Christmas – how faint a whisper

Incarnation

I missed an exit and hit the steering wheel in frustration. The irony of that moment was not quickly lost: on my way to a personal, silent retreat for the weekend I was painfully demonstrating my need of it. The past week had personified freneticism, with calendar events and responsibilities running over and into eachContinue reading “Incarnation”

hope

the waiting dim of advent felt especially dark this year. the valley of the shadow of death was oh too real – some gone. some going. all of us not as strong as we think we are. the world, and its news, felt weary. relentless. and its Babel sounds, Babel grasping, Babel pride…exhaustively deafening. ourContinue reading “hope”

the waiting joy of Christmas

We stood tonight in the dimmed light, candles flickering in our hands, and the organ soft, just enough to guide our voices. The familiar words washed over like comfort, one of my favorite moments of Christmas each year, and always I want the song to last longer than it does. There’s something about that spaceContinue reading “the waiting joy of Christmas”

true repentance

I was reading in a book of Christian poetry this morning the words to several poems that have been set to music and become popular Christmas songs, as is the case with many hymns. And as is often also the case, one poem contained a verse I have never sung, or even heard before, andContinue reading “true repentance”

peace

A word, and a theme, that runs its way through a number of Christmas songs is that of peace. It’s a popular word, really, and one that even those without faith in our society can latch onto, especially at Christmas-time, and proclaim as a good thing. And true peace is a good thing, undoubtedly, thoughContinue reading “peace”

christmas words

I’m just starting to get involved with helping lead a youth group. It’s a pretty cool thing, one I’m excited about for a number of reasons. But more about that will have to wait for another post. Maybe. We’ll see. But anyway…the youth leader of this group just recently began a teaching series called “ChristmasContinue reading “christmas words”