Excellent or Praiseworthy is posted on Monday and Thursday nights. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. – I Timothy 4:8…

Pastor Tommy Nelson, of Denton Bible Church in Texas, gave a sermon to his church for Christmas, 1988, entitled “Jesus’ View of Christmas.” The text for this powerful sermon was an unlikely one . . . Luke 11:21-26. Those verses are several chapters away from the traditional Christmas story which we all know and love, Luke 2:1-20: “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed . . . “ I was intrigued. How could verses about Jesus and Satan give us a message for Christmas? Pastor Nelson began his sermon with the story of his father-in-law—a veteran of the World War II war in the Pacific—injured in battle. Pastor Nelson explained why his father-in-law is so patriotic . . . and challenges us to see patriotism from the heart of a soldier. To one who fights bravely and sacrificially, American patriotism means “the price paid”—suffering experienced for victory in battle . . . and the suffering of battle buddies killed. In other words, patriotism from the side of the donor . . . not the recipient.

“The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us.We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”—John 1:14 We all love the drama and…