Monthly Archive: December, 2022

12 Gifts of ChristX – Salvation

We used to do a “white elephant” gift exchange at our family Christmas party every year. It’s a lot of fun once the stealing starts. No gift you’ve selected is securely yours until… Continue reading

12 Gifts of ChristX – Joy

We Christians have a joy problem….a disconnect between what we profess and believe to be ours in Christ and what is exhibited in our attitude and countenance. The sullen, angry, joyless Christian seems… Continue reading

12 Gifts of ChristX – Comfort

If we had a Christmas wish list of the gifts we would like to receive in Christ, it would definitely include freedom from suffering and pain. Wouldn’t that be a knock-down argument for… Continue reading

12 Gifts of ChristX – An inheritance

I’m picturing a scene….one that’s surely played out regularly all over the country. Family members of a recently departed loved one are gathered in a lawyer’s office, in various emotional states, to hear… Continue reading

12 Gifts of ChristX – Wisdom

One of the most attractive and intriguing features of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and one that demonstrates God’s great mercy and love, is that at its most basic expression it is understandable… Continue reading

12 Gifts of ChristX – Confident hope

Remember the frenzy on the Ellen show this time of year? Tickets for her 12 Days of Giveaways were like winning the lottery. You snag one of those and not only do you… Continue reading

12 Gifts of ChristX – Knowledge of God

I recently watched Carrie Underwood’s performance of “How Great Thou Art” from the “ACM Girls Night Out: Superstar Women of Country” concert, which aired on April 22, 2011. Accompanied by Vince Gill, this… Continue reading

12 Gifts of ChristX – Forgiveness

You’ve heard the stories. A young person is murdered and, incredibly, the parents declare that they forgive their child’s killer. In some cases, like this one here, they even go out of their… Continue reading

12 Gifts of ChristX – The Holy Spirit

I am still in awe of the fact that by simply tapping a small, wireless, handheld device we can talk to someone hundreds, or even thousands of miles away, reaching them in seconds.… Continue reading

12 Gifts of ChristX – Freedom

Many who have not experienced it will balk at the idea that in Christ we have freedom. Like the Jews challenged by Jesus they would say, “We…have never been enslaved to anyone. How… Continue reading

12 Gifts of ChristX – Peace

If I were to ask you to say the first thing that comes to mind when I say “peace,” it’s unlikely you would respond with “Jerusalem.” Unless it was Opposite Day. The Middle… Continue reading

12 Gifts of ChristX – Belonging

Curse you, Madison Avenue. Your perfect little family Christmas….you know, with all the smiles and hugs, the busy kitchen and cozy fireplace, the beautiful and bountiful presents under the tree and sons and… Continue reading

12 Gifts of ChristX

  On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me,A partridge in a pear tree. On the second day of Christmas…blah, blah, blah A partridge in a pear tree? Seriously?… Continue reading

The Big Guy

It’s time to haul out and dust off my poignant, heart-warming, Hallmark Channel-worthy Christmas commentary. The one about how I hate Santa. Grab a tissue. I expect I’m about to be called a… Continue reading