Scripture: 2nd Corinthians 4:11 (the Message) Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us. Thought for the Day: I was watching a Bowl Game yesterday when a commercial came on that depicted a new exciting car. In the commercial, they drove the car off a cliff. The car appeared to fly while the announcer explained all the
Scripture: Ephesians 4:32 …and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Thought for the Day: In Wendell Berry’s book of poetry, “Leavings,” he has a piece simply entitled “A Letter to My Brother.” It begins, Dear John, You said “Treat your worst enemies as if they could become your best friends.” You were not the first to perpetrate such
Scripture: Luke 2:41-42 Now every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. Thought for the Day: “I can’t believe another year has come and gone!” How many times have you said that? As I get older, I say it more and more. I wonder if the parent’s of
Scripture: Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thought for the Day: On this date in history, many famous people died, including: Pope Innocent IX (1519); the chemist and theologian, Robert Boyle (1691); politician and signer of the Constitution, Francis Lewis (1803); mathematician and philosopher,
Scripture: Psalm 94:22 (the Message) But God became my hideout, God was my high mountain retreat… Thought for the Day: Yesterday was spent replacing items around the house that were fried by a lightning strike on Christmas morning. It makes me realize how dependent my family (with an emphasis on myself) is on electronics. Without internet or phones, there was a strange feeling of being cut off from
Scripture: Luke 2:22-24 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of
Scripture: Romans 3:21-23 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God… Thought for the Day: During the afternoon of December 24, I took around
Scripture: Galatians 2:10 They asked only one thing, that we remember the poor, which was actually what I was eager to do. Thought for the Day: It is the Feast Day of St. Stephen who is considered the first deacon of the church and the first martyr. As a deacon, he served those who were poor, including the widow and the orphan. In many cultures, today is Boxing Day–the day people remember Stephen’s great acts
Scripture: Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” Thought for the Day: I wish to remind you of what happened in the middle of war, 1914. It was trench warfare during WWI, and on Christmas Eve of that year an unexpected happening occurred. As the German troops faced the French and British troops, they heard the voice
There was a time in recent history when every store closed around noon on Christmas Eve. If you were not done shopping, any gift not purchased at that point would need to wait until after Christmas. This pause in the craziness gave an opportunity for people to take a deep breath and make room for worship. Today, most stores are still open as this service is occurring, and