Matthew and Luke include Jesus family history in their opening chapters. They are different and give us a clue as to the approach and focus of each of the authors. They are long. 77 generations are mentioned in Luke and 42 are given in Matthew. When I graduated from high school Tracy Lawrence was fillingContinue reading “Time Marches On | God Is Present”
Author Archives: Daniel M Harding
A Regular Day
It’s Christmastime and surely it seems that everyone is doing something. At the very least, most appear to be doing something more than you are currently doing. And, they are all smiling in the pictures that they are sharing of all their events. As we move forward and begin to look at some of theContinue reading “A Regular Day”
A Welcoming People
To truly embrace the idea of Expectation we let’s think for a few moments on hospitality and welcoming others. When our church hosted the Bethlehem Live for so many years we always included the part where Joseph and Mary are shown to a stable. Exclusion stings. I’ve often wondered exactly what that meant for Jesus’Continue reading “A Welcoming People”
People of Light
To fully learn about expectation, we must find ourselves going back to the garden. Down under the tree, that surely bordered the river, and there we find quite a group. First we see Adam and Eve disgusted with themselves. Disgusted with the tempter. Ultimately disgusted with God, for if we’ve learned anything on this earthContinue reading “People of Light”
Expectation over Perfection
Perfection! Ah the glorious thought. The Perfect Tree. The Perfect Gift. The Perfect Movie. The Perfect Store. The above are just a few of the things that we say and think around Christmas. Less often said, but certainly in the forefront of many of our minds is whether or not we will be The PerfectContinue reading “Expectation over Perfection”
Christmas/Advent Resources
Here is a list of the books that I am utilizing for the devotions and ideas that will be posted this December. The first three books were bought through Hearts and Minds Bookstore in Dallastown Pennsylvania. A few years ago I stumbled across one of Byron Borger’s BookNotes, a monthly newsletter that he writes, andContinue reading “Christmas/Advent Resources”
Hope Has Arrived
In his song, So, This Is Christmas, John Lennon pens these words: So this is ChristmasAnd what have you done?Another year overAnd a new one just begun Following a year that has been full of insecurity, suffering, and general discontent these lyrics bring the emphasis to us; our ability, our effort, and our worth. ThisContinue reading “Hope Has Arrived”
A Thanksgiving Exercise
Last night in a conversation with my teacher daughter (Wow! Age slips on by) we discussed some exercises in thankfulness. I was reminded that the official proclamation for the US to designate and celebrate Thanksgiving Day as a national holiday came during the Civil War. In a time of great loss and suffering there areContinue reading “A Thanksgiving Exercise”
Changing Diapers
October has 31 days. At an average of 8 diapers a day that’s 248 diapers or about $65 at Sams. Thankfully there are wonderful daycare caregivers who can help change so many of those. 31 nights. Over those 31 days a child might wake up on average 3 times a night. That’s 93 times thatContinue reading “Changing Diapers”
Uncomfortable
We’ve all been there. Family. Friends. Circumstances. Places we’ve been. Someone says something. Asks a question. Says something that you know will provoke others. And we start to shift a little in our seat. Someone is wearing something; a rival team’s shirt, a slogan that is provocative, or something out of place. Something that justContinue reading “Uncomfortable”
