The first gift of Christmas is not what you might think. That’s because it has been rightly eclipsed by the greatest: Immanuel: God with us. The Bible is about Jesus. The Old Testament predicts the coming Messiah. The New Testament tells how those promises were fulfilled, along with those yet to come. In my previous article, “Why is Christmas So Hard?” I shared why some people find the holiday season to be difficult for various reasons. However, the number 1... Read more
Why Christmas is so hard might sound like a foreign concept to some. Still, it’s a truth worth our consideration. Christmas is about the birth of Christ, it’s also a time to share gifts, laugh, and eat too much. Despite that, some people find it is a difficult time of the year. To make it worse, other folks enjoy the holidays so much that they can’t comprehend why some people struggle. 5 Reasons Why Christmas is So Hard Below, I’ve... Read more
This question has followed them for 30 years. Answering it requires a good look at each of the band member’s lives: their struggles, dreams, love of music, and the pressure that accompanies rock and roll stardom. In addition, we must understand a little about popular and alternative music from the 1990s – 2000s. And don’t forget the millions of music fans who listen daily for hidden messages in their music of choice. Scott Stapp It’s hard to separate Creed from... Read more
Please, Encourage Me If you are anything like me, there are times when your heart cries, “Please, encourage me.” Between the times of blessing, we still have trouble, trials, and temptations that leave us looking for encouragement. In fact, Jesus told us it would happen. Shortly before his crucifixion, Jesus told his followers they would soon face problems. John 16:33 is a record of what Jesus said to his disciples at that time. It was a word of encouragement to... Read more
“The Hidden Power of Hope” Christmas is all about finding the hidden power of hope. When Mary gave birth to the baby Jesus she was giving birth to the promise of hope. We all want hope, but hope is sometimes poorly portrayed, leaving us uncertain. I recall a line from the movie Shawshank Redemption where Andy, played by Tim Robbins introduces the subject of hope in a letter to Red, who Morgan Freeman plays. Red responded by saying, “Hope is a... Read more
The Wonder of Worship The wonder of worship is that we might know God and offer Him our deepest and most sincere love. After all, Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). It is impossible to love what or whom we do not know. And we can only know God if He reveals Himself to us; which... Read more
Why Am I Depressed? Asking “Why am I depressed?’ is perfectly reasonable. Everyone feels sadness, grief, and disappointment from time to time, but are they the same thing as depression? In my last article, I described depression and how it differs from the kind of sadness we occasionally face. It’s an important distinction because people in popular culture often use the terms interchangeably. How you feel about yourself and your experiences is important. Feelings of sadness might not technically be depression,... Read more
“Dealing With Depression,” is not easy, but with support from loved ones and professional help from counselors and physicians, it is certainly possible. If you or someone you love has dealt with depression, then you know that it is a real and complex issue. Further, many people misunderstand and mischaracterize it. Hopefully, I can shed some light and share some hope. Dealing With Depression: What is it? According to the American Psychiatric Association, “Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common... Read more
Van Gogh’s Struggle & Faith Van Gogh’s struggle & faith are well-documented. Few painters represent the image of the starving artist as does van Gogh. Books and songs refer to his misfortune both as an artist and as a man. Born in 1853 in the Netherlands, he was only thirty-seven years old when he died from a gunshot wound to the chest. However, in his brief but troubled life, the masterful artist found an expression for his art and life... Read more
Learning To Love is the Big Lesson of Life Learning to love is the big lesson of life. You and I may have never met before, still, we have much in common. Even in our differences we have similarities. For instance, we might live in different parts of the world, however, we both assimilate our perceptions and attitudes about society from the culture in which we are brought up. This is true of the culture of our home, church, school,... Read more
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