Lord of the Dance

“Lord of the Dance” is a hymn written by Sydney Carter in the 1960s and set to the Shaker tune, “Simple Gifts.” I have been unable to get it out of my head. For over a week, this song greets me when I get up and pops in my head throughout the day. Even when…

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Babe of Bethlehem

About 20 years ago, my wife and I became acquainted with the music group, Nowell Sing We Clear. We were immediately struck with the way their lively music focused Christmas on Christ. Truly, they sing nowell clear. “Babe of Bethlehem” is one of their songs I’ve come to love because of its presentation of who…

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Cyprian and Plague

For a number of years, I have subscribed to Christian History magazine. If you enjoy church history and are not acquainted with Christian History magazine, I highly recommend it. Every issue is beautiful and informative. It is one of many ways I connect with Jesus through His people. I have been reading a special issue…

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The Greater Message

The writer of Hebrews warns us to pay even more attention to what we’ve heard so we don’t drift away.  What have we heard?  “God has spoken to us in His Son” (Heb. 1:2).  We must not drift from the Son, God’s message. People were punished for rejecting the message of prophets and angels.  Yet…

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Kingdom Meditations

“My kingdom is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight…. As it is, My kingdom does not have its origin here” (John 18:36). When Jesus says His kingdom is not of this world, we tend to think of location.  What if Jesus is talking about source, something qualitative?  My kingdom…

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Election Blues

Elections happened in the United States on November 3rd.  Leading up to elections, passions ran high in all political camps.  For some, their candidates won and their hopes were realized.  Others are singing the election blues.  For everyone, the election is over but the angst continues.  Our ideologies are sleepless and are already planning for…

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Truth, the Person

Sketch by Patrick Murphy: inspiredsketch.blogspot.com Jesus is real.  I could not deny that any more than I could deny my wife and kids, who live with me.  Jesus is not a set of propositional truths to be debated.  Christians may derive propositional truths or creeds from Jesus, but creeds are not Christ.  Creeds or doctrinal…

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Jack-o’-lanterns for Jesus

This is a post from years ago that has been on my mind since Hallowe’en is approaching *** Hallowe’en is a contraction derived from “All hallows even,” and marks the beginning of All Saints Day on November 1st.  All Saints is a time of commemorating those who have died in the faith.  Martin Luther chose…

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What Is Greatest to the Father

“Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways.  In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son” (Heb. 1:1-2). Jesus is not just a prophet or messenger that spoke about God.  He is the Son, God’s very speech, God’s message to man. The Son…

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Why Argue with an Atheist?

I’ve been watching a debate (from 2008) between Christopher Hitchens (an atheist), Dinesh D’Souza (a Christian), and Dennis Prager (a Jew).  (See the video here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0LY6Vwcp4-U).  The debate lasts for about two hours, and I’m 45 minutes into it. So far, Hitchens has dwelled a lot on evils committed by religious people.  I was surprised to…

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