It’s dark outside, and today seems even darker than usual. And it should. Today there will be more darkness and less light than any other day of the year. Desmond Tutu insisted, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” For those of us who live in the … More Don’t Let the Darkness Eclipse the Light of Christmas
The incarnation is a baffling concept for veteran believers and neophytes. Martin Luther said, “The mystery of the humanity of Christ, that He sunk Himself into our flesh, is beyond all human understanding.” One of my favorite passages to reflect on at Christmas is found in the first chapter of the gospel of John. In The … More When God Moved into the Neighborhood
Grief is challenging to deal with any time of the year, but during the holidays, grief can be deeper, darker, and more unpredictable. Why does grief seem to turn up the volume during the holiday season? I think there are at least three reasons that grief is more amplified from Thanksgiving through Christmas. First, the … More Holiday Grief: Finding Comfort and Joy
Advent is a prime time for deepening or jumpstarting one’s devotional life. Devotional reading, contemplation, and prayer are disciplines that nurture our spiritual health in all seasons. And if you prefer to go “paperless” in your devotional reading there are many inspiring Advent resources available online. When I was in high school the student ministry … More 7 Good Options for Online Advent Devotionals
A few years ago, my wife and I spotted this folk proverb on a sign hanging in one of our favorite Smoky Mountain restaurants: “Simple pleasures are life’s treasures.” It reminded me of an old tv commercial that proclaimed, “Life’s simple pleasures are the best.” Whatever one’s station or mission in life, little blessings should … More 12 Simple Blessings I Never Want to Take for Granted
Many of us will be privileged to gather on Thanksgiving Day with family and friends to enjoy a bountiful feast and hearty conversations around the table. As one of our treasured holidays, Thanksgiving is a day set aside, not only to give thanks, but to rekindle in us a spirit of gratitude. In I Thessalonians … More 3 Reasons to Choose an Attitude of Gratitude
Philosopher Eric Hoffer once suggested, “The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.” I grew up in church singing the beloved hymn by Johnson Oatman, Jr., “Count Your Blessings.” What is a blessing? And when you “name them one by one,” what do you name? In my early years, … More When You Count Your Blessings, What Do You Count?
I had the privilege of spending a part of my summer sabbatical in Europe in 2012. Just before beginning a summer term at Oxford University, I visited several historic sites from the ancient Roman Empire, trying to brush up on my knowledge of the history of Western Civilization. Just to make a full disclosure, the only … More Upgrading Our Election Year Conduct
In the novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, there’s a line that says, “I don’t want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them.” In recent years, leadership training events have emphasized the importance of emotional intelligence. But emotional strength … More Strengthening Your EQ: 8 Tips for Managing Your Emotions
In her book, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith, Anne Lamott suggests, “A good marriage is where both people feel like they’re getting the better end of the deal.” However, I can readily identify with Winston Churchill’s assessment: “My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me.” … More 12 Insights for Navigating Marriage and Ministry
Barry's Notes 