Many of you no doubt are familiar with this Christmas hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”: O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile […]
Continue ReadingIn church this past Sunday, as he does each year, our rector handed out a card with an icon of St. Nicholas, similar to the one to the left. On the back […]
Continue Reading“You know me, I am no fan of the term X-mas or X anything. I make my kids play Christ-box 360. And if they break a bone they get Christ-rays.” […]
Continue ReadingMatthew interprets Isaiah creatively, not in keeping with what Isaiah meant. The child’s birth is not miraculous in Isaiah, but the deliverance of Judah from a military coalition is.
Continue ReadingJesus isn’t true because he is miraculously predicted 700+ years before his birth. Rather, because Jesus is true, Israel’s story gets reframed around him.
Continue ReadingThe ancient Israelites were as detached from their official religion as are many/most Americans from official Christianity.
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