The classic Christmas hymn “O Holy Night” is a translation and paraphrase of the original French poem “Minuit, chrétiens” (“Midnight, Christians”) by Placide Cappeau (1808-1877). Below is the literal English translation of Cappeau’s original work. “Minuit chrétiens” (“Midnight, Christians”) Midnight, Christians, it is the solemn hour, When God-man descended to us To erase the stain […]
December 16, 2011
I recently took a one-day Ph.D. colloquium on the Messiah in the Old Testament. The entire day consisted of student presentations where each student summarized and critiqued a relevant book. Though time and content required that we paint in broad strokes, it was still an insightful day – mostly education by general exposure. Here are the books […]
December 14, 2011
Towers is the campus news publication of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The Dec-Jan issue contains three resolutions from eight of Southern’s professors and staff members. Several of them, for different reasons, are worth sharing here: “Read through the entire Bible two times.” “Say ‘no’ to my grandkids at least once during the year.” […]
December 12, 2011
1. Breaks invite us to explore new expressions of faith, hope, and love. We are called to trust God in different venues, with fewer of our trusted resources at our disposal, in less comfortable circumstantial climates, with less of a schedule and routine to guide us. We are called to hope in God, his daily […]
December 9, 2011
1. Breaks tend to conjure up memories — both happy and heartbreaking. Family, home, and holidays all tend to stimulate memories that bring our past to the forefront. And memories are powerful things. There may be memories of sexual sin, wasted years, old romances, broken relationships, parental abuse, damaging choices, untimely deaths, and overwhelming regrets. […]
December 8, 2011
Winter and summer breaks are unique seasons for Christian college students. Those who minister to them have an equally unique opportunity and responsibility to meet these breaks with seasonal love — personal care that considers the dynamics of the season and the corresponding needs of the person. However, seasonal love does not begin with strategies […]
December 7, 2011
After ten years of Christian college ministry, I operate in semesters. My year starts in August, breaks for Christmas, relaunches in January, and finishes in May with caps and gowns. There’s a lot that happens in between each segment, but the rhythm is palpable. One unique element of college ministry is the breaks. For faculty and staff, […]
December 6, 2011
Aaron Rodgers is the starting quarterback for the defending World Champion Green Bay Packers. After playing at Cal and surprisingly slipping to the 24th pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, Rodgers sat behind legend Brett Favre for three years from 2005-2007 until Favre’s legendary annual retirements led to his trade from the Packers to the New York Jets. […]
December 5, 2011
From the “Exodus” entry in the New Dictionary of Biblical Theology: More directly than any other NT book, Hebrews argues for the superiority of the new epoch. In this new Exodus (3:7-19), Jesus, attested by signs and wonders and gifts of the Spirit (cf. Is. 63:11; Num. 11:25), is greater than both the angels who gave the […]
December 2, 2011
This is the final installment of a four-part series about church planting teams working among unreached tribes. Former 20-year tribal missionary Brad Buser (Papua New Guinea) shared these twenty practical tips with his Cross-Cultural Church Planting class at The Master’s College in 2004. Here are Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. 16. You’re not asked, […]
December 1, 2011
This is Part 3 of pioneer missionary Brad Buser’s invaluable lecture about relationships between missionary partners doing hardcore church-planting among the unreached. Brad and his family spent twenty years among the unreached Iteri tribe in Papua New Guinea, and his wisdom is at once gritty and golden. Be sure to read Part 1 and Part 2, […]
December 25, 2011
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