The Wise Men

We Three Kings was my favorite Christmas carol when I was a child. John Henry Hopkins penned the hymn when he was rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Williamsport, Pennsylvania back in 1857. It wasn’t my favorite because of its deep theological content. That’s not a knock at the content, it just isn’t why I liked it. I liked it because of the way it sounds—so different from other hymns, at least different from the hymns we sang on most days at church. The music is hauntingly beautiful, reminiscent of Middle Eastern music (which I cannot help but think is intentional). Hopkins intended everyone to sing the first verse, and then three robust male voices would intone a verse each, before everyone joined again to finish together. Ahhh! I love this song.

We hardly ever sang it.

I didn’t know the Three Kings were controversial until much later . . . college, in fact. In seminary, we were still discussing their details of their visit.

I just liked the unusual sound . . . We Three Kings of Orient are . . . bearing gifts we traverse afar . . . field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.

Let’s Take a Look

Let’s look at these Wise Men, whose story appears only in Matthew 2:1-12. Shortly after the shepherds arrived to adore the baby in a barn, laying in a wooden manger, the three foreign kings majestically adorned and riding on camels stroll into Bethlehem. Together, everyone gazes in amazement as the kings dismount and reverently place their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh around the babe. Who doesn’t sing songs about that!?!

Is that what Matthew says? Is it really?

December 27, 2018December 27, 2018

The Twelve Days of Christmas, Part 3

This is the third and final part of a series examining the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Read Part 1 here.

Read Part 2 here.

Day Eight–Eight Maids A-Milking

The eight maids are the beatitudes from Matthew 5. They are the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount.

December 26, 2018January 2, 2019

The Twelve Days of Christmas, Part 2

This is a continuation of a post on the 12 Days of Christmas. Read the first part here: Twelve Days of Christmas, Part 1.

Day Five–Five Golden Rings

The five golden rings supposedly refer to the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible. Traditionally, these were written by Moses, but almost no one believes Moses actually wrote them down. The stories were oral tadition. The books–Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuternoomy–explain the origins of humankind and humanity’s rlationship with God.

December 25, 2018December 27, 2018

The Twelve Days of Christmas, Part 1

When are the Twelve Days

The Twelve Days of Christmas are not twelve days leading up to Christmas. Advent is the time leading up to Christmas Day. The Twelve Days begin with Christmas Day and last until January 6, which is known as Epiphany. Epiphany is the day we celebrate the arrival of the Wise Men. For more on the Wise Men, read the Wise Men post. The days between Christmas Day and Epiphany constitute the Christmas season.

December 21, 2018December 26, 2018

Oh, to be a Shepherd!

Each year, one of the nativity characters seems to capture me. This year, it is the shepherds.

How much do you know about shepherds in the first century BC?

December 16, 2018December 26, 2018

Lessons from the Recliner

This morning, I prepared to send my weekly email. In it, I braced myself for telling my subscribers there would be no weekly post this week. As I began to explain why there would be no post, I realized that WAS the post.

You see, this week, I got sick. I don’t like being sick; I don’t have time for it. But sometimes my body ignores my calendar and to-do list. Wednesday morning I reluctantly went to the doctor, and she ordered me to go home . . . to go home, get into bed and REST for three to four days. “THREE TO FOUR DAYS! I have things to do. I can’t lay around for three to four DAYS!” She knows me, so she said, “Ok, but you can either rest for three to four days and feel 100% better, or drag around for two to three weeks. Your choice.”

December 10, 2018December 26, 2018

Know Your Nativity

Two Differences Between Catholic and Protestant Nativity Sets

Some nativity sets are for Catholic Christians. Others are intended for Protestant Christians.

Did you have any idea?!

December 9, 2018December 26, 2018

Christian Wheel of the Year

The Christian Wheel of the Year is the Christian calendar, or liturgical year of the Church.

This calendar contains the seasons of the year and special days observed in each season. It is often depicted as a pie chart because it is cyclical, which is also why it is called the wheel of the year.

December 3, 2018December 27, 2018

Anyone Thirsty?

This is a Bible cognition post, one of four types that I post on this blog. If you aren’t sure what I mean by that, click the picture and read the blog post: What Are You Talking About?

Have you ever been extremely thirsty? Desperately thirsty? So thirsty that you weren’t sure you would ever be able to quench it? Thirst is the brain’s way of notifying you that you are dehydrated. It’s a warning that you don’t have enough fluid. You are lacking something needed.