Showers of Blessing

Posted on December 28, 2015 by jwfisch

th-11Merry First Monday After Christmas! I love how Christmas is still in the air as the New Year approaches. Celebrating isn’t over yet, especially here in southern California, where the purple San Bernardino Mountains stand out in cold, sunny clarity as they await their annual television appearance as backdrop for the Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl game. It always feels like “More to come …” around here after Christmas.

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

What God wants for Christmas

Posted on December 24, 2015 by jwfisch

th-10

Marti, Chandler and I were discussing Christmas yesterday when the question came up: “What do you think God would like for Christmas?” and Chandler said, matter-of-factly, as if everyone knew this, that God would like a surfboard. Now before you jump to judgment or laughter over this, as I first did, give the thought a little consideration. Chandler’s comments on things like this, if he’s not joking (and he rarely is), are well worth thinking about, because they usually hide a deeper truth.

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Reflections on the Baby Jesus

Posted on December 23, 2015 by jwfisch

th-9

The birth of anything is miraculous, but the birth of a human being is exceptionally so, not just because of the wonder of a whole person packed into an infant, but because of what it will become. I’ve done it with all three of my kids. You’d think I would have gotten it by the third one, but I was no different with him. For the first couple years, you project yourself on the child. You think he or she is thinking what you’re thinking. For a while, they cooperate, because they are so attached to you. You are all they know. Then slowly, imperceptibly, you realize they are someone else — someone other than who you thought they were. Then almost suddenly it dawns on you: you don’t have a clue what they are thinking. There is a stranger in your house. If you are going to get to know this person, you are going to have to work at it. In short, this person demands something of you. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 7 Comments

The Courageous Heart

Posted on December 22, 2015 by jwfisch

th-8

Many times for many people within the Catch community, just waking up in the morning and getting out of bed takes a courageous heart; for others a courageous heart is one that finds its way in the darkness by following one sure star; and maybe for you, a courageous heart is one that lives one’s passion just for the merciful touch of the Lord’s hand.

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 2 Comments

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Posted on December 21, 2015 by jwfisch

th-7

 

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” with roots in the Roman church as far back as the twelfth century, is one of our oldest Christmas carols. It is so old, its author is unknown, because there have most likely been numerous authors as the song has been written and passed down in pieces. It is a true Advent hymn, gathering its impetus from the anticipation of the savior of Israel who would turn out to be the savior of the world.

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Joy to the World!

Posted on December 18, 2015 by jwfisch

th-6

 

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” Luke 2:10

I think of joy as very loud happiness. Joy is happiness on steroids. It is one thing to be happy; it is quite the other to be full of joy. Happy is a hand-held sparkler. Joy is a $25,000 twenty-minute fireworks show, synced to your favorite music. Happy is a Snoopy dance. Joy is a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest!”

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

A Thrill of Hope

Posted on December 17, 2015 by jwfisch

th-3

 

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new glorious morn

It created a shudder through the galaxy — a breaking story that rocked all worlds. It rippled through the stars and slapped against the edges of the universe. It was The Event time was waiting for. Hush. It’s about to crack the sky and spill out onto a Palestinian hillside, only to be wasted on a handful of shepherds, the only ones invited to the party. We wouldn’t have even known if they hadn’t told us. But who can trust the words of a few lowly sheep herders? God could have orchestrated anything, and He chose to do this. He’s always been somewhat secretive. It’s His style.

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

No Little Town; No Silent Night

Posted on December 16, 2015 by jwfisch

shutterstock_120017545

 

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie;
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by.

The little town of Bethlehem is not so little today, and not so still. It’s a place where nights can be full of exploding shells instead of silent stars going by.

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Still Proceeding

Posted on December 15, 2015 by jwfisch

th

 

O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to Thy perfect light

 

 

Christmas carols have always been a mysterious phenomenon to me. They contain clear, sometimes deep and complicated expressions of the Christian faith that are nonetheless a part of secular society because they are … well … Christmas carols. They are a part of the Christmas tradition everyone seems to accept. There’s more theology crammed into just one of these carols than in most sermons, and yet you can hear them in supermarkets, restaurants, Christmas shows, and from carolers on your front lawn.

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Anticipating the Gift We Already Have

Posted on December 14, 2015 by jwfisch

th-39

Advent is a little like waiting for spring training to start. Now I can hear some of you moaning and groaning  — you, who, like my wife, can’t stand that I’m bringing up baseball again … in December. But here’s the deal: spring training tickets go on sale this month, and I’ve been making a habit of driving out to Tempe, Arizona for a weekend in March and watching three games guilt-free. Well, it’s my Christmas present; I gotta do it.

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 2 Comments