Editorial: ‘Lord, help my unbelief!’
My skepticism was triggered immediately; it felt like an uncontrollable reflex. That was my reaction when reading this testimony from Jeremy and Adrienne Penner’s October newsletter: “My health was slowly deteriorating, and so I went to the hospital. The doctor found a large tumor in my abdomen and told me they would need to operate.… I didn't know a lot about Jesus yet, but I began to pray that he would heal my illness.… When I went back to the doctor for my scheduled operation, there was absolutely no sign of the tumor!”
Advent 2022: The candle of light
Today we light the final candle of Advent. This candle represents light.
What would Jesus’ Ancestry.ca look like?
Because of our modern understanding of genetics and heredity, it may be difficult to reconcile the idea that Jesus may not have been genetically a descendant (or “son”) of David at all.
The Passion of Jesus at Christmas
Jesus didn’t come as a conquering hero. He didn’t arrive as a man of strength, with an army on his right and left. He was born into this world as a baby.
Advent 2022: The candle of joy
In Mark 6, we encounter a king who is experiencing the absence of true joy. Herod is selfish, lustful, and distressed. The result of this foolishness is the death of John.
Advent 2022: The candle of love
Today is the third Sunday of Advent. We light the candle representing love. The love chapter (1 Corinthians 13) is a lofty, impossible challenge to fulfill without the enabling of the God who is love.
Joseph disappears
Nobody would call Joseph the “father of God.” Obviously. That would be blasphemy. But I still think about Joseph.
Advent 2022: The candle of peace
Advent reading for the second week: lighting the candle of peace.
Music review: Let It Be So
Let It Be So includes the titles “Emmanuel Has Come,” “What a Surprise,” “Hush,” “Advent Song,” as well as its title track. With piano as the primary accompaniment, but with options for additional instrumentation, several of these songs could be utilized as features for a church Christmas presentation.
Advent 2022: The candle of hope
Advent reading for the first week: lighting the candle of hope.