by Daisy Reynolds | Dec 25, 2024
Barry attempts what may seem silly at first—a reconciliation of Christ and Christmas. He starts with a value, describes its opposite, acknowledges the divergence, and then ends up at a point of reconciliation. This may feel like a lot of work, but it is the work that...
by Barry Creamer | Dec 25, 2024 | Devotionals
A veil prevents those who visit every other part of the Temple from entering its holiest space, a chamber in which enormous golden statues of cherubs join wall to wing to wall implying God’s holiness. “The cherubim stood on their feet, facing the nave. And he made the...
by Barry Creamer | Dec 18, 2024 | Devotionals
Mary’s objection to Gabriel is more right than she knows. “How will this be…?” means “This is not possible.” And it is not. An announcement cannot make a virgin pregnant. Per Solomon’s prayer and Jesus’ own words to a Samaritan woman: God cannot be contained or...
by Daisy Reynolds | Dec 18, 2024
Barry finishes up his series on faith and pride, talking about the instances where pride creeps in to replace faith. Abraham is a great example for us as he was willing to give up the very thing (person in this case) that his faith birthed in order to maintain his...
by Barry Creamer | Dec 11, 2024 | Devotionals
The temple provides setting for all 3 opening accounts in Luke’s gospel—John the Baptist’s birth, Jesus’ birth, and young Jesus’ return to Jerusalem without his parents. In the temple, Gabriel announces John’s coming birth to Zechariah, Zechariah and Elisabeth name...
by Daisy Reynolds | Dec 11, 2024
Barry begins a series on faith. There are common opposites to faith of which we ought to be wary: inconsistency, doubt, disobedience, and hypocrisy. However, Barry believes the one that has been left out undermines all else about faith. Scriptures: Prov...
by Barry Creamer | Dec 4, 2024 | Devotionals
Some things are hard to believe. Isaiah prophesies that the powerful kingdoms harassing Judah from the north will be overturned within a generation. All Ahaz needs is faith: “If you do not establish your faith, you will not be established” (Isaiah 7:9b). Knowing...
by Daisy Reynolds | Dec 4, 2024
Barry arrives at Psalm 86 and reminds us that all people find themselves in the same position—both us and our enemies—in need of judgment and mercy. What we also need is the supernatural moment when we pass the mercy on. Scriptures: Psalm 86 2 Sam...
by Barry Creamer | Nov 27, 2024 | Devotionals
Of course, every day ought to be Thanksgiving Day for believers, given not only the New Testament’s variety of admonitions to give thanks always and for all things, but also the Old Testament’s repeated lyric: “Oh give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good.” But this...
by Daisy Reynolds | Nov 27, 2024
Barry finishes up this series on elections and consequences. He talks about a few things we need to remember about people, what we must acknowledge about ourselves, and how these things should shape our faith in a God who knows all of that too. Scriptures: Heb...
