Searching for Peace in the Not-So-Silent-Night

My dad typically only wore his suit jacket to church twice a year – on Easter and Christmas. On those two days, my younger sister and I would always be sure to sit on either side of him. Just like Frosty's hat, there must have been some magic in those suit jacket pockets, for at Easter they were filled with black jelly beans and at Christmas – miniature candy canes. All throughout … [Read more...]

Rediscovering Christmas Truths…Behind the Locked Gate

As Christmas draws near, churches around the country celebrate the glorious day with special worship gatherings.  Disco balls for Jesus at Journey Church, little kids singing sweet songs in Glendive and a church in Washington that raised the spirits of a sad heart.  Each service unique and specially designed to once again tell the story of a baby's birth that changed the world.  Each … [Read more...]

Extreme Shepherding: Seeing and Believing like the Shepherds

Have you watched the "Extreme Shepherding" video that has become so popular in the past few days?  Take a look..... http://youtu.be/D2FX9rviEhw Every time I watch that video I'm amazed.  And, I can't help but think of the first "Extreme Shepherding" that occurred in the first-century.  It didn't involve LED lights, video cameras or any other technology, but I can imagine the sight … [Read more...]

Happy to Hear “Happy Holidays”

We have ten kids in our family.  And since I homeschool them, they're all home quite a bit when they're not volunteering, working, playing sports or doing other extra-curricular activities. With that many personalities in one house, you can well imagine then that misunderstandings, spats, kerfluffles and even arguments might occasionally occur.  And when they do, the kids know well … [Read more...]

Finding the Missing God

I was a 5th grader at McDonald Elementary School in Moscow, Idaho.  I was in the middle of my awkward stage - a stage my mother assured me every child went through.  My stage just happened to be a little more problematic, a little more prolonged and a little more pronounced than everyone else's. The homework from music class was fairly straightforward on that fateful day.  Bring a … [Read more...]