The story of the angel appearing to Mary is recorded in Luke’s gospel in the first chapter. Mary, a very young girl in the little village of Nazareth, lived far away from the power centers of the world. Because God chooses those that He wants, it may seem surprising to us the way He works. Yet, we are aware that God always has a plan! In those days, everyone would…
Read MoreAdvent #4 Shepherds: Show and Tell
Today I am preaching on the greatest story ever told found in Luke 2: 2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while]Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the…
Read MoreAdvent 1 Mary declares ” “May your Word to me be fulfilled.”
Today I preached the report from Luke’s Gospel, regarding the angel Gabriel and his announcement to young Mary. Mary was a very young person, in reality just a girl. I have read that she was anywhere from 11-14 years of age. With most believing her to be around 12 years of age. She was betrothed or engaged. Yet it was a much stronger and binding situation than our…
Read MoreThe Light of The World
Lights shine brightly in the darkness of a winter morning. Neighbors leave their Christmas lights on all night, and in the morning it looks like I live on a set for a Christmas movie. Out of the darkness, the bright lights shine and cast a glow of red, green and amber up and down the street. I notice that against a dark backdrop the lights shine and seem…
Read MoreWord of the Father Now In Flesh Appearing
There are so many phrases that one hears only at Christmastime. Phrases like; joy to the world, O little town of Bethlehem, and there’s no place like home for the holiday. As I heard the carol, O Come all ye faithful being sung the other day, one particular phrase struck me as though I was listening to it for the first time. “Word of the Father,…
Read MoreChange is coming!
I went for what may be my last walk of the year outdoors. It is nearly 60 degrees here in central Indiana on the 4th of December. The normal for us would be in the low 40-degree range. Today it is balmy for the first week of December. Well, I must get ready for tonight a storm comes in, and in a matter of a few hours, the…
Read MoreThe Light of Life
They say it is the most wonderful time of the year. Make no mistake about it there is a different feel or vibe during December. This difference is true not just for those who are following an Advent calendar or those ‘making a list and checking it twice.’ It seems everyone indeed is a little happier and more excited about the countdown to Christmas. Not everyone feels this…
Read MoreThanking our way into Advent
We have just come through the season of Thanksgiving. This national holiday that lasts for one day seems to many to be nothing more than a gathering of our families to eat a huge meal and prepare to go shopping for Christmas presents. Someone came up with the idea of taking the 30 days of November and remembering a different blessing each day. This exercise reminds us that blessings…
Read MoreComfort Ye My People
I was introduced to Handel’s Messiah as a college student. Also did I mention that may girlfriend, now wife was a music minor. So, as a good boyfriend I attended the performances of the Messiah at Olivet Nazarene University. Somewhere between the first and second performance I fell in love with the music and the message of the Scripture. It is not Advent season without listening to it at…
Read MoreI can’t find mom!
You never know what a day will bring! Leaving my home this morning, I noticed a truck on the parking lot of our camp ground that I did not recognize. On closer inspection I discovered a lady sitting in her truck which was completely packed with “stuff”. My first assumption was that perhaps she was homeless. She rolled down her window and I asked if I could help? She said I am…
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