"The Defender of the weak becomes weak and defenseless. The One who covers all becomes naked and exposed. The One who cares for all becomes helpless and needing care. The One who holds it all together, needs to be held tightly. This is the mystery of the incarnation." --Rich Villodas
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 →
How Can I Be Sure?
By Scott Armstrong We have made our way out of Advent and are now officially in the season of Christmas (that’s right: according to the Christian calendar Christmas is just beginning!). Our Savior has been born in Bethlehem! What greater joy is there than that?! Since early December many passages have proven meaningful in my... Continue Reading →
Christmas From Eternity
By Hiram Vega The gospels tell us the story of the birth of the promised Messiah, placing it in the context of the Israelite people with historical details and long genealogies intended to prove that he was a legitimate descendant of King David. The book of John shows something different. John pulls back the curtain... Continue Reading →
Waiting on the World to Change – Part 2 of 2
*This is part two of the previous article. To everything, there is a season (turn, turn, turn) Human beings are “time-bound” creatures by Divine design. We naturally tend to organize our lives around rhythms that play out in time. Depending upon our vocation, different seasons bring different expectations and demands. I come from a line... Continue Reading →
Waiting on the World to Change – Part 1 of 2
By Brannon Hancock The season of Advent—a word that means arrival—is the season of waiting. “We can hardly stand the wait! / Please Christmas, don’t be late.” Most of you can hear the song in your head immediately, can’t you? Those squeaky, aggravating chipmunk voices singing the Christmas song we all love to hate. The... Continue Reading →
We Saw the Rising Sun
By Hiram Vega Of all the names of Jesus, one rarely mentioned is the Rising Sun, or the New Dawn. The name evokes the image of the soft red light that comes before the sun. It is the prelude to a new day. In Chapter 1 of his gospel, Dr. Luke tells us that God... Continue Reading →
Christmas Day 2017
Here we are. Christmas. Lots of waiting for today, and now the hope is realized. Little kids finally get to open those presents. Busy workers finally get a day off. Family members finally get to see each other. Eat together. Laugh together. And each one of these “finallys” is an echo of that first Christmas... Continue Reading →
Advent: Waiting on the Lord’s Coming
By Josue Villatoro The emphasis during Advent season is on waiting. We are expectant; we are preparing to celebrate Christmas. I like that dynamic. However, Christmas is not an ordinary party: it is not about Santa Claus, the gifts, or even the family. It is good that there are gathered families, gifts under the tree,... Continue Reading →
Not God’s Favorite
By Scott Armstrong Jesus Comes Home with a Sobering Message Christmas is a time when many of us return home. We laugh with relatives and gorge ourselves on excellent food. Grandmas grab our cheeks and tell us we’ve grown sooooo big, which is awkward when you’re 8, but try when you are 40! Luke 4... Continue Reading →
Transform the Globe 