by Larry Eubanks | Dec 24, 2015 | Opinion
When did Bethlehem become the “city of David”? That title had always been given to Jerusalem. Forty times in the Old Testament, Jerusalem is referred to as the city of David, and no other city in the Bible is ever called by that name. Until Luke’s...
by Barry Howard | Dec 23, 2015 | Opinion
It’s dark outside, and Monday seemed even darker than usual. And it should. It was the darkest day of the year. For those of us who live in the northern hemisphere, the shortest day of the year, the Winter Solstice, usually occurs on Dec. 21. The solstice, which...
by James Gordon | Dec 23, 2015 | Opinion
The story of Jesus turning water into wine is one of the great surprise moments of John’s Gospel. John’s word for those surprise moments is “sign.” The surprise is only the start. John isn’t trying to pique our curiosity, like the clever...
by Zach Dawes Jr | Dec 23, 2015 | Opinion
This Advent season has been filled with tragic headlines, making the seasonal songs about hope, peace, joy and love seem disconnected from the worldwide disposition. Yet, Jesus was born in discordant times to a lower-class Jewish couple living in an occupied land....
by Tony W. Cartledge | Dec 22, 2015 | Opinion
I’ve never been one to go whole hog for Christmas decorations, especially the outdoor variety. Our external decorations consist of a wreath on the door: inside, nativity sets on the mantel. The only lights are on the Christmas tree. The more stuff you put up, I...
by Bill Wilson | Dec 22, 2015 | Opinion
Our current Christmas celebration habits are uniquely post-World War II phenomena. Much of the excess we experience stands at odds with the way Western society approached the holiday only a few decades ago. This shift has lessons for any congregation attempting to...
