Last night I joined a group of men to deliver gifts to five homes in Tupelo as part of the Angel Tree program sponsored by Prison Fellowship. Right now there are an estimated 1.5 million children in America who have a parent in prison. Through Angel Tree, those children receive Christmas gifts purchased and delivered by members of local congregatio…
Here are a handful of links that make for good reading on Christmas Eve.Last Sunday Brian Bill preached an usual Christmas message called Destiny. This sermon has a special message for those who happen to be away from home on Christmas Eve.Mona Charen explains the significance of Hanukkah, a celebration that has much to teach us about faith and cou…
I ran across this video of a bluegrass version of the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1. Besides being very appropriate for Christmas Eve, it also shows that even the most unlikely parts of the Bible can be put to music. It’s only a little over two minutes long and well worth your time.…
Here are the answers to David Langerfeld’s Christmas IQ Quiz. I have added my comments to a few answers. 1. A. He worked and lived in Nazareth, but he was returning to Bethlehem – “his own city” (See Luke 2:3). 2. E. The innkeeper didn’t “say” anything (See Luke 2:7). The Bible doesn’t even mention an &ldqu…
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about how Christians should respond to the pressures we face every day. And I keep coming back to the same conclusion. I can summarize it in three words.Tenacious winsome courage.Tenacious means we don’t give up. Winsome means we face life with a smile, not a scowl.Courage means we do what needs to be don…
A recent USA Today article told of new research regarding who goes to heaven. Most American religious believers, including most Christians, say eternal life is not exclusively for those who accept Christ as their savior, a new survey finds. Of the 65% of people who held this open view of heaven’s gates, 80% named at least one non-Christian g…
All in all, I’m glad Barack Obama invited Rick Warren to lead the opening prayer at next month’s presidential inauguration. I say that even though I share some of the reservations raised by other evangelicals. But weighing everything, I’m glad that the president-elect asked him, and I’m glad Rick Warren said yes. Here’…
A good friend sent an encouraging note this week about KBM. After writing some very kind words, he added this piece of advice: “Ray…. just keep putting your shoes on everyday and go to work.” None of us knows the real impact we have on the lives of others. I tell pastors who struggle with discouragement, “You’re not in a g…
Check out the Keep Believing Ministries December 2008 newsletter. You’ll find the latest news about Keep Believing China, a report on the Pentagon Prayer Breakfast, and an update on the worldwide reach of our website. Did you know that since March, we have had 248,000 visits from 200 countries? …
I ran across this quote from Tim Keller in Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus, a compilation of Christmas writings by various authors. Christmas is the end of thinking you are better than someone else, because Christmas is telling you that you could never get to heaven on your own. God had to come to you. It is telling you that people who are sav…