Happy New Year! The writers of the New Testament used two different words for “new.” One of them, neos, is more familiar to English speakers. It’s where we get our prefix neo-. Some hospitals, for example, have a special unit to care for neonates, or newborns. The other word, kainos, is less familiar to us; … Continue reading »
Tagged with holidays …
Thankfulness
Thanksgiving’s coming! Thanksgiving is a weird holiday, isn’t it? There’s the food: too much of it, usually, and things you don’t see the rest of the year, like cranberry relish and yams. There’s the spectacle on TV, starting with parades and ending with as many football games as you can fit into 24 hours and … Continue reading »
Easter vs. Fear
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust;I am not afraid; what can flesh do to me? —Psalm 56:3-4 According to a recent survey (http://bit.ly/czmm53), only 2% of Americans realize Easter is the most important holiday in the Christian faith. Even among Protestant Christians, … Continue reading »
Snow Day
For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth’;—Job 37:6 The church offices will be closed Thursday, January 21, due to snow. If you must go out today, be careful on the roads! We will post the status of tonight’s choir practice later today, as the weather situation becomes more apparent. Update, 12:00 p.m. … Continue reading »
Sharing Good News (a Lesson from the Bible)
One of my favorite Bible stories is found in 2 Kings 7. A neighboring empire had attacked Israel and Jerusalem was under siege. The city was surrounded, so nothing could get in or out, and people got very, very hungry. But one night, God caused the besiegers to hear the sound of a great army. … Continue reading »
Public Witness How-To’s
Several local groups of Christians participated in the Grubstakes Parade in Yucca Valley this weekend. Joshua Springs Christian School Pep Band. Joshua Springs Calvary Chapel operates a Christian School. They sent their Pep Band. As it went by my position, they were playing the James Bond theme. Very nice. Yucca Valley Nazarene Church Worship Team … Continue reading »
Unexpected Currents
Have you ever spent any time in the ocean? My in-laws have a house in southern Orange County. Whenever we visit, we go down to the same beach near their home. So we stake out a place on the beach and then we go out into the surf to swim and splash around. I enjoy … Continue reading »
Prepare the Way of the Lord
A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. –Isaiah 40:3 The church has two great joyous holidays: Easter and Christmas, the celebrations of our Lord’s Resurrection and his Incarnation. Both these two holidays follow a season of repentance and preparation. … Continue reading »