Kind of a cute little story, that I recently came across…talks about a young boy who had been at home all day with his mother. He was a handful, to say the least. He was into this, he was into that, a mess here, a mess there…and seemingly he would not listen. He had been […]

Luke’s gospel is different. It is different on purpose. Everyone knows that Mark’s gospel was the first to be written. Matthew borrowed heavily from Mark and much of Matthew’s gospel is word-for-word, Mark! Matthew actually utilizes 90% of Mark’s content! Not so with Luke. (Kind of…) Luke did not necessarily approve of the two previously […]

Parental shaming is a “real thing.” This passage is “unique” in the Gospels. This is the “only” account we have in the “Canonical Gospels” of Jesus’ childhood. That alone makes it – a “very important passage.” It is a mundane, utterly earthly and a very simple story. Lost child… Panicked parents… A frantic search… The […]

I recently read a cute story about a young man who on his graduation from high school was chosen to give “the commencement address.” He began by reading from his “prepared text.” ‘I want to talk with you about “my mother” – and the “wonderful influence” she has had on my life,’ he told the […]

Christmas morning is always a good day for pondering and reflecting. But first a cute story: The 6-year-old kids in their Sunday School class were re-enacting the story of the birth of Jesus. The teacher wanted them “to stage it themselves” based on their own made-up narrative, so it was certainly going to be interesting, […]

Amazement was everywhere…not only on the earth below, but in the heavens above, as well. You know, there was not only “earthly responses” to the Good News of Christmas…there was also a “heavenly response.” We know about the shepherds and the Magi or the three kings as they are sometimes called…along with their gifts of […]

Hardly anyone is as weak as a newborn baby. They are totally dependent. Totally vulnerable. For a “new mother” it can be completely overwhelming. The lack of sleep-unbelievable. The demands –devastating. The time restraints – immense. Humanly speaking, the baby Jesus was as weak as any other newborn. However, as far as heaven was concerned […]

This is not the stuff of Christmas, not yet. No Hallmark card here. In those days…poor Mary…literally dirt poor…no status… In those days…she flees “in haste.” An unmarried girl, barely a woman… 12 or 13 years old… No ring on her finger… Living in a small village… A lot of censure… Untold shame… A lot […]

The people of God have always tried. They want to make things right. They desire to be right with God and with their fellow human beings. They try. Admittedly, some try “harder than others.” Sometimes we are more successful than at “other times.” Sometimes we are more concerned…it sits right in front of us, on […]

So, John was out in the hinterlands. It was where he was raised. It was his “home.” It was his “thing.” Comfort was to be found in the desert. The area around the Jordan River was familiar territory. It was here that God had tapped him on the shoulder…and whispered into his ear. Luke mentions […]