Monthly archive for ‘ December, 2012 ’

Christmas Contribution

20th December 2012 | 1 Comment

You know Joseph gets a pretty side-lined part in the whole nativity. Sure he is always posed in perfect reverence before the manger scene. Certainly in various artist depictions, he is shown walking in deference to his expectant wife upon the donkey. But if you get the part of Joseph in the Christmas pageant, you […]


Our Day of Infamy

18th December 2012 | 2 Comments

December 18, 2008–A day with agonizing memories for our family. Nearly six months after the initial warrant and Joel’s police interview, we rushed out the door for school and were met by half a dozen black vehicles and armed federal agents. We had been assured previously by the police officer in charge of the case […]


Greater Than

13th December 2012 | 1 Comment

Our pastor used a great word picture a couple weeks ago in service that really made me think about how we live our lives. He asked two young students to contrast several ideas using the symbols for “greater than” and “less than”. The first few were simple. “$5 or $25,” or “1 hour or 3 […]


One Starfish at a Time

11th December 2012 | 1 Comment

A young child walking on the beach after a storm who observed thousands of starfish languishing in the sand. He began to pick them up one at a time and throw them as far as he could out into the ocean. When an older man saw what he was doing he asked the boy, “What […]


The Way Devised

10th December 2012 | 0 Comments

I read this amazing description of God in 2 Samuel the other day. “But God does not just sweep life away; instead He devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from Him.” (14:14b) As I wade through the Scriptures, I come across this theme again and again. God, the Pursuer. God […]


Are You Afraid?

6th December 2012 | 3 Comments

This question asked with genuine concern, caught me so off guard that in an instant I found my throat closing, and my eyes watering. I stared into her kind face, and refused myself the luxury of tears. With practiced restraint I forced back the tears, and answered honestly, “All the time, every day.” There–it was […]


The Pursuit

3rd December 2012 | 1 Comment

I am still thinking about the wise men and the many lessons we can learn from their story. This poem is an expression of some of my pondering on this issue. A tingle runs up my spine, and I find myself on the verge of tears as I imagine the God of the universe in […]


God Chasers

2nd December 2012 | 0 Comments

This morning we had a Christmas Tea at our church with a beautiful and thought provoking dramatic presentation on the wise men. Since I grew up in a Christian home, I have known this story “forever.” But today God impressed me with new insight. The Magi studied the stars, studied the prophecies and determined that […]