(Originally written for The Baldwin Bulletin: Pastor's Column February 14, 2024) …And all who dwell on earth will worship [the blasphemous beast], everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear: If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. (Revelation 13:8-10) Yes, here I come interrupting your lovely Valentine’s (or Galentine’s) Day celebrations with some difficult words from Revelation. I honestly had considered writing about Christian origins of today’s consumerist holiday, but I’m not well-versed and Wikipedia seems to do a thorough job. I am currently preaching through the bulk of Revelation at Baldwin Christian Reformed Church. My interpretation is not a strict literal interpretation of the book. I believe it may contain
(Originally written for The Baldwin Bulletin: Pastor's Column December 20, 2023) Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her n