Thoughtful Reflections on Faith and Life
Although we had a quiet Christmas Day, with just us and three of the kids, we were able to spend some time with others in the family. On Boxing Day, despite some nasty weather, some of Amanda’s family was able to come and visit with us for a couple of days. One of the advantages … Read More “Christmas With Family” »
As I write this, it is only a couple of days before Christmas. Christmas is a hectic time for everyone, and being a pastor does not relieve any of that stress. There are things that I wish I could do better. There are gifts that I wish I could buy for family members. I wish … Read More “Good News: Appreciating Our Kids” »
In church Christmas pageants, there usually are people dressed up as some of the “side characters” including the shepherds and the wise men. The shepherds are fairly easy to understand but were these wise men or magi? In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the … Read More “Who Are the Magi From the Christmas Story?” »
There is no difficulty in coming up with a Good News post this week. It helps that it is Christmas but it is more than that. This past year has been a difficult one for our family. There has been a lot of loss and we were anticipating a very challenging Christmas. Of course there … Read More “Good News: A Blessed Christmas” »
There are many families that struggle financially. This can be because of a loss of income or because of an increase in prices for utilities, groceries, and other expenses. There are many families where a parent is regularly working but still can’t make ends meet. There are organizations that keep tabs on families that are … Read More “Should Congregations Support Families at Christmas?” »
What do you need to expect from the Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special? Well, it’s not Infinity War or Endgame. But then you probably already knew that. The plot is that Mantis and Drax hear that Peter Quill (Star Lord) had his Christmas ruined as a child and they go about trying to fix … Read More “Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special – Review” »
This has been a good Christmas overall. Of course there have been our share of frustrations but there have been some great things as well. Last night, our church had a major outreach to our community with a meal and gifts for the children. This was followed by a candlelight service that was very meaningful. … Read More “Christmas Reflections – 2018” »
What is Blue Christmas? Blue Christmas is an acknowledgment that Christmas isn’t joyful for everyone and that some people feel “blue,” often because of the loss of a loved one. Many churches offer a Blue Christmas service. But what I have noticed is that the majority of churches offer Blue Christmas as a separate service … Read More “Why I Do Blue Christmas on a Sunday Morning” »
Advent is one of my favourite seasons of the year. It allows us to prepare ourselves for the birth of Jesus at Christmas. Last year we started at Queen Street Baptist Church to observe something called Blue Christmas. Blue Christmas is about acknowledging that Christmas is not joyful for everyone. For many, Christmas is a … Read More “Good News: Blue Christmas” »
Our two oldest children have autism and currently live together in a group home. For many years our life has been shaped by autism. But when first Abby and then later Logan went to live in a group home, our pace of life changed. It is not that life is easier, it is just different. … Read More “What Does an Autistic Christmas Look Like?” »
There are still some Christians who acknowledge Santa Claus as a part of their Christmas celebrations. This is unacceptable. As you probably know, Santa Claus is based on the historical figure of St. Nicholas (4th century). Once you know a little about St. Nicholas’ life, you will see why Christians should reject him. St. Nicholas … Read More “5 Reasons Why Christians Should Reject Santa Claus” »
Christmas is a bittersweet time for our family. It is at this time that we really feel the impact of autism. Christmas looks a lot different for us than it would if Logan and Abby didn’t have autism. If they didn’t have autism, they would live with us instead of in group homes. Being twelve … Read More “An Autistic Christmas” »
When we think of Christmas, we think of the manger and the shepherds and many other images. How many of us think of the cross? The word Christmas actually comes from Christ’s Mass. If you know anything about the Catholic concept of Mass, you will know that is a celebration of the crucifixion of Jesus. … Read More “Advent Three: The Cross” »
