A Christmas meditation:

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shined.
You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Isaiah 9.2-7

Christ has come. Jesus, the light of the world has come to us who dwell in these shadow lands. This Christmas let us celebrate the zeal of the Lord of the hosts of heaven, the salvation He has wrought, and the humility of Christ that gives hope all who will accept this child, this babe, this son of Mary.

(Also posted over at the BHT Advent blog)

I love the Glory Be found inliturgical services: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.” It is such an expression of trinitarian faith, Godly worship, and eternal truth.

This song is my expounding on the truth expressed in theGlory be. The words are taken almost word for word out of services found in The Book of Common Prayer. Read the rest of this entry

I love the Psalms. They are full of humanity, emotion, history, and God. I love that they were coupled with music at the temple and at the same time were/are the prayer book of the Jewish nation. In fact, this is what I love most about the Psalms: the blurred line between prayer and song.

Our times of corporate worship have been over-run with cheap songs. These are songs that have the same theme (i.e.- how big/great/beautiful our God is), seek to bring about the same response (i.e.- “sing with me”, “stand and lift up [your] hands…”), and use the same four chords (G, C, D, Em… and I kid you not). These are not rich songs of belief. These songs do not capture the struggle of humanity, the history of God’s deeds, or anything other than ecstatic, emotional moments of rapture. Where are out laments? our confessions? our songs of hope and anticipation in the final coming of our Messiah? Read the rest of this entry

Another good post by the undaunted Michael Spencer.

One interpretation of “morality” does not the gospel make. May we all remember that the Christianity is not about being good, nice people. It is the raw, messy, earthy act of God bringing men and women to life. Let us find the offence of the Gospel in the right place: the cross alone.

If you have spent any time with me at all, you know that I am very at home in apathy. It is not something I am proud of; indeed, I spend most of my life trying to get my self to fight it. But every battle needs two sides, and as much as I try and fight, things keep happening that draw me back into my “do nothing” hole.

This time, it’s lonelinesses. Read the rest of this entry

In the short time I have wandered about the christian Blogsphere, I have see a small, select group of bloggers who feel that their embodyment of the Faith is the only true expression of faith in Christ. The need to correct “offensive” language, take pot shots at the self admitted weaknesses of others, and patrol sites and persons for any other infraction have lead me to belive that their statement of faith is rather different from mine. Read the rest of this entry

I originaly posted at the BHT group advent blog… I wanted to post it here because I need to remember this, all the time. Before reading, let me make a few sugestions: First, go read the advent blog. It is worth your time, and is good for the soul. Second, get some good advent/christmas music to listen to while reading. I would suggest Andrew Peterson’s Behold the Lamb, or Sufjan Stevens Hark! Songs for Christmas Vol 1,2,and 3 (you can download them here, leagaly and for free) (HT: Reforissionary). Finaly, brew some coffee or some tea, sit sit back, and contemplate the incarnation. Perhaps read over Luke Chapters 1 and 2 with the newest eyes you can muster, and pray that our hearts might find healing in the birth of our Lord.

Advent is a season to celebrate remembering, to rejoice in the truth that God remembers his people.

A reading from the book of Isaiah: Read the rest of this entry