the harvest
Christians observe Pentecost Sunday as the day the Holy Spirit was given to the church. Some celebrate it as the church’s birthday. Contrary to popular belief, the Day of Pentecost didn’t begin with the church. Pentecost is a very important ancient Jewish festival—the fourth of seven major Levitical feasts to be observed by every Jew at the temple in Jerusalem (Leviticus 23:16-17; Exodus 23:14-17).
November 19, 2012
What are you thankful for today?
reversal
The Erie County Correctional Facility recently experienced a role reversal in guard-inmate relations. It took place when an inmate broke up a fight between two correctional officers who were fighting over a bag of potato chips!
For many years, storytellers and audiences have enjoyed stories that include reversals—tales that follow characters from one extreme to the other. The Bible is…
happy thanksgiving!
my life for Yours
With Thanksgiving just around the corner here in the US, what better way to remind ourselves of God’s unfathomable greatness and goodness than to remember that it is often easier to see His goodness when we get ourselves out of the frame. This old prayer from the pen of Elisabeth Elliott provides an excellent pattern for us to follow.
—copy and design…
possible
A benefit of being a teacher, I know that Thanksgiving vacation is always an anticipated respite from the routine of waking early, grading papers, and planning lessons.
What I hadn’t planned for was the impending disagreements that would arise from our two children being home in close quarters with extra time. No matter how much I tried to reason with…
party
We have friends who don’t get very excited about holidays. Our family, however—well, we get downright giddy when a special day pops up on the calendar.
Obviously, we throw a shindig for all the usual suspects (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Independence Day), and we make a big deal out of anniversaries, and any day when one of our boys loses a tooth.…
no babbling
The Lord’s Prayer is well-known and often quoted (Matthew 6:9-13). It has become, however, a victim of its own popularity. While it’s often recited, it’s also poorly understood. Our familiarity with it hasn’t resulted in a deeper appreciation of its meaning. Ironically, it’s typically used in the very same way that the Lord warned us not to use it—vain repetition…
