Saviour of the Nations, Come
Ambrose (340-397) was the great bishop of Milan who was instrumental in the conversion of St. Augustine. In fact, there is evidence in one of Augustine’s writings that substantiates Ambrose’s authorship of a wonderful Advent hymn, …
Church Circus
“A time will come when instead of shepherds feeding the sheep, the church will have clowns entertaining the goats.” Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Weeping in Ramah, in Newtown; Yet, Joy to the World
Unto us is born a Son, King of choirs supernal: See on earth His life begun, Of lords the Lord eternal, Of lords the Lord eternal. Christ, from heav’n descending low, Comes on earth a stranger; Ox and ass their Owner know Now cradled in a manger, Now cradled in a manger. This did Herod sore affray, And did him …
History Repeats: The Tron Church Debacle
“The Free Kirk, the Wee Kirk,The Kirk without the Steeple.””The Auld Kirk, the Cauld Kirk,The Kirk without the People.”(A popular Scots rhyme at the time of 1843 Disruption)
Santa Lucia
A beautiful and wealthy Sicilian who was martyred during the persecutions of Diocletian, Lucia of Syracuse (c. 304) was known as the patron of light. For her, Advent was always a celebration of the approach of Light and Life. Interestingly, her feast day, held on December 13, is one of the shortest and darkest days of the year. Thus, a …
Merry Eleventary X3
Gëzuar Krishtlindja–Albanian Een Plesierige Kerfees–Afrikaans Schenorhavor Dzenount–Armenian Chestita Koleda, весела коледа–Bulgarian Felices Pascuas–Catalonian Srecan Bozic–Croatian Vesele Vanoce–Czech Glaedelig Jul–Danish Zalig Kerstfeest–Dutch Roomsaid Joulu Puhi–Estonian Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah–Farsi Hauskaa Joulu–Finnish Vrolijke Kerstmis–Flemish Joyeux Noel–French Nodlaig Nait Cugat–Gaelic Frohliche Weihnachten–German Kala Christooyenna, Καλά Χριστούγεννα–Greek Mele Kalikimaka–Hawaiian Khag Same’ach, חג שמח–Hebrew Boldog Karacsony–Hungarian Buon Natale–Italian Meri Kurisumasu–Japanese Selamat Hari Krismas–Malay Kung …
Snopsing Chalmers on the “Gap Theory”
It is often asserted that the Scottish reformer, educator, and pastor, Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847), was one of the originators of the so-called “Genesis Gap Theory” as a part of his effort to harmonize the ideas of evolution and creation. S…
Reading Chalmers
I am often asked by friends and students how to begin a serious study of the life and work of Thomas Chalmers. This is at least partly because I can hardly ever give a lecture, preach a sermon, write an essay, or post a blog without me…
Saint Nick
The fourth century pastor who inspired the tradition of Santa Claus, may not have lived at the North Pole or traveled by reindeer and sleigh but he certainly was a paradigm of graciousness, generosity, and Christian charity. Nicholas of Myra’s great love and concern for children drew him into a crusade that ultimately resulted in protective Imperial statutes that remained …
Leslie Printice: Pro-Life Pioneer
Leslie Printice was a young widow in New York City when she first became active in the pro-life movement. A member of Gardiner Spring’s congregation at the prominent Brick Presbyterian Church, she was encouraged by his sermons on child-killing to take a bold and active stand. She organized several meetings in her midtown Manhattan brownstone of doctors, lawyers, politicians, judges, …
Over the Cliff
So what exactly is this frightening “fiscal cliff” that it seems everyone is fretting over? Very simply, it is the possibility that the federal government will be forced to cut it’s $1.1 trillion budget deficit by about $500 billion this next year. In other words, it is the horrific specter of our magistrates having to cut their projected program increases! …
Why I Won’t Be Shopping on Black Friday
1. I just don’t believe shopping should be a contact sport. 2. I don’t do crowds. 3. Nothing I want is ever on sale (Have you ever actually seen a first edition Chalmers book at WalMart? Nope, me either). 4. I don’t do lines. 5. Turkey sandwiches await at home. 6. I don’t do malls. 7. I’d rather read. 8. …
Five Kernels of Corn
The first few winters in the New World were treacherous for the new colonists. In the Plymouth colony, the settlers died in droves from both sickness and starvation. In this bit of historic verse by Hezekiah Butterworth, the necessity of rationing the meager food resources is described alongside the abundant moral reserves of the people. Long a part of the …
Planned Parenthood: Buying Influence
Spending more than $12 million in the 2012 election, Planned Parenthood is now poised to really cash in–with an unprecedented level of new influence. Already the most pro-abortion administration in history, the Obama regime is likely to plunge our nation into even greater depths of brazen brutalitarianism. Of course, we’ve seen this sort of thing before–and it wasn’t pretty: “Woe …