Joe Barnett

You shall name him Jesus.            —Matthew 1:21 Parents-to-be give serious thought to the name of their baby-to-be. The baby’s name isn’t a trivial tag. It establishes an identity that will follow the child from the cradle to the grave—and beyond. Mary and Joseph weren’t asked what their baby’s name would […]

Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.                               —Luke 2:11 In 1739, Charles Wesley wrote the lyrics to Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. In 1753, Wesley’s friend, George Whitefield, altered

We have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.              —Matthew 2:2 Charles Schulz’s A Charlie Brown Christmas made its television debut on December 9, 1965. Fearing that quoting the Bible would offend some viewers, network officials asked Schulz to omit the “Christmas story.” Schulz

On earth peace, goodwill toward men.                          —Luke 2:14 Edmund Sears was depressed. The United States and Mexico were struggling in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War (1846–1848). And Europe was staggering under the weight of the numerous revolutions of 1848. It seemed to

You will find a baby lying in a manger.                            —Luke 2:12 Walking to his one-room apartment after a midnight Christmas Eve service in New York City in 1934, Robert MacGimsey passed the open door of a pub. The raucous swearing was, he

Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your heart.         —Hebrews 4:7 God singled out Moses and saddled him with a heavy mission: “I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt” (Ex 3:10). God singled out Saul and saddled him with a distasteful

Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin.                   —Matthew 18:7 St. Bernard of Clairvaux resolved that his actions must pass three tests: Is it lawful? Can I do it and not sin? Is it becoming in me as a Christian? Can

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.                            —Psalm 106:1 If only my spouse was more understanding. If only my child was more respectful. If only I didn’t have to deal with such jerks. If only I had more money. Does

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.                               —Psalm 103:8 The world puts the rich, charismatic, articulate, and connected on a pedestal. But Jesus seemed partial to the marginalized, outcasts, and nobodies. See him

The devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.                 —1 Peter 5:8 Raymond Brown was a postman. One day, he had a letter to deliver to a new resident on his route. When he started up the walk, he was confronted by the