The Voice of One

Taking a Holiday

Christmas is now breathing down down our necks. (At least it’s milk and cookie scented breath). My schedule is filling up with holiday plans, leaving little time for blogging. So, I’m taking a break until the end of the month. (If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, right?) I’d love it if readers would take…

If It IS Broke, Don’t Fix It

“Brokenness” is a term I hear bandied about by Christians. “We need God to break us” or “We need to be broken before God” are some usual phrases. I wholeheartedly agree. That said, I don’t see a lot of actual brokenness in the church. In fact, a lot of the teaching aims to fix us….

Linus Nails It

“And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them! And they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not! For, behold, I…

God Bless Us, Everyone!

As I’ve written elsewhere, A Christmas Carol is a favorite holiday story in our house. To many, it’s a familiar tale. Scrooge is a selfish, old miser. Financial gain is his one great love. He thinks little of the poor and even comments that they should die to “decrease the surplus population.” (Uh…WOW). Scrooge’s heart…

O Holy Night

I am a rabid Christmas carol fan. (Is it even right to say that? LOL). The day after Thanksgiving you’ll find an (almost) unbroken stream/flood of carols coming from my home and car stereos. Thanks be to God the place I work plays carols all season long as well. I love the deluge of worship…

Ever Change from Carbon to Chlorine-Based? Me Neither…

The day after Thanksgiving, a change came over our house. A small tree decked with lights and decorations appeared in the front window. Stockings lined up on the hearth. Various nooks and crannies were surprised to find snowmen and Santas loitering in them. Carols began pouring from the family room stereo. The Christmas…

Equal Glory–Simeon the New Theologian

I know that he who is far outside the whole creation Takes me within himself and hides me in his arms, And then I find myself outside the whole world. I, a frail, small mortal in the world, Behold the Creator of the world, all of him, within myself; And I know that I shall not…

Despising the Lamb: Contempt for Christ in First Samuel

Painting by Johnny Mays, Nationalight Ministries Several years ago, the Lord drew me to the book of First Samuel. Through the stories in First Samuel, God began to show me pictures of Christ being despised by His own people. The pictures gave me a small glimpse of the grief the Lord has suffered–and still suffers–for our sakes….

Christology Is Theology

Pantocrator Icon. This is a common depiction of Jesus among Orthodox Christians. Jesus is holding the scriptures, which shows that He watches over our doctrine. Some core Christian doctrines are represented in the icon. The three fingers on Jesus’s right hand touch to symbolize the Trinity. Two fingers above slightly overlap; the upper finger represents…

Why I Don’t Fast

I don’t fast. Many Christians extol fasting as a spiritual discipline, a catalyst of spiritual power, and an exercise in humbling oneself. I understand the reasons others choose to fast, and I respect their convictions. But I don’t fast, and I’d like to tell you why. I don’t share my thoughts to suggest other…