Among the best-loved Christmas carols today is O Come, All Ye Faithful. The original author, John Francis Wade, penned the opening line in Latin: “Adeste Fidelis, Laeti triumphantes,” which means something like “Be present, faithful, happy, triumphant ones.” A century later, an Anglican cleric, Frederick Oakeley translated it into English as “Ye Faithful, Approach Ye,”
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3.5-6 As I write this, the election is looming on the horizon. Chances are, you are reading this after the votes have been counted,
Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man? Proverbs 20.6, NKJ It’s been a tough year. By my count, at least ten pastors in large churches in Texas – churches that generally fall under the category of “evangelical” – have lost their ministries due to public sin.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” The Lord to Joshua, after the death of Moses (Joshua 1.9) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Ephesians 6.10
It’s common today for people to say things like “The world’s in a mess!” “Our country is falling apart!” “Everyone’s gone crazy!” Folks from all backgrounds and beliefs echo this. And while it’s true that people of every generation tend to bewail the state of the world, the combination of social discord, perverted justice, and
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5.20 We are witnessing a phenomenon in human history – particularly in the industrial west. After decades of living off the fumes of Judeo-Christian morality,
A viral YouTube video shows a group of black residents from the south side of Chicago discussing the loss of social services for the city’s poor because of the influx of illegal immigrants. A woman stands to condemn the situation and suggest that immigrants should be sent home. A moderator (a black man) asks her,
And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. (1 Corinthians 13.3) Living in a world of disease, famine, persecution, and war, it’s often hard to comprehend the depth of misery. Complicating our perception
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4.4 We’ve all said it or heard it a hundred times: “Happy New Year!” It’s a seasonal greeting, a way of acknowledging that according to the Gregorian calendar, we’ve just begun a new numbered year – in this case, 2024. But for most of
Hugh Martin wrote “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” for Judy Garland to sing in the 1944 film Meet Me in St Louis. It wasn’t a happy time. The fate of the world hung in the balance: World War II raged in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. Millions were dying in Nazi death camps.
