“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14) Well it’s January 3 and your test has arrived. That’s right, I said test.Don’t you remember? It was just the other night, New Year’s Eve, when you told your spouse, a child, or perhaps a friend about your New Year’s resolution. The question now is are you going to abandon it like you abandoned the ones you made last year, and the year before? After all, two-thirds of the […]

“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 this week 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 all […]

“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 […]