The Christ of Christmas -- Our Messiah

 In the beginning was the Word,and the Word was with God. In Him was life and the life was the light of men.The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it, the Crossmap website reports today (Dec. 11, 2025).

We tend to throw the word around at Christmas without really understanding it.There is too much noise going on with Santa Claus and the Grinch getting all the name recognition. You don't even hear the word unless you are blessed to hear bits of "The Messiah" oratorio by George F. Handel.

Yet we ought to speak the same "Messiah in hushed tone. It's a holy and precious term. In Hebrew it's derived from the word mashiyach, which means "anointed" or "consecrated," a description usually reserved for kings or priests.

For those living in ancient Israel, the promise of the Messiah -- the kingly Son of God -- transcended the centuries. He would be the Anointed One. Our Righteousness. The Christ. According to the prophecies of the past, the Lord of the heavens Himself would come to deliver the people out of darkness and into glorious light.

Let,s open our eyes and hearts this season to see the words, the awe, and the excitement in that first Christmas, when Jesus came in astounding brilliance and majesty as our pomised Messiah. Let's worship Him in humility, giving honor and praise to the King of the ages. Let's speak His name with reverence.

 Gracious Lord Jesus, make me reverent in Your salvation and love. Thank you for coming as my Messiah, the Anointed One who has brought me hope of living in eternity with You someday -- when Your holy name will be shouted in praise by all Your loved ones! Amen!

Bethlehem Marks Return of Christmas Celebrations with Packed Tree--Lighting Event

Bethlehem celebrated the traditional lighting of the Christmas tree on a packed Manger Square on Dec. 6, following a two--year hiatus, the Christian Daily website reports today (Dec. 8, 2025).

The ceremony -- attended by church leaders, Palestinian officials, international diplomats, and local families -- marked Bethlehem's first public Christmas gathering since the outbreak of the Gaza war in 2023. City leaders framed the lighting as both a spiritual milestone and a communal act of resilience, declaring that he "light of peace" continues to shine from the birthplace of Christ despite the hardship in the region.

Bethlehem Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati welcomed the large turnout, noting that it reflected Bethlehem's global spiritual significance.Representing the Palestinian president, Dr. Ramzi Khoury, Head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs, affirmed that Christmas carries a message of hope born in a simple manger more than 2,000 years ago -- one that changed the face of the world. He emphasized that the birth of Christ is not merely a historical moment but an ongoing birth of hope for true peace and darkness, a reminder that light finds its way no matter how deep the hardship.

Military Becomes More Religious as Nation Remains Secular

 A recent statistical analysis shows that the U.S. armed forces are seeing a rise in religious sentiment, even as mainstream culture becomes more secular, the Christian Post website reports today (Dec. 4, 2025).

Ryan Burge, a professor of practice at the John C. Danforth Center at Waahington University in St. Louis, Missouri, analyzed data from the Cooperative Election Study, noting that the number of active--duty military personnel who attend church at least once a week has increased in recent years.

The number of military personnel who attended church weekly has increased from 21%i in 2010--2012 to 28% in 2022--2024. Those who attended more than twice a week increased from 15% in 2010--2012 to 17% in 2022--2024. In total 45% of military respondents surveyed in 2022--2024 attended at least weekly.

During the same period, the number of surveyed civilians who attended church weekly stayed at 16%, while those who attended more than once a week declined fom 9% in 2010--2012 to 7% in 2022--2024. In total, 23% of civilian respondents surveyed in 2022--2024 attended at least weekly.

Popee Leo Calls for Release of Christians Kidnapped in Nigeria and Cameroon

Pope Leo xiv hasi issued an appeal for the liberation of students, clergy, and worshippers abducted in a series of violent attacks across Nigeria and Cameroon, the Christian Today website reports today (Nov. 25, 2025).

The Pope's remarks come as Nigeria and Cameroon grapple with a renewed surge of kidnappings targeting Christian communities.

On Nov.21, the isolated Papin district in Niger state, Nigeria gunmen stormed St. Mary High School, a Catholic school, abducting more than 300 srudents and staff.

The abducted children, ranging from  10 to 18 years old, are believed to have been taken into the dense forests that stradddle Nigeria and neighboring states, where armed gangs have long operated unhindered.

"I make a heartfelt appeal that the hostages be immediately released, and urge the competent authorities to take appropriate and timely decisions to ensure their liberation," the Pope said.

Our Freedom in Christ, Living with Responsible Love

The Apostle Paul taught the Corinthian believers in Christ to see the Christian freedom responsibly,the Crossmap website reports today (Nov. 23, 2025).

They needed to guard against causing others to stumble in their walk with God. 

In today's society, a tension exists between a person's rights and their responsibility. The phrase "I have my rights echoes loudly throughout the world. 

People claim freedom of speech , freedom of choice, and freedom of lifestyle. Yet often , those 

claims collide with the well-being of others .

There is one God, the Father , by whom all things were created, and for whom we live, and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live (1Corinthians 8:6).

Paul's words in Corinthians 8 remind us that as we serve Christ, freedom never floats detached from responsibility. True Christian liberty functions within the boundaries of love.

We received our freedom in Christ as a gift purchased by His blood on the cross. The Lord's sacrifice released us from sin's power and religious bondage.

Fellowship in Building One Body in Christ

 The Christian life, in all its fullness. is not a solo pursuit -- it is a sharesd journey -- a divine collaboration of grace, gift, and love, the Christian Today website reports today (Nov.20, 2025).

When Paul writes that we are "one body in Christ,and individually members of one another" (Romans 12:5),he is unveiling a profound mystery. The Holy Spirit does not simply gaher a crowd of like--minded individuals. He forms a living organism.

Each believer is joined to Christ, and therefore to every other believer , in a spiritual unity that reflects the very nature of God Himself -- diverse yet one. 

Diverity is a deliiberate feature of God's design, and when embraced it allows the Church to flourish through coorination. "The body does not consist of one member but of many... God aranged the members ... just as He chose (Corinthians 12: 14,18). 

When the Spirit harmonizes  our differences, the result isnot competition but cooperation, not fragmentation but flourishing.

Unity is not merely a moral ideal but a divine promise. Because Jesus lives in you and joins you to His people, you will  never lack what the body supplies. Where you are weak, another's strength meets your need; where you are strong, another's vulnerability calls forth your compassion. This is how Christ continues His ministry through His body today : 

through shared life, mutual care, and sacrifiicial love.

love.

I

 have no need of you." each member has a part to play, and each grace--gift contributes to the whole.

when the Spirit harmonizes our d,f

frences, 

How to Make Permanent Changes

Christianity is a good news--bad news kind of a deal, the Crossmap website reports today (Nov.16. 2025). The bad new is that people are fallen and super sinful (Genesis 3) and because God loves people He does not want anyone to stay that way (Romans12:2, Ehesians 4:173:16--24, John  3:16). Sin is the most harmful thing in the universe. If it is allowed to run wild, it always leads to our eternal destruction (Romans 6:23).

The good news of Christianity is that anyone who submits their life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ will be saved from the penalty of sin (hell) and given the supernatural ability through the power of the Holy Spirit to change (Acts 2:21, Titus 2:11--12, 2nd Timothy 1:91, Hebrews 9:28). The Holy Spirit empowers Christ followers to change their outward behaviors and their hearts, The result is that anyone who submits themselves to the Lordship of Jesus can become like Jesus from the inside out (2nd Corinthians 5:17, James 1:4, Hebrews 5:12--14). It's a beautiful thing.