As a kid, I couldn’t wait for Christmas. I ached for it to arrive. Growing up in Southern California, we didn’t get snow like we do where I live now in Bend, Oregon. But in […]
Tag: Advent
Rahab transformed & the birth of Jesus
When it comes time for Advent, the season of waiting in preparation for the coming of Jesus, we generally go back to the same passages in Luke and Matthew to retell the story. But when […]
Advent calendar – a poem
Each day, a door opens, Revealing a hidden piece of chocolate, A tiny taste Of something sweet That whets the appetite For the Christmas feast to come. They are like cheap plastic cups In communion trays, […]
The Door: A Christmas story
“Will you shut that door! “How many times do I have to say it? “You’d think we were trying to heat the whole world the way you leave the doors open, letting all the warm […]
False piety & the sign of the virgin
The Christmas story is one of our favorite and best. There’s no shortage to the ways it speaks to us of our great need and God’s great love. But among all of its beautiful themes, […]
White Christmas: an Advent poem
“Come, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” — Isaiah […]
Advent & the silence of Zechariah
One of the most-omitted Christmas stories is that of Zechariah and the angel in the temple (Luke 1:5-25). We all want to jump right to the birth of Jesus and focus on either Matthew 2 […]
Unemployed at Christmas
Unemployed at Christmas Joseph the carpenter Did not build his baby’s bed/// Shepherds left their field And their flock No longer shepherding But chasing the angels’ call instead/// Magi followed a star Not their career […]
The power of No — resistance is not futile
A while ago, I passed by a guy wearing a black t-shirt with the one-word sentence on it: “No.” I was tempted to ask him a question that he would have to answer with a […]