On the 12th of October, thirty-three trapped Chilean miners ascended to the surface of the Earth. As spectacular as that event was, their exodus might never have happened, were it not for the miners' faith in action. Theirs is a story worth telling.
Once upon a time an unscrupulous painter wandered into town. He found a quaint little clapboard church in need of painting and offered his services. The folks could hardly believe his rates – all he wanted was the price of the paint, plus room and board.
Jesus came riding, not on a great white stallion, but on the colt of a donkey. His humble procession proclaimed that the Almighty God chooses to work, not through displays of power, but through displays of humility.
THE PROCLAMATION OF JOHN THE BAPTIST: Each year, long about this time, we receive our annual visit from a very strange-looking dude by the name of: John the Baptist. Now any time a Baptist shows up, you can be pretty sure he’s gonna start quotin’ you some scripture! – And this Baptist doesn’t disappoint!
BILL WIGMORE is Chief Executive Officer of Austin Recovery, the largest chemical dependency treatment center in Central Texas. He began working in the addiction field through volunteer work he was doing as a member of the Jesuit order in Detroit where he was studying for the priesthood. It was then that he identified his own [...]
Our family once attended a church that refused to sing Christmas songs until Christmas Eve. We found it very difficult to “get in the Christmas spirit.” I never thought that was a battle worth fighting. I see no harm in singing Christmas carols whenever you want to.
Today begins the season of Advent. We start with darkness and waiting, and we ask the unlikely question, “Is God far away?” So, here we are on this first Sunday of Advent. Waiting for a sign.
Here it seems that you’re connected with everybody else in at least one way. The Christian faith takes this a step further. It goes on to assert that all our stories have their place within one great story, which is the life of God and his people.
The word “unexpectedly” has had to bear a heavy burden among us these last four days. Ray’s passing from us was, as we say, “unexpected.” It is for us a shock, a stab in the heart, an emptiness and a grief.
Some people prefer the darkness, because in the light they see too much. They continue in their old ways, because they don’t like having a light shine on them that will show that their relationship with God is in a terrible state and they are in serious trouble.