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 MoreA Time to Remember and Anticipate
It is good to be back home again in Indiana. I had a wonderful time on my sabbatical. While in Papua New Guinea I taught the “Doctrine of Holiness” class at the Melanesia Nazarene Bible College in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Our pastor at Southport, Bill Swesey served for several years as the Principal of the Bible College. To get there, I flew from Indianapolis…
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 MoreMerry Christmas
The Christmas Story as recorded in Luke’s Gospel: 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[a]Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of…
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 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 MoreIn the Eye of the Beholder!
God thinks you are beautiful. According to the Psalmist, God believes that Jerusalem is beautiful as well. Is it beautiful for beauty sake, or is it beautiful because God declares it beautiful? God thinks you are special! Why not concentrate more on what He thinks, than what your boss, ex-girlfirend or neighbor thinks? Ps 48:1-14 48 Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city…
Read MoreChristmas Traditions
Joy to the world! It is one of the great carols of Christmas. The coming of Christ brings joy! The angels announced that it was “good news of great joy.” Even secular songs of the season reflect joy all the way from ‘Have a holly jolly Christmas to “its the most wonderful time of the year.” What is it that makes everyone a little happier and kinder? Certainly nostalgia plays some…
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