“Do your utmost to come before winter.” (2 Timothy 4:21) Now that Christmas is over, our thoughts quickly turn to the year ahead. The truth is January can be one of the most depressing months of the year. Credit card bills come in from all that Christmas overspending, and winter, if not already here, is approaching, which means that we have very few days over the next couple of months that will permit us to pursue all those outdoor activities that we enjoy. Winter doesn’t have to be […]

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) I heard a radio program some time back arguing that Santa Claus had taken the Christ right out of Christmas. I’m not going there with this column because I don’t believe it. The truth is the real story of Santa Claus has gotten lost in the commercialization of Christmas, a testament of sorts to the genius of American retailers who wanted to be sure that moms and dads didn’t forget them at Christmas either. The irony behind […]

“You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.” (Luke 1:31) The gospel rests on three giant pillars: Jesus’ virgin birth, atoning death, and bodily resurrection. The Easter season celebrates Jesus’ death and resurrection. Christmas focuses solely on the virgin birth. You can’t call yourself a Christian if you don’t believe in the virgin birth.I remember my doubt about it as an unbeliever. I thought it defied one of the most basic laws of nature. So did […]

“And I will not give My glory to another.”(Isaiah 48:11) The Bible teaches us that there are two things God will not share: vengeance and glory. I learned a great lesson about the latter during a job interview this past summer. We all approach interviews pretty much the same way: We dress appropriately for them to make a good first impression. When the questions come, we answer them honestly, knowing all the time that it’s our chance to illustrate how our knowledge, skills and abilities are a close […]