Advent

As Christmas quickly approaches, many of us harbor hopes for a better, brighter holiday than ever filled with joy, but how do we hold on to that hope through the holidays and beyond? 

The holidays seem to herald their approach these days through the Hallmark channel.

Known as the ‘hope of the prophets,’ this first marker of Advent is a reminder that God does not ignore our world’s darkness and that we strain toward a future hope not yet realized.

Most people in the U.S. are at least vaguely acquainted with the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, if only from popular culture references or the cult classic movie Tombstone.

Worshiping and delighting in Jesus at Christmas sounds all well and good, but how do we find the time and the right frame of mind to do this amid the holiday chaos?

In 1480, Leonardo da Vinci was commissioned to paint an altarpiece for the Augustinian monks of San Donato. He completed detailed drawings of the painting’s figures and scene, but then he left the city.

The painting would be finished years later by an unknown artist.

While we’re plowing through the everyday duties, we may not feel like we’re doing anything special, but we could be with the right perspective.

Philippians 4:4 could be considered the anthem of the third Sunday in Advent. “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4 NLT).

The second Sunday of Advent turns to examine Mary’s faith and how believers can learn from her choices.

Malachi’s an odd little book, only four chapters long and at the tail end of the Old Testament. It’s not much fun to read, to be quite honest. There’s lots of rebelling, judgment and general unhappiness.

The first Sunday of Advent is about much more than just lighting candles and starting the countdown to Christmas. 

A great deal of ink has been spilled by those insisting that all Christmas traditions have pagan roots and ought not be celebrated by “real” Christians.