"In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise."--Prov.10:19.

Clumsy writing and bad wording abound in upper level college textbooks. It's as though the authors want to convey ideas in ponderous language maximizing the boredom of their readers.

Some authors maximize their words while communicating as little as possible:
"Insofar as the aforementioned ramifications have been elaborated upon in due course, having underscored at length the explicit and resultant multitudinous proclivities inherent in comprehensively delineating these ramifications..."
And on and on it goes.

Jesus Christ never wasted words. His teachings and discourses have been written down in the good Word of God for the benefit of God's people. The Scriptural presentation of Jesus' words is accurate and without excess language.

Jesus never sinned by 'saying too much'. And: Jesus correctly claimed that His spiritual words are words of life: "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life."--John 6:63.

Furthermore, Jesus' words are in complete alignment with the Divine Will: "I have not spoken on my own authority but the Father Who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak."--John 12:49.

As we approach what is called  'Christmas Day', we remember the Good Son of God Who was sent to a dark and lost world. And we remember the very good Gospel wording of John 3:16- "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

John 14:6- Jesus answered: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."



For many Americans, the Christmas season is something to be endured, not enjoyed. The crowds and traffic, the grinding obligation of shopping schedules and deadlines, the continual advertising of overblown materialism---all these factors combine to make the Christmas season a time of stress and nausea for many.

However, the word 'Christmas' literally means 'Celebrating Christ'. The emphasis in the word 'Christmas' has to do with Christ. Granted, Christian human beings can enjoy the process and activity of celebrating Christ, but remember that Jesus Christ should be the intended 'target' and recipient of our celebration.

Why should He be? "Because to us a child is born, to us a son is given" (Isaiah 9:6).  The ultimate Christmas gift was promised by God, then given at the time of God's choosing. "When the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman...that we might receive the full rights of sons" (Gal.4:4-5). The Gospel is about the reconciliation of believing sinners with a Holy God through the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ; this is not because we are worthy to receive such a gift, but because God is so lavish and extreme in His giving.

The gift of abundant and eternal life is wrapped up in Christ. Christmas life is for every day and every season; therefore, this gift, this Person of Jesus is to be treasured and celebrated at all times. What a gift, what a miracle, has been given to us.

Laurence Houseman summed up the miracle in these words:

Light looked down and beheld Darkness. 'Thither will I go' said Light.
Peace looked down and beheld War. 'Thither will I go' said Peace.
Love looked down and beheld Hatred. 'Thither will I go' said Love.
So came Light and shone.
So came Peace and gave rest.
So came Love and brought Life.

Over 30 years ago, I was approached by a friend who requested that I write song lyrics for a contemporary Christian group that was about to be assembled. The musical direction would be either Southern rock or country-western.  I consented.

One of my compositions began with:

"Some people hate the Bible and want all around to know
That Jesus Christ is bogus and church is just a show."

The lyrics were adversarial, so  a later line stated:

"How easy for a pagan to say 'You hypocrite!'
As he stubbornly  refuses to kneel and commit."


One of my country-music style compositions put forth a wistful narrative from a man who hated his job but loved his family.   The refrain went like this:

"My family's a haven from all of the slavin'
Home's where compassion grows fatter.
'Cause love is the thing that deadens the sting
And power and money don't matter."


As Providence would have it, the band never fully came together and I was eventually called into pastoral ministry. But, well before that calling, I was enamored with the lyrics of historic hymns---and the stories of devout hymn writers.

The term ‘lyrics’ has been defined in this way: “Having the form and musical quality of a song, and especially the character of a song-like outpouring of the poet's own thoughts and feelings…pertaining to, rendered by, or employing singing.”

Through the years, I’ve become even more appreciative of those lyrics of Christian faith and devotion from centuries ago, lyrics from a heritage of godly persons who valued the legacy and privilege of "Speaking to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord."--Eph.5:19.

Ps.30:4- “Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His,  And give thanks to the remembrance of His Holy Name.”   Certainly some of this praise can involve a grateful recognition of our precious heritage of Christian music---and the lyrics tied to that music.

Contemplate the faith, devotion and loving worship embedded in historic lyrics such as:

"Take my life and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days, Let them flow in ceaseless praise."--Frances Ridley Havergal

and:

"O worship the King, all glorious above,
And gratefully sing His pow'r and His love."---Robert Grant


and:

"Praise ye the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation.
All ye who hear, Now to His temple draw near,
Join me in glad adoration."---Joachin Neander

and:

"Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way.
Hold o'er my being absolute sway.
Fill with Thy Spirit Till all shall see
Christ only, always, Living in me!"---Adelaide Pollard

One would think that the Biblical presentation of a heavenly future would be met with unanimous delight by Christians. Nevertheless, a few Christians have misgivings about heaven, believing the heavenly estate will be a realm of drudgery and dissatisfaction. Some view heaven as little more than a continuation of our present existence.

