The Ember: A Christmas Meditation

The Ember: A Christmas Meditation

He was a contemporary of the great Isaiah, a peasant whose work is a mere seven chapters. Micah’s writings have been described as rugged, but clear and intelligible. And it is unlikely that we will experience any Christmastime without hearing or quoting from his...
Christmas Meditation: Light at Last

Christmas Meditation: Light at Last

The darkness seems absolute. Men before us have forgotten that it hides the morning star.  Irwin Edman, Professor of Philosophy In the home we built four years ago, our study faces due east toward the southern end of the Mayacamas Mountains, an ancient volcanic range...
Christmas Meditation: Silence is Broken

Christmas Meditation: Silence is Broken

I like to begin with the priest in the Temple. We can begin our advent meditations in any number of places—the stable, out on the hillside, with the vivid Old Testament prophecies. I particularly love the opening of Luke’s account. He begins at the breaking of...
This One Shall Be Peace

This One Shall Be Peace

The Christian needs to walk in peace so no matter what happens they will bear witness to a watching world. Henry Blackaby In the late 8th c. B.C. a prophet named Micah wrote a small book that includes a great messianic prophecy. One of the charms of this little book...
Christmas Question: Why Then?

Christmas Question: Why Then?

The past looks forward to the future. Nothing in the past will satisfy the hearts of men. We may ransack antiquity but we shall find there no substitute for Christ. W.F. Adeney, 19th c. minister and biblical scholar What does Alexander the Great have to do with the...
Girl in the Morning

Girl in the Morning

Behold the maidservant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word.Luke 1:38 Here at the beginning of Advent, and after a year that feels shredded, we turn once again to the Christmas story for beauty and for comfort in its familiar scenes and eternal promise....