Have you ever practiced a tradition without knowing why or how it started? Does it matter? One friend celebrates half-birthdays in her family. Another organizes an egg hunt every Easter for the children in her family. Still another friend serves pizza for dinner every...
What’s the point of praying for peace when your adversary is dead-set (no pun intended) on war? As the weeks of December move us toward Christmas, many Christians recognize Advent themes that traditionally include hope, peace, joy, and love. Last week, I wrote about...
I love Christmas. The music, lights, and decorations. The tree and the ornaments, the Christmas village, and especially the nativity scenes. Of all my Christmas decorations, my favorite is a large tabletop display that includes a manger set in the midst of a hustling,...
It’s the first day of December and the Christmas wars are already in full swing. You might have enlisted if you: correct sales clerks when they say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” give your name as “Merry Christmas” when placing a Starbucks order,...
Ahhh…the beginning of a new month. This is usually the time when I’m asking if anyone knows where the previous month went…and wondering how we can get it back. Not this month. And that’s because Christmas is in 52 days! Yes, I know, most people don’t want to hear...
Growing up in New York, I learned at an early age that chicken soup is good for what ails you. Cold, wintry day? Warm up with a bowl of chicken soup. Sore throat? Sooth it with a bowl of chicken soup. Upset stomach? Yup…chicken soup is easy to digest. But chicken soup...
Christmas is my favorite season, but as I read the news this past week, there were several accounts that did their best to contribute a proverbial “fly in the ointment” this season. Here are a few of my Christmas peeves in the news: 1. In Tallahassee's capitol, a...
I enjoy passing along quotes from people wiser than I am. For the past several years I’ve posted a new quote on social media related to Christmas for each day of December. Today, I offer the list of these Christmas quotes as my gift to the readers of this blog. May...
You’ve probably seen one or two Hallmark Christmas movies on television. I have. Well…that’s not quite true. I haven’t seen one or two. More like thirty-one or thirty-two. Year after year. And I keep coming back for more, enjoying the warm fuzzies each story provides....
We see them in most nativity scenes: three men off to the side, dressed in opulent robes. They seem out of place in the tableau, rich men bearing luxurious gifts, coming to worship a baby belonging to poor parents. We don’t know much about them. We do know they had...
Christmas Carol Messages: Angels From the Realms of Glory Angelology—the study of angels—is more popular than...
Christmas Carol Messages: "O Little Town of Bethlehem" What was so special about Bethlehem? Of all the towns in...
Christmas Carol Messages: "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus" Many leaders have founded religions based on claims...