I started writing songs in earnest when the governor of Illinois closed down churches and small businesses. The stress and pressure of the lockdowns and the ruination of the lives people had built for themselves overwhelmed me. Writing a song transported me to another place and time. It was therapy....
Do you remember what we said last year? We all said, “It’s going to be better next year.” We all said, “Next year we can go back to normal.” We all said it, admit it! Was it better? Did we go back to normal? Nope. Not in any meaningful sense,...
December 26- Christ Candle Jim: Glory to God in the Highest People: And on earth peace, goodwill toward men. Jim: Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. People: Glory be. To God on High. Jim: For unto you is born this day...
December 19- Angel’s/Peace Candle 2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. The fourth candle of Advent is called the “Angel Candle” and symbolizes peace. This name comes from the...
It’s been a hard couple of years, hasn’t it? As a nation, we’ve been through a lot. I know you have been through a lot too. It’s been tempting to throw up our hands in despair. Our current cultural mood reminds me of the old classic Christmas poem by Henry...
Shepherd’s/Joy Candle Luke 2:10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” “Rejoice: the Lord is nigh.” As Christmas draws near, the Church emphasizes the joy which should be in our hearts over...
Bethlehem/Faith Candle Psalm 46:10-11…Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. As we prepare our hearts for the celebration of Jesus’ arrival as...
Advent 2021 November 28 Prophecy/Hope Candle Galatians 4:4-8 But when the right time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent Him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law so that He could adopt us as His very own...
It isn’t uncommon anymore to sit down to Thanksgiving dinner and have people looking at their phones. Some of them hardly look up and some of them just glance from time to time. I am from the latter crowd. I’m gonna glance from time to time. I don’t want to...
I had never heard of the book titled, Devotional Classics until it was assigned reading for a class on Spiritual Development. It is a 388 page book, chock full of the writings and contemplations of spiritual greats, many of them from ancient times, like Saint Augustine, Francis of Assisi, and...