Thomas VanderPloeg

The Magi and Herod have very different reactions to arrival of Jesus; it shows up in the kind of baggage they carry. What does our baggage say about us?

The glory of the Lord arrives at Christmas; but it is not always what we expect.

Sometimes we think of advent as a time to prepare ourselves for the arrival of Jesus; God shows us in the story of Israel that we are being prepared for Jesus.

No one likes to have their life rerouted in directions that appear to be wasted; Jesus shows us that God uses these waiting times for his purposes.

Jesus shows us in the way he arrives at Christmas that he shows up in our very ordinary world; and God continues to show up in our ordinary world today.

As Thanksgiving Day is upon us, a little portion control is helpful to keep from stuffing ourselves on too much dinner; portion control is also helpful for embracing gratitude.

There is more to thanksgiving than feeling grateful; the act of giving thanks requires some attention to our boundaries.