Today’s Scripture reading: Luke 1:57–66. In this passage, Zechariah emerges from nine months of silence with an important message. We will see what that important message is in a moment, but it might be helpful first to remember why … Continue reading Grace, Faith and Obedience | Luke 1:57-66
Today’s Scripture reading: Luke 1:46–56. As I wrote at the outset of this series, Christmas is a singing season. With today’s Scripture reading (Luke 1:46–56), we get to the first of the four songs Luke records. It has come … Continue reading Magnificat! | Luke 1:46-56
Today’s Scripture reading: Luke 1:39–45 In Luke 1:39–56, the stories of Elizabeth’s and Mary’s miraculous conceptions intertwine when the two women meet. They are relatives, it turns out, and what could be more natural than family members sharing good news? … Continue reading The Blessings of Believing | Luke 1:39-45
Today’s Scripture reading:Luke 1:26–38 Luke pairs the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth (Luke 1:5–25) with the story of Mary so that, among other things, we can compare and contrast them for our spiritual benefit. Let’s begin with the comparisons. In … Continue reading Responding to God with Simple Faith | Luke 1:26-38
Today’s Scripture reading: Luke 1:23–25 “You should be ashamed of yourself” is one of the most powerful combinations of words in the English language, both for good and for evil. At best, those six words shake people out of their … Continue reading The Antidote to Shame | Luke 1:23-25
Today’s Scripture reading: Luke 1:13–17 In Luke’s account of Christ’s birth, silence precedes singing. Zechariah and Elizabeth’s home was silent because they were childless. Zechariah’s mouth became silent because he doubted the angel’s good news. And Israel’s prophets were silent … Continue reading The Lord Is Gracious | Luke 1:13-17
Today’s Scripture reading: Luke 1:8–23 The singing season of Christmas begins in the silence of a childless home. It becomes even quieter with the doubts of Zechariah. While Zechariah is offering incense to God in the temple, an angel appears … Continue reading Struggling with Disappointment and Doubt | Luke 1:8-23
Today’s scripture reading: Luke 1:5–7 Christmas is a singing season. Its catalogue of music includes an A to Z of joyous, hopeful tunes, both sacred and secular. Every song from “Away in a Manger” to “White Christmas” finds its proper … Continue reading Silent Beginnings | Luke 1:5-7
Today, in honor of Christ’s birth, I’m posting the second best Christmas story ever told: “Trouble at the Inn” by Dina Donohue. My dad read this almost every year at our church’s Christmas Eve service. Good times! And merry Christmas! ~ George —– For years now whenever Christmas pageants are talked about in a certain little town in the Midwest, someone is sure to mention the name of Wallace Purling. Wally’s performance in one annual production of the Nativity play has slipped into the realm of legend. But the old timers who were in the audience that night never tire … Continue reading “Trouble at the Inn” by Dina Donohue
DECEMBER 22: Happy Winter Solstice Day! POT, MEET KETTLE: “The Accidental Universe: Science’s crisis of faith.” That same uncertainty disturbs many physicists who are adjusting to the idea of the multiverse. Not only must we accept that basic properties of our universe are accidental and uncalculable. In addition, we must believe in the existence of many other universes. But we have no conceivable way of observing these other universes and cannot prove their existence. Thus, to explain what we see in the world and in our mental deductions, we must believe in what we cannot prove. Sound familiar? Theologians are … Continue reading The World Wide (Religious) Web for Thursday, December 22, 2011
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