“The little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.” These sweet, albeit unrealistic words from the traditional Christmas carol, “Away in a Manger,” demonstrate an aspect of the narratives around the Christmas story that is worth exploring. The idea of Baby Jesus lying in the manger without crying isn’t realistic. Babies cry. Perhaps the bigger question, is why do we see a need to “put him back in the manger” each Christmas? Typically when birthdays are celebrated, we don’t... Read more
Joyful music can lift our spirits, but can sad music have the same impact? In an interview with Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Josh Groban shared a story about how he was asked to sing the song “Smile” at a wedding and he responded by asking the person making the request to consider the lyrics of the song. Despite the title, “Smile” is a sad song, encouraging us to push through sad times in anticipation of a better future. Here is... Read more
Creators of the Carols Have you ever wondered about the stories behind your favorite Christmas carols? The people who composed and wrote the lyrics for these songs were regular people, and some of them experienced major setbacks in life, yet they gave us the gift of Christmas music. I hope you will be inspired by the stories highlighted in this essay! William Chatterton Dix – What Child is This? William Chatterton Dix developed a life-threatening illness and was bedridden... Read more
“Two hundred years from now, someone will find it useful.” That was my father’s response to me when I wanted to throw an old calendar away. This incident occurred while I was tidying up his room shortly after my mother passed away. My father lived for eleven more years after this incident and passed away on October 29, 2019. As the anniversary of his passing approached, I reflected on his legacy as a writer. I couldn’t see the value in... Read more
World Harp Day was first celebrated on October 20, 2020, according to the World Harp Day YouTube channel, in an effort to promote the harp as a symbol of world peace. With this year’s World Harp Day approaching, reflections on the harp and music in general as instruments of peace and healing seem appropriate. In recent years, there has been a growing amount of interest in the role of music in the healing process, but the concept of music... Read more
“Anyone who isn’t paying tithes isn’t going to heaven,” said the preacher. Those were the words of a prominent Nigerian pastor with a worldwide following. The video in which those comments were made was circulating on the internet a few years ago. The good news is that he recently recanted … (sort of). He came out with an apology, stating that he was wrong to have said that tithing was a requirement for getting into heaven. While he deserves credit... Read more
According to legend, Christmas in July was first celebrated at a girls’ summer camp in 1933. Not too long after that (1940), the movie Christmas in July was released. In the movie, a man is tricked into thinking he has won $25,000, and goes on a spending spree. Now, Christmas in July sales are a big phenomenon with retailers. As the month of July ends, it seems appropriate to revisit the story behind one of the most popular Christmas songs... Read more
Joy to the World It may surprise you to know that the famous Christmas carol, “Joy to the World,” was not intended as a Christmas song. It was written by Isaac Watts, who, in addition to becoming one of England’s best-known preachers, was also an educator and author. He wrote books on astronomy and philosophy that were used in universities but is best remembered for his hymns. The words- Isaac Watts Isaac Watts was born in 1674, in Southampton, England,... Read more
Congratulations, Class of 2024! You have all worked very hard to get to this point, and your hard work has paid off! A world of opportunities awaits you…. Some of you will join the workforce, others will go on to graduate school and some may become homemakers. Each is a valid option, and the decision is yours to make! To the men in the audience I would like to address the men in the audience, since you have been... Read more
“I’m a human being. I’ve made mistakes. I let pressure get to me. And because of that pressure, I said things and did things I should not have done. And for that, really, I am sorry.” Benny Hinn, apologizing for his mistakes, including prophecies that “were not from the Lord.” In an interview with The Strang Report, the world famous televangelist and faith healer, Benny Hinn, stated that his main regrets were endorsing the prosperity gospel and giving... Read more
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In