Why are so many Christians so Cruel?

Posted on December 23, 2024 by jwfisch

by David French

Opinion Columnist: The New York Times

I am republishing this article as a Catch because I believe we all should read it and take it to heart. If I were to re-title this article, I would name it “The Upside-down Kingdom of God.” It is also a fitting reflection at this time of year on the meaning of the birth and life of Christ. David French is a regular columnist with the New York Times and an outspoken Christian.

OIP-24

Here’s a question I hear everywhere I go, including from fellow Christians: Why are so many Christians so cruel?

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve heard someone say something like: I’ve experienced blowback in the secular world, but nothing prepared me for church hate. Christian believers can be especially angry and even sometimes vicious.

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Wild and Sweet

Posted on December 20, 2024 by jwfisch

OIP-23

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old, familiar carols play, 

And wild and sweet the words repeat

Of peace on earth, goodwill to men!

     – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

What unexpected words to use for the Christmas Eve message of the angels. What is wild and sweet about the birth of Christ — the coming of the savior? Plenty.

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

On a cold winter’s night

Posted on December 18, 2024 by jwfisch

OIP-22

It was three o’clock in the morning and a bitter, January wind was blowing hard off a frozen Lake Michigan. No one should have been out at this time in this weather, but I was. I was bundled up against the elements because I couldn’t stay in my room any longer. It was the end of the first semester of my senior year in college, and I was cramming for a final in my major field of study. I was not ready. I had whole books yet to read to be ready for this test.

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

First to the Stable

Posted on December 16, 2024 by jwfisch

download-1

In the town of Bethlehem

A king and ruler, child was born

Not too many people noticed

Just some shepherds on their farm

Plus a few hundred thousand angels

Breaking the heavens with their song

And the rocks and the mountains joined them

For their time had come

                      – from “Angels’ Song” by John Fischer

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Hospitality Night in December

Posted on December 13, 2024 by jwfisch

th-13

It’s Hospitality Night in December. That means our little town swings into Christmas mode tonight in a big way. At 5:00 p.m. the main street in the center of town will be blocked off and stages will be set up, tables in most of the shops will be stocked with wine, cheese, hot cocoa and other treats, and Santa’s house will be brought in for his arrival. Then, in the following couple of hours, choirs will sing, bands will play, speeches will be made, the big tree in front of Town Hall will be lit, and Santa will ride into town on a vintage 1920s fire truck blaring its horn, and set up shop in his house, ready to meet with the children already lined up and waiting to see him.

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Wonder

Posted on December 12, 2024 by jwfisch

th-22

I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die,
For poor orn’ry people like you and like I,
I wonder as I wander … out under the sky.

I sometimes think that wonder is like an endangered species – we don’t have enough of it and are in danger of losing it altogether. You lose wonder when you try to explain everything. Wonder is wasted in seminars, and “how-to” books, and manuals for living, and steps to a more victorious Christian life.

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Away in a Manger

Posted on December 11, 2024 by jwfisch

OIP-21

Away in a manger no crib for a bed

The little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head

The stars in the sky look down where He lay

The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay

What if God was one of us? What would that mean?

It would mean that God had two little feet and ten little toes. It would mean He played with those toes and realized they were His.

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 1 Comment

What the heart knows

Posted on December 10, 2024 by jwfisch

As the saying goes, There is a method to our madness. We skipped over Catches last week because we have been working on a subject neither of us have dealt with before. We hope it will be worth the wait as we are excited to bring you the results of our work in a new series of Catches and podcasts. Today’s Catch reminds us of the preeminence of the heart.

two-young-females-talking-to-each-other-e1565372601591

Here is something you can know about every human being regardless of faith, religion, or none, even if they say something to the contrary: They are searching for God.

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Around your table

Posted on November 28, 2024 by jwfisch

OIP-19

I wanted something to talk on for Thanksgiving and ran into the following verses when I was looking for the one verse about giving thanks, “for this is the will of God for you.” I saw the other verses leading up to it and realized this was just what we all needed to hear right now. So I decided to make this my Thanksgiving gift to us all.

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Under penalty of death

Posted on November 26, 2024 by jwfisch

download

If I warn the wicked, saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death,’ but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible for their deaths. Ezekiel 3:18

It’s a given, we are all under the penalty of death. And everyone knows it. The only thing everyone doesn’t necessarily know is why. Many people don’t know that death is a penalty. They just assume it is a part of reality. Everybody dies; that’s the way it goes. Maybe one of these days we’ll figure this out and we will become immortal but that seems like a long way off.

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment