Vitamins for the Heart
Konrad Fernandez Most of us know of the three wise men who follow the guiding star, and visit the child Jesus with gifts. In 1895 Henry Van Dyke wrote this beautiful short novel called “The Story of the Other Wise Man.” What’s the story about? This fourth wise man also sees the same signs in the heavens and sets out to find the Child Jesus; carrying his gifts of a Sapphire, a Ruby, and a very precious Pearl. But nothing goes as planned. He misses his rendezvous with the other three wise men because he is delayed helping a dying man. Now, to cross the desert alone he needs camels and supplies and sells one of his treasures to buy them. He arrives late in Bethlehem after saving the life of a child using another of his treasures. In the meantime, the child Jesus has left Bethlehem. And after many…
The fact that Jesus lived on this earth and that he died by crucifixion is academically well established also by ancient sources outside of the Bible. There are historical evidences, dating back to just a little over 20 years after His death, which is much less time than the first biography of Alexander the Great, written about 400 years after his death! What about the resurrection? Perhaps the most remarkable reference to Jesus outside the Bible can be found in the writings of Josephus, a first century Jewish historian. In the “Testimonium Flavianum”, the relevant portion declares: About this time, there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he ... wrought surprising feats.... He was the Christ. When Pilate ...condemned him to be crucified, those who had … come to love him did not give up their affection for him. On the…
When you don't feel like celebrating texts by Marie Alvero, Maria Fontaine and an unknown author When you don't feel like celebrating What if Christmas is here and you're just not in the mood? You might be worried about the future, feeling sad, or have gone through a great loss? It should be the happiest time of the year, but you just don't feel like it. ... It's okay. You don't have to try to fix your pain, sadness or loss quickly, you can't anyway. I don't think even the shepherds watching the sheep on that first Christmas felt anything special, it was just another ordinary cold night in Bethlehem. Their town was crowded with visitors who were there for the census, which just reminded them of Roman rule. Nothing looked particularly hopeful. Suddenly, angels filled the sky with the message that there was no need to worry; the Savior…