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As a young child my anticipation intensified as the time approached to go to my grandparents in Chicago for Christmas. Grandmother's unusual nativity scene included a lot more than most. It included sheep, cows, chickens, ducks, kittens, and puppies alongside the familiar camels and donkey. I would lay on my stomach and rearrange the figures that surrounded baby Jesus. That was my introduction to the magic called Christmas.

Forgive my sports metaphor, but last night as I write this, the Chicago Cubs won the World Series after 108 years. That's a long time and a lot of disappointments for Cub fans to hold on to hope, but the dream came true!

The Bad Burrito Awards annually recognize actions, products, and efforts on behalf of religion that could be the result of late night inspirational ideas caused by that earlier dinner.

This world does not understand God's grace, even though its meaning is powerfully displayed in the cross of Christ. Thank God for his strange book called Revelation, that is so much more than a timetable or another “Da Vinci Code” novel. We are reading “the last chapter” and it is hope – not wishful thinking – but God's answer that defeats evil forever!

When the Apostle John experienced God’s revelation on Patmos, he was living in a world of despair. Society was divided between a small, powerful, wealthy class and an enormous impoverished and oppressed lower class. In the isolation of Patmos, John saw a vision of God. Instead of an angel promising John he too could be could be powerful and wealthy, the vision was a scene of worship before God’s throne in heaven.

Revelation is written in a style that fits into the fashionable entertainment of our day: sci-fi, mythological creatures at war and strange beings from another dimension, connected by violence and terror.

The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:1-3 listed five key Christian lifestyle practices. The first three lifestyle guides are to “be completely humble, be gentle and be patient.”

The fourth key lifestyle practice is for Christians to “put up with other Christian church members because we are motivated by love.”

Today we will consider how our giving can create joy within us as well as in others. No, this is not a gimmick. It's a lesson on freedom and fulfillment.

The stereotype of millennials, those born between the early 1980s and 2000, is of young adults who dream big but yet seem reluctant to take risks and put in the hard work necessary to achieve their goals.

But as millennials gain influence in the workplace, churches and not-for-profit organizations need to reevaluate their stewardship outreach efforts to ensure their message connects with the unique perspectives of this next generation.

You thought building campaigns and pledge drives were created in modern times, but here we are in the ancient book of Exodus reading about those very ideas!