He is the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn of all creation.

If ever there was anyone who was forced to trod a crazy, crooked path and cry out to God, “Where are you?” it was Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Known by many as one of America’s greatest poets and educators, Longfellow reached deep within himself to be able to write the inspired words of the beloved carol, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”.

What little we know of Wenceslas is fascinating. Although the song we sing was written almost 1000 years after King Wenceslas died, it was based factually on the character and typical actions of this monarch who was devoted to Christ.

If anyone ever got a very clear calling from God, it would have been Mary. She was to carry and give birth to God’s Son! The long-awaited Messiah! And this news came from the mouth of an angel. Not just any angel. Gabriel, himself, one of the highest-ranking angels in God’s Kingdom!

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:2)

Even in the midst of pain and frustration, there is beauty. 

Many years ago, when I was a teenager living on my parents’ farm in the mountains of Vermont, I took a walk. A very slow and peaceful walk on a December evening with fat snowflakes drifting silently down, giving a sense of serenity to the dark night.

Ask Him now, where you are to go to mend broken hearts in His name.

I don't know anyone that has a life that has gone exactly as they planned, do you? Even those of us that have committed our ways to the Lord can't brag about how smoothly our lives have unfolded. Face it. Life is filled with many unexpected twists and turns. I call this “The Crazy Crooked Path”, something that all of us can identify with.

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We all want to be loved, to be heard, to be respected, and to be right. Sometimes we need to stop clinging so desperately to these needs.

What are we hearing and how does it cause us to live? Are we living according to all the background noise or are we living according to the Word of God?  

We, the church, find ourselves in a new world and we need to rise to the challenge. We need to be salt and light as never before.

Look at these words of Jesus with fresh eyes and a determination to obey. 

I think God has a boatload of joy and pleasures planned for His children and He can barely wait to dump it on us.

Snakes, Goblins and Witches, O Me! Combatting Fear, Deception and Idolatry…

For what purpose do we want our party to win? Is it so we can have more years of ease and prosperity?

When this picture was taken our son Amos had already left his tiny body and was in the arms of Jesus. 

God, Take away my pain. I know that you can heal me completely and if you choose not to, please give me the power to grow from the suffering.

You wouldn’t believe the amount of time I’ve spent staring at this tree this weekend.