Headlines: Good Tidings. Great Joy.

As we celebrate another Christmas on this side of eternity, we want to halt the news in its tracks (since there are never good tidings nor great joy most weeks) and talk about Isaiah, David’s throne, and some of the lighter things that make the holidays joyful. It’s always bittersweet, Christmas – because the chains we have that tie us to this planet mean we suffer hurt, loss and difficulty all through the year. But at the same time that sweet-sour paradigm allows us to rejoice and carry on because on the other side is hope. For those who aren’t drawn into the study of last days, we need to ask ourselves why, because we can’t get to the hope part quite yet. Jesus IS our hope, and while the things of God seem far away at times, He is ever near. He will return. We look at Isaiah 9 which is loaded with familiar Christmas verses, but what are the deeper aspects? Unto us. A Child is born. Children are born every day in the flesh. Oh wait – a Son is given! Humanity, and divinity in one verse. We also talk Christmas carols, full of doctrine; the promise of a Messiah on David’s throne despite a curse in the lineage, and who exactly were those Magi? A fun hour of chat about holiday Spirit and letting God use us however that might look right now.