Jesus lives! Jesus lives eternally. That means that he has always existed; he has always lived! He is eternal life; he is the source of life. First, remember that Jesus “was” in the pre-Incarnation. He was participant in the creation. John begins his gospel with the statement, “In the beginning was the Word, the Word …
Monthly Archives: December 2021
P.S. — Post-Christmas Thoughts
Christmas has come and gone. Christmas 2021 is in the history books. This year, our family assembled a day early to enjoy sweet conversation, exchange gifts, and celebrate Mom’s enchiladas. Soon the decorations will be stored for another year and the house will return to normal. The Christmas mantel décor will be replaced with the …
How to End the Year Well
We come to the last Sunday of 2021. An appropriate topic for late December: “How to End the Year Well.” Some would say it is already too late! I understand! The year of 2021 will not be repaired or redeemed in a few short days. Nonetheless, I believe it is possible to end the year …
Christmas Hymns-6
Today on Christmas Eve, I wish you a Merry Christmas! While it is almost certain that Jesus was not born on December 25, this is the day of the year when much of the world is thinking about the events surrounding the coming of the Savior of the world. I take only a moment of …
Christmas Hymns-5
The four songs which are presented today include lyrics by Timothy Dudley-Smith, an Anglican bishop who writes one new Christmas carol a year. These lyrics are of particularly high quality. Dudley-Smith is a biographer and former associate of John Stott. All of these are copyright in the US by Hope Publishing Company.] Secret Birth Child …
Christmas Hymns-4
This New Christmas Carrol [Source: William Sandys, Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern (London: Richard Beckley, 1833)] 1. This new Christmas carrol Let us chearfully sing, To the honor and glory Of our Heavenly King, Who was born of a Virgin, Blessed Mary by name, For poor sinners’ redemption To the world here he came. 2. …
Christmas Hymns-3
Today’s hymn, “A Child This Day Is Born”, may win a prize for the largest number of verses. [Source: William Sandys, Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern (London: Richard Beckley, 1833)] 1. A Child this day is born, A Child of high renown. Most worthy of a scepter, A scepter and a crown. Refrain Novels, Novels, …
Christmas Hymns-2
Penned by James Montgomery, this Christmas song “Angels from the Realms of Glory” was first published in his Sheffield newspaper on the Christmas Eve of 1816. Later, it was republished in the Christian Psalmist, 1825 with some additions. Isaac Gregory Smith wrote another version of this Christmas carol in 1855. Henry Smart gave the music …
Christmas Hymns-1
I am part of a religious tradition which has been known historically for its tendency to avoid celebrating December 25 as the birthday of Christ. That preference, often rising to the level of a doctrinal stance, has brought at least two results. First, we are not familiar with the wonderful variety of Nativity hymnody which …
Immanuel: God with us
Although the Bible never says exactly what time of the year Jesus was born, the time is near when the majority of the Christian world remembers and celebrates. Matthew’s nativity narrative mentions the name Immanuel; in Jesus’ coming, “God is with us.” What does that mean? How and why does this truth change our lives? …