Articles for tag: Christmas

Anxiety & Depression Care & Counseling

Freedom From Fear

By Jinghong Cai “We, therefore, believe in theÂ inherent dignity of every humanÂ being””dignity that no earthlyÂ power can take away. And centralÂ to that dignity is freedom of religion””the right of every person to practice their faith how they choose, to change their faith if they choose, or to practice no faith at all, and to do this free from persecution and fear.” Â Â “”President Obama On February 6, 2014, President Obama made a remarkable speech at the National Prayer Breakfast. He highlighted freedom of religion as the right of every person to practice their faith free from persecution and fear. It is only

May 27, 2014

Communion & Lord's Supper Theology & Bible

The Christian”s Ritual of Remembrance

By Mark A. Taylor Last Saturday, The Wall Street Journal posted a headline above a picture of a grade-school boy decorating a soldier”s grave in Virginia: “With Memorial Day Approaching, Rituals of Remembrance Begin.” But the American Automobile Association estimated more than 36 million Americans would be traveling over the holiday weekend. A spokesman suggested this year”s unrelenting winter created a pent-up longing to experience warm temperatures in wide-open spaces. And I”m wondering how many of these sun-starved campers, fliers, and interstate sojourners took time for a “ritual of remembrance.” Only a minority, most likely, but I”ll not bore you

May 25, 2014

Christian Living

Clear Desks and Clean Hearts

By Mark A. Taylor No one has ever accused me of being neat. Every year for Christmas, my college roommate (everyone knew he was neat) gave me some new device for organizing my desk or dresser. It always included compartments, cubbyholes, or drawers designed to contain the clutter that filled most of the flat spaces in my room. Later, when I moved a step or two out of young adult self-absorption, I realized how patient he had been. Pilers have no trouble living with filers. My roommate”s ordered desk and organized closet never bothered me! But the well-put-together among us

December 24, 2013

Discipleship & Spiritual Formation

We Follow Too

By Mark A. TaylorÂ “Where he leads me, I will follow.” That was Mary”s decision, finally, after she had expressed her confusion about the message the angel brought her. “I am the Lord”s servant,” she said. “May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38). Joseph, with his own set of doubts, decided he would obey God, too. When God”s messenger explained to Joseph that his fiancÃ©e was pregnant by action of the Holy Spirit, “he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him” (Matthew 1:24). Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, obeyed God”s will, too, although

December 23, 2013

Theology & Bible

The Color of Christmas

By Daniel Schantz “[White] is not a mere absence of color; it is a shining and affirmative thing, as fierce as red, as definite as black. . . . God paints in many colors; but He never paints so gorgeously . . . as when he paints in white.” “”G.K. Chesterton, from his essay “A Piece of Chalk,” 1905 Â Although the traditional colors of Christmas are red and green, no color expresses the spiritual essence of Christmas quite like the color white. Grace “Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7). Snow is the perfect

December 22, 2013

The World in a Stable

By Robert F. Hull Jr. Only the Gospel of Luke gives us a manger scene, and we love it. It has become a standard part of our Christmas decorations. But if our manger scenes were modeled strictly after what Luke tells us, they would be quite sparse. There would be Mary and Joseph, and of course, the baby Jesus in a manger, and some shepherds. That”s it. The nativity scene at our house has only one shepherd, but a couple of sheep have followed him from the fields to the stable, and the shepherd has another one draped around his

December 20, 2013

Culture & Public Square Race

God and Sinners Reconciled

By Victor Knowles I believe the music of Christmas is the most beautiful music in the world. Indeed, it may even be the most meaningful music the world will ever know. From “Away in a Manger” to Handel’s “Messiah,” the marvelous message of the true meaning of Christ’s coming to earth is made clear. It is especially appropriate at this time of Communion to ponder the reason Jesus Christ was born.xÂ “Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing” (“O Come, All Ye Faithful”). John tells us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and

December 19, 2013

Theology & Bible

Incarnation

By Tom Lawson Stephen and Ian stood together talking, while they braved the crisp breeze of a cold December in downtown Lexington, Kentucky. They had decided to go to a popular local cafÃ© for lunch. But the people standing outside told them what was confirmed by the hostess at the door, “It will be about 20 to 30 minutes, if you want to wait.” They did. In the eight months between college and graduate school, my son Stephen decided to live and worship with a group of Christians in a depressed section of Lexington. From various denominations, the members of

December 17, 2013

Christian Standard Updates News & Updates

More Than a Magazine

By Mark A. Taylor Do you see CHRISTIAN STANDARD magazine? Many readers say it”s the best it”s ever been. But our monthly publication is not the only media we”re using to serve readers and leaders. There”s this website, of course, with new material every day to inform and inspire you. Frequent visitors have discovered they can have total access to all the news, commentary, practical help, and biblical and theological studies here for one, low annual price. And if you want to commit to less than a year, the service offers ridiculously inexpensive one-day and one-month options. Although many of

December 15, 2013

Church Life

What About the Church?

