Our Father in Heaven,
As Christians around the world celebrate Resurrection Sunday, we thank you for the sacrifice that your Son made on our behalf, a sacrifice we don’t consider, meditate on, or give thanks for often enough. Sadly, for many, it’s only during this time of the year that much thought is given to Jesus’ resurrection.
In perfect unity with you and the Holy Spirit, Jesus willingly came to earth as a human, as one of us, enduring suffering and temptation just as we do, but without sin. From the beginning, Jesus knew that His earthly mission would end up on a cruel Roman cross. He prayed in the garden that His cup would pass, but He was always in complete submission to Your will.
In the “Great Exchange” on the cross, Jesus took on himself the sins of all Christians – past, present and future. In exchange, He gave us His righteousness. Hallelujah! What a Savior! Continue reading
What do you think of when I mention joy? Is it the thrilling victory of your favorite sports team? Perhaps it is a beautiful sunset or a new puppy?
As I have done for several years now, I am sharing my favorites in a variety of categories. All items listed were released or took place during 2025, except for books, which reflect books that I read during 2025, regardless of publication date. I hope you enjoy this list, and find some good recommendations.
Top Pick: Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning
Father in Heaven,
Father in Heaven,
Recently, in Paul Tripp’s excellent new devotional Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life, he wrote about idols. When we hear someone mention an idol, we might think of people bowing down before something made of wood, metal or stone. Tripp tells us that the sad truth is that many of us who would never bow before a religious idol have idolatry in our lives. He writes that an idol functions as a God-replacement in our hearts, and that sometimes good things become idols. Things in our lives that were once blessings rise in level of importance in our hearts until they control our thoughts, desires, choices, actions, and words. A desire for even a good thing will become a bad thing when it becomes a ruling thing. Just as Eve saw the forbidden tree was “good for food,” a “delight to the eyes,” and “to be desired to make one wise” (Gen. 3:6), so we are allured by idols—good things that become ultimate things.
Note: Advent is what we call the season leading up to Christmas. It begins four Sundays before December 25, sometimes in the last weekend of November, sometimes on the first Sunday in December. This year, Advent will begin Sunday, November 30.
On November 25, my friend Jim and I made our way to the United Center in Chicago for the final stop on Paul McCartney’s Got Back North America tour. This would be Jim’s first time seeing the former Beatle. I have now seen Sir Paul in concert fourteen times, with the first being at the Rosemont Horizon (now Allstate Arena) with my brother-in-law Al in December, 1989. I have seen him in Chicago seven times – at the Rosemont Horizon, Soldier Field, Wrigley Field and now four times at the United Center; three times in Indianapolis, at the old Market Square Arena, and twice at what is now known as Gainbridge Fieldhouse, twice in Milwaukee at the old County Stadium and Summerfest, and once in St. Louis at the old Busch Memorial Stadium, and Moline, at what is now known as Vibrant Arena. Five of the concerts have been held in outdoor stadiums, with the remaining nine in indoor arenas.