Phil Stong, the author of State Fair, is from my home town of Keosauqua, IA. Here are two excerpts of an article he wrote in 1951. “Let’s go home for Christmas.” This is an airy phrase, a soap bubble of…
Where You Will Find the Baby Jesus
Martin Luther: In the words of Scripture you will find the swaddling clothes in which Christ lies. Merry Christmas. Quoted in Timothy George, The Theology of the Reformers, page 83.
One of the best literary introductions to Christmas . . . and one of the best conclusions
The inimitable Dickens in A Christmas Carol: Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed…
For those doing “chores” on Christmas Eve
If you’re on the schedule to be doing working this Christmas Eve, I can relate. In my growing up corner of Iowa, barely out of Missouri, and a half our west of the Mississippi, we did farm work, what farmers…
The Glory of Grandma Sharon (and my children’s joy)
During the Christmas season, my mother aims for “grandmotherly glory.” Without apology, she wants to display that she is the supreme grandmother in her home. She intends that all people in Greater Keosauqua, Iowa (my hometown) will see that she…
What was the greatest miracle ever?
Suppose I asked you to name the greatest miracle that ever took place? If you know the Bible you have lots to choose from. God rescued three from a blazing furnace. He closed the mouths of lions and demolished the…
Bet you can’t guess who has been on the most Time covers?
But, I’ll bet you can guess who is on pace to have triple the number of covers of anyone else. Click here to see.
Who has you?
Frederick Dale Bruner explains why the rich young ruler missed the “adventure of a lifetime”: Matthew 19:20-22: The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would…
Matt Chandler, “It is better to go into the house of mourning than the house of feasting”
Pastor Matt Chandler of the Village Church recently learned that he has a malignant brain tumor. In a brief update for his church today (watch it here), he shared that a verse which has constantly been on his mind is…
Maybe give someone a side-hug at church today? It is imperative.
With emphasis on the word, “holy,” and understanding that cultural mores are different, and bearing in mind Ephesians 5:3 – . . . Notice that these verses are in the imperative mood, thereby making them non-optional. Greet one another with…