Christmas 2009

December 25, 2009

It’s been a fine Christmas, extra-fine really, because the whole family gathered in Tupelo for our first Christmas together since 2003. Back then we lived in Oak Park and none of the boys were married. Now we have Josh and Leah and Mark and Vanessa so Marlene is super-happy to have some girls in the family.Last night we attended the Christmas…

Keep Praying for China

Yesterday I ran across an article called Atmosphere of Fear at Christmas in North China. Here’s how the article begins:Christians in north China are facing a Christmas of fear after 10 local religious leaders were jailed in recent weeks and their new church shut down amid a crackdown on unauthorised worship.Five of the church leaders were giv…

A Christmas Benediction

December 24, 2009

A friend sent along this beautiful Christmas benediction. I like it because it catches so many different strands of the Christmas story:"May you be filled with the wonder of Mary, the obedience of Joseph, the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the determination of the magi, and the peace of the Christ child. Almighty God, Fath…

KBM Year-End Report

December 22, 2009

We have just posted the KBM year-end report. In previous years our reports have been text-heavy. This year we tell our story with lots of pictures. Plus we included testimonies received from around the world about the impact of the sermons, the website, An Anchor the Soul, our missions trips, the conferences, our teaching at Bible institutes, and s…

Welcome to Our World

Here’s a video montage based on Michael W. Smith’s version of “Welcome to Our World.” Love this song because it captures the wonder of the Son of God entering our world and becoming one of us. …

Jesus Era House Discovered in Nazareth

December 21, 2009

Did you ever wonder who sort of home Jesus grew up in?Take a good look at that picture because it’s the best answer we have. Today Israeli archeologists reported on the discovery of the first-ever “Jesus era” home found in Nazareth. “The building that we found is small and modest and it is most likely typical of the dwe…

“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” by Amy Grant

December 19, 2009

When I heard this version of Amy Grant singing “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” I found myself wanting to sing along. And it helps that this particular Christmas carol is chock full of excellent theology. Charles Wesley penned the original lyrics. The famed evangelist George Whitefield altered the first two lines to the version we sing t…

“Journey to Bethlehem” Now Online

December 18, 2009

Yesterday I spent an hour with Nancy Turner on WMBI-FM in Chicago doing a broadcast called Journey to Bethlehem. At Nancy’s request I painted some word pictures of familiar Bible stories. These short presentations are interspersed with music tied to the theme of the hour. We all felt the Holy Spirit helping us as we retold the Christmas story…

“Journey to Bethlehem” Thursday 10-11 AM

December 16, 2009

On Thursday morning from 10-11 AM CDT I’ll be doing an in-studio interview with Nancy Turner on WMBI-FM (90.1 FM) in Chicago. Nancy is the host of the program “This is the Day.” In October she served as Mistress of Ceremonies for our KBM Friendship Banquet.Since this is the Christmas season, we’ll take a “journey to Be…

The Church at Brook Hills

December 15, 2009

Last Sunday we attended a fast-growing church in Birmingham called The Church at Brook Hills. Located at the southeastern edge of the city, the church attracts 5-6,000 attenders each Sunday in three identical services. They come in large part because of the earnest preaching of the senior pastor, Dr. David Platt. Although he is only 30 years old, h…