It's tough to read, tough to think about. Joyous, yet nightmare-ish. Touching, yet jarring. It's Christmas from God the Father's perspective, shown in Revelation 12:1-6.

What happens when we acknowledge weaknesses, shortcomings, and sins? We see the love of Jesus more vividly. Which gives us even greater joy.

In order to truly "get" the why of Advent and Christmas, we must contemplate 2 distinct questions:

#1: Do I believe how incomprehensibly horrible hell is?

#2: Do I believe how incomprehensibly amazing heaven is?

All the best things in life require preparation. And that includes peace!

And peace—not just the absence of conflict, but the presence of wholeness, is just the preparation God made.

How do you feel about the future? Excited? Nervous? Anxious? Fearful? Optimistic? You don't need us to tell you things happen, and they're not all good. Many are bad. Jesus shows us how we are able to move forward in life, all the way until the end.

It doesn't make sense for Paul to ask what he asked for...because he's Paul! He's God's missionary to the world, the one who traveled the world, proclaiming Jesus as the Savior. So why did he ask what he asked then?

What is the relationship people at a particular church have with each other? Should have? What could they have? God gives us a beautiful portrait of the church in a letter from a pastor to his church.

"Earn It." "Prove yourself." "If you are good enough, I'll love you." ...3 statements on the list of things God has never said.

We're not naturally wired for grace. For people or God to show us unconditional love. It makes us uncomfortable, it denies us our natural desire to earn things, prove ourselves, and feel adequate.

But grace is so good. Especially coming from God.

The woman Jesus met at the well in Samaria would not be the pundits' pick for missionary of the year. Who she had been, who she was, where she lived, what she believed...not conducive to being a missionary. But Jesus changed all that.

Is there anything actually worth dying for? If so, why?