Tag: Christmas

My Dad, God’s Mercy, & Christmas

I spent some time over Christmas back in my hometown of Bremen, Indiana, visiting my mom, our son and his family, and my sister. The emphasis on family made me think of my dad, John Snyder Jr., who died fourteen years ago at age 76. This photo from 1985 is how I best remember him. He was kind, loved to joke, and active. Although I can’t say I bonded with him as a teenager (how seldom does that happen?), I… Read more »

What Christmas Is All About

There’s one passage of Scripture not in the Gospels themselves that is a crystal-clear Christmas message. It doesn’t mention a manger, shepherds, or a sign in the heavens, yet it communicates what Christmas is all about regardless. It’s found in Philippians 2: 5-11: Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form… Read more »

Full of Grace & Truth

I’m going to take a break from blogging for the rest of 2013. Before I go, a few comments. First, a sincere wish directed toward Republicans, in the form of a gift: And also a reminder to remember what Christmas is all about: Just kidding. But if you are watching the usual “holiday” specials, you might think so. Actually, I direct you to some words from the Gospel of John instead: There was the true Light which, coming into the… Read more »

Christmas Images

Christmas is fast approaching. I thought I’d do a little experiment, so I typed in “Christmas” on Google, then went to whatever images it chose to highlight. Hundreds appeared. Many were quite beautiful, like this one: And there were those that make you feel warm and comfortable, evoking perhaps memories of Christmases past: A multitude of pictures featured someone intimately connected with Christmas: Others were admittedly rather cute: Some even attempted a message of sorts: Nice and general—vague even—and certainly… Read more »