Went out on a date with my eldest daughter last weekend. Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader came out, and so being Narnia junkies we went to go see the movie. I must say we loved it! C.S. Lewis wrote these novels with a Christian worldview inner twinned throughout the story. For instance, the author once wrote about the character of Aslan, the Son of the Emperor Beyond the Sea: “He is an invention giving an imaginary answer to the question, ‘What might Christ become like if there really were a world like Narnia, and He chose to be incarnate and die and rise again in that world as He actually has done in ours?’” (Narnia Beckons: The Christian Worldview of VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER; MOVIEGUIDE® Founder and Publisher Dr. Ted Baehr and Dr. James Baehr, available at www.movieguide.org.; 12/6/10) In the movie, whatever some may say, the Christian message of hope through Christ is still evident. I would love to share some of those scenes with you, but I do not want to take away all the joy a...

This past week I took some time to read through the Christmas story in Luke. I always enjoy reading the Christmas story during this time of the year. In a culture where it seems that the meaning of this season has been swept under the rug, its nice to remember the purpose for this time of year. Last year, at this time, I was driving home with the radio on. The host was sharing about the Christmas story. At that moment I began to play devils advocate with the host. I do this with my students to help build their critical thinking skills, so at that moment I begin asking questions out loud. I began to think like anyone in our culture who questions the validity of Christ birth, let alone the reason for Christmas. How could I be sure that the Christmas story is true? It sounds crazy! Angel meets Mary. Mary a virgin, gives birth? Angels in the sky? A child is born and declared divine? Sounds crazy to one who may have never really looked or even heard the story. So I went to Luke to find some...

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. - Acts 20:4 (ESV) It was about 66-67 AD. Paul had been imprisoned, again. Yet this time it was different. He had been imprisoned by Nero. His accommodations were not all that great as before. Prior imprisonment included house arrest. This time, he was in the inner bowls of a dungeon. Cold. Wet. Probably rat infested and dirty. I think he new that his time was coming to an end. We read it in 2 Timothy 4:6-8: For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. 2 Timothy was Paul...