The Season of Lent A depiction of Jonah from the façade of the Amiens Cathedral (thirteenth century). The season of Lent is a time of prayer, fasting and self-examination in preparation for the celebration of the resurrection of the Lord at Easter. It is a period of 40 days — like the flood of Genesis, Moses’ sojourn at Mount Sinai, […]
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The meaning of most holidays is clear: Valentine’s Day celebrates romance; July First, independence; Thanksgiving, productivity; Christmas, good will toward men. The meaning of New Year’s Day–the world’s most celebrated holiday–is not so clear. On this day, many people remember last year’s achievements and failures and look forward to the promise of a new year, of a new beginning. But […]
Why do we celebrate Christmas? Christians the world over celebrate Christmas in honor of the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. Various Christmas traditions have been associated with the celebration of Christmas, and different cultures celebrate different ways. The unifying factor is the historical fact that Jesus was born, c. 5 BC. The angel who appeared to the shepherds the night of Jesus’ […]
History of Presidents’ Day Presidents’ Day has its roots in the celebration of George Washington’s birthday, which has been observed as a national holiday in the United States since the late 18th century. Washington was born on February 22, 1732, and his birthday was first officially recognized as a national holiday by an act of Congress in 1879. The holiday […]
Pie Pie. Me oh my, Nothing tastes sweet, wet, salty and dry All at once, oh well it’s pie Apple! Pumpkin! Minced an’ wet bottom. Come to your place everyday if you’ve got em’ Pie, Me oh my, I love pie! 1. An increased tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen. 2. Frequent attacks of smiling. 3. […]
The Bible is filled with commands to give thanks to God (Psalm 106:1; 107:1; 118:1; 1 Chronicles 16:34; 1 Thessalonians 5:18). Most verses go on to list reasons why we should thank Him, such as “His love endures forever” (Psalm 136:3), “He is good” (Psalm 118:29), and “His mercy is everlasting” (Psalm 100:5). Thanksgiving and praise always go together. We cannot adequately praise and worship God […]
Of Heretics and Outlaws – The Edict of Worms Up until 1521, it had been relatively safe to show an interest in the writings and teachings of Martin Luther (1483-1546). When Luther refused to recant his writings in opposition to various doctrines and practices of the Roman Catholic Church, the Edict of Worms was signed by Charles V, the Holy […]
Recently, somebody asked me for a list of referenced from the Bible that we can turn to in times of uncertainty and despair. I know what this person was looking for, the problem for me, is how long does this person want this list to be? Of course, I can give you some direction on where to turn in the […]
As I am a pastor, I am very interested in having people in church. But it is not only “in church” that I want them. I want all people to have a relationship with God that is such an integral part of their life that they cannot imagine not coming to church. So, I started asking myself and others why […]