Epiphany

Posted on January 6, 2008 by Mike F.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,  saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”  When Herod the king [...]

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Merry Christmas

Posted on December 25, 2007 by Mike F.

I apologize for the lack of Advent posts last week, but family takes priority.  Anyway, have a merry Christmas and remember that today, in the city of David, our Savior was born. 

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Luther on Joy

Posted on December 19, 2007 by Mike F.

Here are Martin Luther’s comments on joy
Joy means sweet thoughts of Christ, melodious hymns and psalms, praises and thanksgiving, with which Christians instruct, inspire, and refresh themselves. God does not like doubt and dejection. He hates dreary doctrine, gloomy and melancholy thought. God likes cheerful hearts. He did not send His Son to fill us [...]

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What Joy is Not

Posted on December 18, 2007 by Mike F.

Joy, must be sharply distinguished both from Happiness and Pleasure. Joy has indeed one characteristic, and one only, in common with them; the fact that anyone who has experienced it will want it again…I doubt whether anyone who has tasted it would ever, if both were in his power, exchange it for all the pleasures [...]

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The Run Up to Christmas vs. Advent

Posted on December 17, 2007 by Mike F.

John Halton posted this at the Boar’s Head Tavern concerning Advent vs. the run up to Christmas.
I think the church is facing a difficult clash between Advent and “the run-up to Christmas”.
Advent is a time of darkness, of waiting, of voices crying out in the wilderness, of singing “O come, O come, Emmanuel” in candlelit churches.
The [...]

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3rd Week of Advent: Joy

Posted on December 16, 2007 by Mike F.

It will be said on that day,
“Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.
This is the Lord; we have waited for him;
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
Isaiah 25:9
Undoubtedly, our response to the advent season should be one of joy. We should rejoice at the [...]

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Peace to the World

Posted on December 10, 2007 by Mike F.

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both [...]

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2nd Week of Advent: Peace

Posted on December 9, 2007 by Mike F.

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to [...]

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St. Nicholas Day

Posted on December 6, 2007 by Mike F.

(Reposted from last year)
December 6th is the date many traditionally celebrate St. Nicholas, the man who would eventually become known as Santa Claus. What many do not know is that St. Nicholas was a real man who deserves to be more widely known. (Or at least, known as more than a fat guy who [...]

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What is Hope?

Posted on December 3, 2007 by Mike F.

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
Psalm 62:5
What is hope?  How can we say Christ is Hope or that he represents God’s gift of hope to the world?  What does it mean to say we have hope in Jesus?  If I take the popular definition of the word, [...]

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