By Chris Beard John 1 is by far my favorite Christmas story. With all due respect to mangers, angels, and magi, John”s account of the Christmas event overflows with the epic proclamation and fanfare that such an earth-shattering moment deserves. Before the foundation of the world, One existed who shared in God”s presence and identity. This eternal being was the chief executor of creation; nothing was made without him. On a day that would redefine history, this all-powerful, eternal being became flesh and made his dwelling among us! This majestic juncture when God collided with human history is known as

December 12, 2013

Jim Nieman

‘Happy Incarnation Day’

By Matt Proctor Your theology of the incarnation matters. It affects how you view your body, your problems, your ministry””and your celebration of the holiday before us. Your theology of the incarnation matters. Santa Claus thought so. Saint Nicholas, the bishop of Myra in Asia Minor in the early fourth century, is the historical basis for the Santa myth. Born to a wealthy family, Nicholas used his entire inheritance to help the poor, sick, and children in need. Stories of Saint Nick describe him saving young women from slavery, providing grain in a famine, and sparing innocents from execution. It”s

December 10, 2013

Getting Ready for Christmas

By Mark A. Taylor We hear plenty of exhortations to “Keep Christ in Christmas” but receive far too little help for actually doing that. Here”s a simple idea: Read and reflect on some part of the Bible”s Christmas story each day in the week-and-a-half before Christmas. Following is a plan for daily Bible reading December 15-25. The Scripture passages are short, and most are very familiar. You”ll hear some of them quoted in church services this month. But your own commitment to consider them afresh and alone can add balance and joy to your holiday this year. Or you might

December 9, 2013

New Testament Theology & Bible

Lesson for December 15, 2013: Zechariah Prophesies About His Son John (Luke 1:57-80)

By Sam E. Stone It had been 400 years since the last of the Old Testament prophets appeared on the scene in Israel. The angel Gabriel”s announcement””first to Zechariah, then to Mary””broke Heaven”s silence. When Zechariah was told that he and his elderly wife, Elizabeth, would be the parents of a son (John), the old priest was incredulous. Because he asked the angel for a sign, he was unable to speak from that moment on. On the other hand, when Mary learned that she would be the mother of the Messiah, she humbly submitted herself to be the Lord”s slave.

December 8, 2013

The Ironic Opportunity of Christmas

By Ethan Magness For centuries, church leaders have been creatively using the cultural opportunities available to them to proclaim the gospel and the reign of the kingdom of God. Most of our current Christmas traditions developed in this way. Cultural practices (many pagan in origin) were adapted and redeveloped in the context of celebration of Christ”s birth. In fact, although the precise history is murky, it is likely the date of the celebration itself was chosen to co-opt the ancient celebration of the sun that occurred at the winter solstice. These opportunities to redeem the culture around us and focus

December 3, 2013

An Opportunity to Ponder

By Mark A. Taylor The gospel is born and bathed in mystery. How can we understand, how can we respond to what Jesus said and who Jesus was? He told his followers, “I am the light of the world” and, “You are the light of the world.” We and he are the same light? How? He commanded, “Be holy, even as I am holy.” How is that possible? He told Nicodemus, “You must be born again,” and with the puzzled Pharisee, the first-time reader asks, “How can a grown man climb back into the womb?” The greatest mystery, of course,

November 26, 2013

Stewardship & Generosity

Giving to Those Who Can”t Give Back

By Mark A. Taylor Looking for a different way to infuse your Christmas celebration with meaning? Gayla Congdon has an idea. During our November 21 Beyond the Standard BlogTalkRadio program*, she mentioned a program with lots of possibilities. “We”re encouraging families to participate in 24 days of disruption, starting December 1,” she said. “Each day visitors to our blog or Facebook page will receive another idea for family activities to create a meaningful Christmas.” Here”s how Amor”s website describes the challenge: The 24 Days of Advent journey will stretch you. It will cause you to rethink your economy of Christmas

November 3, 2013

Michael C. Mack

Seven Ways Your Small Group Can Celebrate the Incarnation This Holiday Season

By Michael C. Mack Many groups struggle with meeting and studying over the holidays, and this can be detrimental to the health of your group. Not only that, but this is a prime time of the year to help your group members grow in their faith and invite new people. Perhaps your group will take a break from its normal schedule, but that”s no reason to stop meeting. Here are seven ideas for how your small group can get the most””and give the most””from Thanksgiving through New Year”s. 1. Experience Christmas. This is one of the most wonderful times

June 21, 2013

Book Reviews Reviews

A Book of Treasures

By Daniel Schantz My heart is racing and I can”t sleep, so at midnight I rise and go to my study. I sit at my desk and reach for an old, brown volume titled, Favorite Hymns. Slowly I leaf through the pages, reading the titles and lyrics of hymns like, “Be Still, My Soul,” and “God Will Take Care of You,” and “It Is Well with My Soul.” My breathing slows, and soon I trudge back to bed, where I drift into deep slumber. Tranquility is just one of the many virtues buried in the old hymnbooks. Much of what

January 4, 2013