Category Archives: Jesus

Becoming A Spiritually Realized Person

For several months, I have been reading a daily devotional book entitled Becoming Fire: Through the Year with the Desert Fathers and Mothers by Tim Vivian. Each day highlights two or three excerpts from the desert Christians: a teaching, a … Continue reading

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Best Books of 2025

Each year I set a goal of reading 52 books — one per week. I think it’s a pretty ambitious goal and most years I fall short. But by the time I finish up my current read, I’ll be at … Continue reading

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Silent Night: Christmas 2025

This holiday season, I have been thinking a lot about the lyrics of some of the songs we hear and sing around this time of year. I’ve thought about that line from Joy to the World, what it really means … Continue reading

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Herald: Good News of Great Joy

When I was a child, we would drive past Cumberland Presbyterian Church every Sunday and every Wednesday on our way to our church. And every year, right after Thanksgiving, Cumberland Presbyterian would have an elaborate nativity display set out on … Continue reading

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Herald: God With Us

The song O Come, O Come, Emmanuel originated as a series of monastic chants over 1,200 years ago. These chants were later combined into a single hymn in the 12th century which was translated into English in the 1850s. The … Continue reading

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Herald: Unexpected Favor

Over the course of his long career, Johnny Cash performed more than thirty different “prison concerts” for inmates both in this country and around the world. He played these shows as a way of advocating for prison reform but also … Continue reading

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Harsh and Difficult

One of the Desert Fathers, Hyperechios, said: “Monk (solitary one / alone one), do not show yourself to be harsh and difficult. Be mindful that no one who is harsh and difficult has persevered.” I need this word, because I’m … Continue reading

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The Mission of God: Blessed to be a Blessing

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us — so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. Psalm 67:1-2 Why does God bless His people? Is … Continue reading

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Destroying Sinfulness

2025 will go down as the year I fell in love with the writings of the Desert Fathers. I have been deeply moved by the words of these hermits — a word transliterated to us from the Greek eremites, literally … Continue reading

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Submit to One Another

What comes to mind when you hear the words “humility” and “submission?” In our world today, submission isn’t a very popular idea. But then again, I’m not sure it’s ever been that popular in any day and age. In our … Continue reading

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