By Chaplain Mike My entry for a recommended Christmas book is one we read for our children when they were young. It was written by one of my favorite authors, a woman renowned in children’s literature: Madeleine L’Engle. Her award-winning book, A Wrinkle in Time, is a classic that still captures my imagination. L’Engle’s ChristmasContinue reading “A Favorite Children’s Advent/Christmas Book”
Category Archives: Advent
The Imagination of Faith
By Chaplain Mike What part does imagination play in faith? Can “truth” be communicated through legend, folk tales, poetry, and music? Many Christmas songs have little to do with describing detailed historical facts. Instead, they evoke images from nature, the Biblical narratives, and the cultures from which they arise to help us not only understandContinue reading “The Imagination of Faith”
Advent III: Gaudete!
By Chaplain Mike As we light the third Advent candle, we thank God for his gift of joy. This is Gaudete (Rejoicing) Sunday. In the midst of Advent’s long journey, our worship on this day calls us to lift up our eyes, focus anew on our destination, and find renewed strength and refreshment from realizingContinue reading “Advent III: Gaudete!”
It’s a Wonderful Gospel
By Chaplain Mike What do you need when you have spent your whole life giving to others, sacrificing your dreams to do the responsible thing, being the person others count on when the chips are down; when you are tired of being “that guy” that everyone looks to but no one appreciates? What do youContinue reading “It’s a Wonderful Gospel”
God With Us
“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter—‘tis the difference between the lightning-bug and the lightning.†As a writer, these words by Mark Twain evoke a resounding Amen deep inside me. How many times have I labored for an hour or more to fix one sentence thatContinue reading “God With Us”
The Real “Santa Claus”
By Chaplain Mike In this morning’s post, we talked about the difference between Biblical Christianity and the “Disney-ized” version so prevalent in America today. Another example of turning a classic tale into a shallow, sentimentalized version for mass consumption (more in our culture than in the church) is what we have done to the storyContinue reading “The Real “Santa Claus””
Advent II—How Lovely Is Your Dwelling Place
Note from CM: As we light the second Advent candle, we thank God for his gift of peace. Ephesians 2 speaks of the peace Christ brings to those far and near, calling them together into the one household of God (Eph 2:11-22). Thanks to Damaris today for the following meditation on God’s dwelling place. “HowContinue reading “Advent II—How Lovely Is Your Dwelling Place”
The Rebel Jesus
All the streets are filled with laughter and light And the music of the season And the merchants’ windows are all bright With the faces of the children And the families hurrying to their homes While the sky darkens and freezes Will be gathering around the hearths and tables Giving thanks for God’s graces AndContinue reading “The Rebel Jesus”
Building a Cradle for Jesus
By Chaplain Mike Where meek souls will Receive Him still The dear Christ enters in. • “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” Brooks I am not good at working with my hands to fashion beautiful artistic creations. Never have been and probably never will be. I’m better with books and people and such, and have notContinue reading “Building a Cradle for Jesus”
Living In the In-Between
By Chaplain Mike We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. • Hebrews 6:11-12 (NIV) I amContinue reading “Living In the In-Between”
The Internet Monk Archives 