I didn’t … [Read more...]
A Remarkable Advent: Day 19
Reflection based on Matthew 1:24-25. God had called him the “offspring” and “the seed.” The Psalmists called him the Cornerstone, Deliverer and King. The prophet Isaiah called him the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace. All of those names, plus a host of others throughout the Old Testament, were arrows pointing the way to Him. The various names were descriptors giving clues as to where God’s people would find the Rescuer He’d promised--indicators of what He would be … [Read more...]
A Strategic Plan for Black Friday and Advent
Thanksgiving is just 2 days away. Which means the biggest shopping day of the year is just 3 days away. For about 50 reasons that I won’t recount here, I’ve never been much of a shopper. I mean I like spending money, and I like getting new things, I like cute clothes, shoes, and good books. But it’s the laborious process of trying stuff on, finding the right thing, the walking, and waiting, the in-and-out of parking lots and cars and lines, that I’ve never been a huge fan of. So “Black … [Read more...]
When Thanksgiving Gets Obstructed
Maybe you’ve noticed this phenomenon at your house…you flip the calendar to November, and about a thousand Christmas catalogs rush into your mailbox! Every year it's like someone is aiming a fire hose filled with junk mail right into the mailbox. It kind of gets in the way of all the talk about thankfulness. In school projects, at church, and during mealtime and bedtime prayers, we list the things we’re most thankful for. Family. Friends. Food. Shelter. Jesus. And then in a violent … [Read more...]
Show Up in the Dark, Just like Jesus
Sometimes the world seems scrambled. A lot of the time actually. It’s hard to understand why things happen or why they are allowed to happen. I’m regularly taking refuge in this fact: chaos in the world does not mean Christ is not at work. We’re just one calendar flip away from Christmas, and just two weeks from the first Sunday of the season of Advent. The world seems a little dark as we look toward preparing and celebrating Christ’s coming. But I’m reminded that Christ came in the … [Read more...]
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