Ten Mangled Words – “Culture”
Jackhammers are not the ideal tool for mixing cake batter. Some mess will almost certainly result. Evangelical Christians using the word ‘culture’ often remind one… Read More »Ten Mangled Words – “Culture”
Articles
Browse articles on various topics below.
Eleventh Hymn of Christmas: Christians, Awake!
A lesser known Christmas hymn, “Christians, Awake!” retells the Luke 2 story in a powerful and vivid way. Medical doctor John Byrom wrote this text… Read More »Eleventh Hymn of Christmas: Christians, Awake!
Tenth Hymn of Christmas: See Amid the Winter’s Snow
Like Rosetti’s “In the Bleak Midwinter,” Edward Caswall metaphorically connects the cold of winter to the condition of the earth at Jesus’s birth. He wrote… Read More »Tenth Hymn of Christmas: See Amid the Winter’s Snow
Ninth Hymn of Christmas: All My Heart This Night Rejoices
Written by German pastor Johann Gerhardt in 1653 and translated into English in 1858 by Catherine Winkworth, “All My Heart This Night Rejoices” explores the… Read More »Ninth Hymn of Christmas: All My Heart This Night Rejoices
Eighth Hymn of Christmas: In the Bleak Midwinter
In “In the Bleak Midwinter,” Christina Rosetti poetically pictures the cold, dark, hard condition of the earth when Jesus came to save us. This recognition… Read More »Eighth Hymn of Christmas: In the Bleak Midwinter
Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 1: Creation and Fall
Week 1: Creation and Fall Weekly memory verse: Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Weekly hymn: “All Creatures… Read More »Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 1: Creation and Fall
Seventh Hymn of Christmas: From Heaven Above to Earth I Come
“From Heaven Above to Earth I Come” was one of Martin Luther’s first hymns, penned in 1535 and translated into English by Catherine Winkworth in… Read More »Seventh Hymn of Christmas: From Heaven Above to Earth I Come
Sixth Hymn of Christmas: Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
Staying with the theme of German carols, “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” comes from the fifteenth century and was translated by a couple different… Read More »Sixth Hymn of Christmas: Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
Fifth Hymn of Christmas: How Bright Appears the Morning Star
Known as the “Queen of the Chorales,” this Lutheran hymn by Philpp Nicolai was written in 1599. Unusual for this time period, Nicolai also composed… Read More »Fifth Hymn of Christmas: How Bright Appears the Morning Star
Fourth Hymn of Christmas: Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light
The German Lutheran tradition has a rich heritage of Christmas hymns. “Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light” comes from Lutheran pastor, Johann Rist in 1641.… Read More »Fourth Hymn of Christmas: Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light
5 Day Bible Stories Reading Plan and Catechism
Last year I created a 5 Day Bible Narratives Reading Plan that each member of our family used (except the one year old!) through 2017.… Read More »5 Day Bible Stories Reading Plan and Catechism
Third Hymn of Christmas: Love Came Down at Christmas
Christina Rosetti has written some of the most beautiful Christmas carols, and “Love Came Down at Christmas” is no exception. Penned in 1855, this hymn… Read More »Third Hymn of Christmas: Love Came Down at Christmas
Second Hymn of Christmas: Of the Father’s Love Begotten
Almost as ancient as “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence,” this hymn is probably more well-known. “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” was written in the… Read More »Second Hymn of Christmas: Of the Father’s Love Begotten
A Christmas Promise: Light and Life to All He Brings
From “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing,” the first two verses of the third stanza read as follows: Hail, the heav’nborn Prince of Peace! Hail, the… Read More »A Christmas Promise: Light and Life to All He Brings
First Hymn of Christmas: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
“Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” is one of the oldest, if not the oldest Christian hymn still in common use today. Adapted from the fourth-century Liturgy… Read More »First Hymn of Christmas: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Twelve Hymns of Christmas
Tomorrow begins the Twelve Days of Christmas, and so in honor of this festive season, I will be highlighting one Christmas hymn each of the… Read More »Twelve Hymns of Christmas
Repetition in Psalm 130
We have seen that in verse 1 and 2 of Psalm 130, the author is creating a poetic experience of desperation that he wants us… Read More »Repetition in Psalm 130
Christmas, the Face of Jesus, and the Story of the Gospel
It was a significant moment for some individuals when they saw the face of the infant Jesus. The Magi “saw the Child…and worshiped Him” (Matt… Read More »Christmas, the Face of Jesus, and the Story of the Gospel
The Three Christmases
Kevin T. Bauder Conservative Christians have long debated the observance of Christmas. While most Christians celebrate Christmas with joy and enthusiasm, a few object on… Read More »The Three Christmases
Metaphors in Psalm 130
Last week I pointed out that since Psalm 130 is a song, we cannot treat it like a Pauline epistle. We need to explore the… Read More »Metaphors in Psalm 130