Advent – Day Twenty-Three

on Christmas Eve…sorry, I’ve been traveling. [at this point I'm apologizing to the 3 people who read this]

Peter Paul Rubens 1577 – 1640
The Adoration of the Magi (1624)

oil on panel (447 × 336 cm) — 1624
Museum Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Antwerp

Great stuff from Desiring God on the Visit of the Magi

We Three Kings of Orient Aren’t

Advent – Day Twenty-Two

only tangentially related to Advent, but a very helpful commentary on a tragic oversight, especially during a season laden with sentimentality.

I, for one, am thankful that God came to be with us; that His Son “emptied Himself” (Phil. 2:7) and became a baby who did cry [with apologies to Away in a Manger]

Listen and watch, and please don’t be offended…

Bad Art and the Tortured Beauty of the Cross from The Gospel Coalition on Vimeo.

Advent – Day Twenty-One

Freshly back from our 2011 48-hour domination of the great city of Chicago, I’m back to updating SGRWebster’s celebration of Advent.

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year.

No ghost stories, just tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago…

Please, if you don’t have the Jesus Storybook Bible, make this a Merry Christmas for you and yours by ordering it as soon as possible. It truly is the gift that keeps on giving.

I’d like to think that this is what Andy Williams was singing about, even if he didn’t know it.

Advent – Day Twenty

Happy Belated Birthday, mom.

This song has carried a special meaning for me this Christmas.

I love this version especially:

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

Great backstory on this hymn, continuing this year’s meditation on the true meaning of Christmas:

And in despair, I bowed my head:
‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said,
‘For hate is strong and mocks the song,
Of Peace on earth, good will to men.’

Then pealed the beIls more loud and deep;
‘God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With Peace on earth, good will to men
‘”

Advent – Day Nineteen

Let His praise resound…it’s Christmas!

Born Is The King (It’s Christmas) from Hillsong Church on Vimeo.

Born unto us this day a Savior
Gifted from heaven to a manger
The hope of the world
A light for all mankind
All of the earth rejoice
It’s Christmas time

So lift up your voice and sing out His praise
It’s Christmas
Born is the King, rejoice in the day
It’s Christmas
Make a joyful sound
It’s Christmas
Let His praise resound
It’s Christmas

Goodwill to all the earth
And peace divine
All of the earth rejoice
It’s Christmas time
It’s Christmas time

So lift up your voice and sing out His praise
It’s Christmas
Born is the King, rejoice in the day
It’s Christmas
Make a joyful sound
It’s Christmas
Let His praise resound
It’s Christmas

So lift up your voice and sing out His praise
It’s Christmas
Born is the King, rejoice in the day
It’s Christmas
Make a joyful sound
It’s Christmas
Let His praise resound
It’s Christmas

So lift up your voice and sing out His praise
It’s Christmas
Born is the King, rejoice in the day
It’s Christmas
Make a joyful sound
It’s Christmas
Let His praise resound
It’s Christmas

Advent – Day Eighteen

Are you listening for the Gospel in the hymns of Christmas? It is my prayer that the LORD would give you ears to hear this year – when He does, I think you’ll find it everywhere…

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made Heaven and earth of nought
And with his blood mankind has bought.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!