Bethlehem was just the beginning. I call Jesus Christ's next appearance, Bethlehem, Act 2. No silent night this time, however. The skies will open, trumpets will blast, and a new kingdom will begin.

Waiting is a sustained effort to stay focused on God through prayer and belief.

Praise is the highest occupation of any being

I don't have a lot of time in the sermon anyway. The sermon is only 25 minutes, which to me is frighteningly short. So I feel as if I need to get into that pretty quickly and make it as practical and accessible as possible.

The next time you find yourself alone in a dark alley facing the undeniables of life, don't cover them with a blanket, or ignore them with a nervous grin. Don't turn up the TV and pretend they aren't there. Instead, stand still, whisper his name, and listen. He is nearer than you think.

I think a story is an attention grabber. I think it's a truth conveyor. Those are two great features of a good story.

The Bible urges us to be respectful to all people, especially people with whom we have disagreements, to never libel people, to never label people.