Let’s talk about angels … I’ve been thinking about them throughout the Christmas season as I remember that “an angel of the Lord stood before (the shepherds), and the glory of the Lord shone around them … the angel said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people’ … Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on eart

Do you believe the Biblical story of Jesus’ nativity? Did a virgin girl really deliver the Son of God? Was Jesus born in a barn and attended by shepherds? Is the story of Christmas real?   While shepherds kept their watching O'er silent flocks by night, Behold thru-out the heavens There shone a holy light.   The shepherds feared and trembled When lo! above the earth Rang out the angel chorus That hailed our Savior's birth.   Down in a lowly manger The humble Christ was born,

Christmas is the celebration of God’s arrival into His physical creation. Jesus, the sinless Son of God, “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). The God of Heaven came near!   At the first Christmas, the God’s angels didn’t command the shepherds to leave their sheep on the hillside. The shepherds were invited. “ Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord… You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger” (Lu

We three kings of Orient are;   bearing gifts we traverse afar,   field and fountain, moor and mountain,   following yonder star. O star of wonder, star of light,   star with royal beauty bright,   westward leading, still proceeding,   guide us to thy perfect light.   Matthew’s Gospel reports “wise men” (Matthew 2:1) coming to worship the new-born King. In the original Greek language, “wise men” is “magi.” These men who came from the “east” (Matthew 2:1) were scholars who st

The American Civil war was raging and ravaging as the great American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow put pen to paper. Aching from the untimely death of his beloved wife, on Christmas Day 1863, he wrote these poetic stanzas:   I heard the bells on Christmas day Their old familiar carols play; In music sweet the tones repeat, “There’s peace on earth, good will to men.”   I thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along th’ unbroken song Of

The first Noel the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay, in fields where they lay keeping their sheep, on a cold winter’s night that was so deep. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,born is the King of Israel.   We’ve sung that song for as long as we can remember… It’s a favorite, right up there with “Joy to the World” … “Away in a Manger” … “O Come, All Ye Faithful” and … “Silent Night, Holy Night.”   … but what does it mean? What is the definition of “Noel”?

With twelve grandchildren, the Martin family has no shortage of birthday parties. Last week, Chloe turned thirteen… a teenager. Next week, Jude will celebrate his tenth birthday… double digits. I remember the days they came into the world. Our family was overjoyed at their births. We celebrated! Unhindered, unconstrained … silly, ridiculous joy filled our hearts!   There is little doubt that Mary, the mother of Jesus felt great joy at the arrival of her first-born-son. Joseph

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:1–3). God’s first command and God’s first miracle brought light into the lightless dark.   “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… In him was life, and that

Who worshipped the newborn King? Who bowed before Him? Who arrived at the cattle stall in Bethlehem to witness the wonderful Wonder? Not pastors and preachers. Not heads of state, but poor shepherds with the overpowering aroma of sheep and sweat.   After hearing the angel’s announcement, “the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’ They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the b

“ Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth to Bethlehem. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them” (Luke 2:4–7).   The pregnant virgin (yes, that’s an oxymoron!) and her fiancé traveled the ninety miles of rough road from Nazareth to their ancestral home in Bethlehem. It wasn’t a honeymoon or a ple