Heaven will involve a measure of continuity, to be sure. We will have the capacity to see and hear; we will remember loved ones in Christ, We will have a sense of belonging to Jesus Christ in a saving relationship. We will continue to experience pleasure--- a holy pleasure.

Ps.16:11- "You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."  True: Ps.16 forecasts the Person of the Messiah. There are, though, eternal and heavenly benefits for people of faith in Christ.

In other words, the heavenly reality will not be a 'more of the same' continuation of this life.  Heaven will immensely expand the blessedness of this life and eliminate all the unpleasantness of our imperfect world (see Rev.21:1-4).  Glorified believers in Christ will not grow weary of heavenly benefits.  The prospect of dissatisfaction with the place and reality of heaven will be an everlasting impossibility.

Back in 2004, Randy Alcorn wrote a book simply entitled 'Heaven'. Much of the book is speculative, although Alcorn himself takes the Bible quite seriously. Many readers were initially stunned by some of the arguments for a present, intermediate heaven followed by a future, recreated heaven. While admitting the debatable nature of these topics, Alcorn argues for possible temporary bodies given to glorified human beings prior to the Day of Resurrection (in which the recreated heaven will be merged into a new earth).

One teaching that emerges repeatedly in the book is the Scriptural emphasis on heavenly joy. There will be no likelihood of sin or boredom in heaven. In our glorified and sinless condition, we will be happily transformed from the inside out.  And: The pleasures will never stop coming.

Alcorn describes the matter in these words:
"Our belief that heaven will be boring betrays a heresy: that God is boring. There is no greater nonsense. Our desire for pleasure and the experience of joy comes directly from God's hand. He made our taste buds, adrenaline, sex drives, and the nerve endings that convey pleasure to our brains. Likewise, our capacity for joy and exhilaration were made by the very God we accuse of being boring. Are we so arrogant as to imagine that human beings came up with the idea of having fun?
"Won't it be boring to be good all the time?" someone asked. Note the assumption: sin is exciting and righteousness is boring. However, in reality, sin robs us of fulfillment. Sin doesn't make life interesting; it makes life empty. Sin's emptiness inevitably leads to boredom. When there's fulfillment, when there's beauty, when we see God as He truly is---an endless reservoir of fascination---boredom becomes impossible.
Those who believe that excitement cannot exist without sin are thinking with sin-poisoned minds. Freedom from sin will mean freedom to be what God intended, freedom to find far greater joy in everything. In heaven, we will be Filled with joy and eternal pleasures."

Scr.- Heb.4:14-15; 1 Pet.2:21-22
Key verse: "...but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."--Heb.4:15b (NKJV)

In public interaction, you are sometimes misunderstood and confronted about what you have just said. Sometimes, you say something badly and need to quickly rephrase it.  On occasion, you realize that you have spoken an inflammatory or inappropriate remark and must make amends.

We observe high profile persons having to apologize for certain words or behavior. During an interview or at a social gathering, a celebrity/athlete/political figure makes a remark or commits a social blunder which angers other people. A retraction or apology is instantly demanded---and usually granted.

Throughout the course of His public ministry, Jesus angered lots of people. In fact, He angered certain people so much they plotted to kill Him. But, He never issued an apology.  He never backpedaled on any of His comments; He never became embarrassed or publicly humiliated about His conduct. He never declared: "I'm sorry, I was out of line,  it was wrong of me to say that."

This is significant. The Messiah's enemies tried repeatedly to trap Him on the basis of what He said (Matt.22:15-18; Luke 20:26; John 8:4-6). They employed one argument after another in order to discredit Him. They crafted numerous schemes to make Him look awkward in public.

Not once did they succeed.

Scripture presents Jesus as the sinless Son of God. He was without sin, despite being fully human as well as fully Divine. He never apologized to people because He never sinned.  And: He never told a lie because He was and is the very Truth of God.

However, the sinless and true Savior died for sinners who would become people of faith in Him.  His sacrifice in our place has secured for all believers a place in heaven. Salvation---not a public apology---is what God has given to the people of His Son.

"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."---2 Cor.5:21