By: Robert Louis Stevenson "Loving Father, help us remember the birth of Jesus that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every... Continue Reading →
Christmas is Messy
By: Rev. Chris Gilmore *This article was originally published at http://www.iamchrisgilmore.com. Just look at the shreds of wrapping paper and the stacks of receipts. Look at the scattered stocking stuffers and the crumbs of quickly consumed cookies. Look at the half-eaten candy cane stuck to the carpet and the Pinterest fails and the exhausted in-laws.... Continue Reading →
The Real Meaning of Christmas: God Entered the Crap
By: Shane Claiborne Shane Claiborne is a best-selling author who writes and speaks around the world about peacemaking, social justice, and Jesus. A while ago I read one of Shane’s reflections on Christmas, and the article has stayed with me through the years. The original can be found at Shane’s blog: Red Letter Christians. We... Continue Reading →
40 Days of Prayer
Every year, as a Region, we encourage all congregations to join in 40 Days of Prayer Prior to Pentecost. For that reason, Regional Nazarene Missions International (NMI) has prepared prayer requests for each day, which can be downloaded at the following link: 40 DAYS OF PRAYER PRIOR TO PENTECOST - 2020. These 40 days... Continue Reading →
Sing A New Song
Whenever the Israelites experienced a season where God did something momentous in their midst, they sang a new song. Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of His faithful people. (Psalm 149:1) As the people of God on this Resurrection Sunday, we prepare to celebrate the new life that Jesus brings... Continue Reading →
From the Valley, Focused on a Mountain
Most of us this week are confined to our homes as we self-quarantine due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. If you’re like me, you may be wrestling with the fact that THIS week we will all be observing Holy Week apart from each other. As a pastor and missionary, I always anticipate the... Continue Reading →
Easter: Full of Life
It is a little paradoxical to write about Easter in the middle of Lent, but every year we pastors prepare our Easter sermons during the heart of the sacrifice and fasting that Lent brings, so the practice makes sense. In many of our countries, Easter is the day people return to the normalcy of work... Continue Reading →
The Ashes of our Journey – Lenten Wanderings
By Teanna Sunberg Tomorrow, across the globe, many Christ followers will line up at altars to be marked on the forehead or the hand with ashes. It is Ash Wednesday. It is the first day of Lent – this plodding and sometimes painful wandering towards the brokenness of the cross that culminates in the miracle... Continue Reading →
Show me Your Hands
By Leonard Sweet (European Nazarene College, January 18, 2011) I was reading Psalm 51:10 to my mother when she died: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a right spirit within me.” Now the key to the holiness movement is a clean heart. So give me an image for a clean heart. ... Continue Reading →
How I Knew God Was with Me in My Parents’ Divorce
By Scott Armstrong September 1993. I was 15 years old. My dad and mom call a family meeting after supper. My brother and I came down from our rooms, wondering what’s going on. We usually had the famous “family meetings” once a year when some new rule was being enforced or when a vacation needed... Continue Reading →