Christmas Is War: Finding New Meaning in Skillet’s “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
There has been recent controversy about this version of O Come, O Come Emmanuel by Skillet. Some love it, others don't. I was pondering this myself. Did they go too hard rock at the end of the song?
But I have a new outlook following the sermon on Revelation 12 titled “Christmas is War.” Pastor Dan Sardinas preached about the war that has been going on between the Woman and the Dragon in John's vision. What really stood out to me is the warfare that Satan (dragon) has engaged in to keep the Messiah from coming the first time, and the current war that Satan is waging against God's people (woman). We are at war until Jesus Christ comes again.
What in the World Is Wrong with This World
In 2013, as the Presbyterian Church (USA) assembled a new hymnal titled Glory to God, they sought to include the modern hymn “In Christ Alone” by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend. The song had already become a staple in churches around the world. There was only one problem. One line in the second verse troubled the hymnal committee: “Till on that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied.”
They asked the authors for a simple edit—replace “wrath” with “love.”
When the Fullness of Time Came
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Gal. 4:4–5)
In these few verses, Christmas is explained with more clarity than most people realize. Let’s consider what this passage tells us about Christ, His mission, and what His coming means for us.
I Heard the Bells: The Christmas Carol Born Out of Pain
Every Christmas season brings familiar songs to our ears—carols we’ve sung for years and often recite without thinking. But behind some of these songs are stories so real, so raw, that they deepen the meaning of every line we sing. One of the most powerful examples is I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Why Christmas Had to Happen
Christmas Eve is full of anticipation. Families gather, presents wait under the tree, and traditions take shape. And while I love all of it—I really do—there is something far more important than the gifts, decorations, meals, or memories. Behind everything we enjoy tonight is the breathtaking truth of what Christmas truly means:
Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Part 3
Merry Christmas, friends! Some of you arrive at this holiday with hearts already sparkling like the lights on your tree. Others feel like the tree fell over and the dog ate half the presents. Either way, I’ve got the best news you’ll hear all season—and it doesn’t depend on how you feel.
We’ve spent three weeks inside one hymn, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” Today we land on the final stanza:
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings, risen with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by, born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.
Hark the Herald Angels Sing Pt 2
I still remember the first time I heard someone complain that Jesus was late. “If God really loved the world, why didn’t He send the Messiah the day after Adam and Eve got kicked out of Eden? Why wait four thousand years while humanity drowned in sin and suffering?” It’s a fair question. But when you step back and see the whole canvas God was painting, you realize the delay wasn’t tardiness. It was artistry.
Hark the Herald Angels Sing Pt 1
Every December we sing the familiar line with nostalgic warmth: “Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.” We love the sound of it. Snow falling (except in Florida), candles glowing, children behaving (at least in theory). Yet if we’re honest, those words can feel distant from the actual texture of our lives. Wars rage overseas, families fracture at home, and the person staring back in the mirror still wrestles with the same sins as last year. Peace? Where?
Wake Up: The Warning No Church Can Afford to Ignore
Some churches look alive from the outside. The parking lot is full, the programs are impressive, the community speaks well of them. But Jesus sees past the reputation. In Revelation 3:1–6, He delivers one of the most sobering verdicts imaginable: “You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” That was Sardis. And tragically, many churches today are walking the same path.
From Cover to Cover: Believing the Entire Bible
Many Christians affirm the authority of the Bible, but often, when pressed, they only believe or submit to parts of it. We highlight “life verses”, quote Jesus in red letters, and subtly sideline the rest, as if the black letters weren’t also written by the Holy Spirit. However, honoring God means honoring the Bible from cover to cover.
Dank Memes, Shallow Minds
Millions of people use memes to consume information every day. We've addressed significant issues, so we laugh, share, and move on. As a visual shorthand that can convey absurdity, reveal hypocrisy, and occasionally even crystallize true insight, memes have emerged as the de facto language of digital culture. At their best, memes simplify complex observations into memorable forms, much like modern proverbs.
The existence of memes is not the issue. The problem is what happens when they become our primary mode of language and thought about the world.
Everyone’s A Theologian
As women, moms, grandmothers, we may feel studying theology and doctrine is not for us, that we can just learn those things on a Sunday morning as our pastor preaches, but can I encourage you that it is not. As my pastor, Dan Sardinas once quoted, “For a Christian to say, "I don't need to know theology because I'm not a pastor." .... is as absurd as saying, "I don't need to eat because I'm not a cook.”
The Marketing of Anger
Anger is big business. Every social media site has provocateurs who create posts that are meant to elicit strong reactions. Outrage fuels the entire brand of political commentators. Influencers understand that engagement leads to revenue, and controversy leads to engagement. It is rewarded by the algorithms, which give emotional content precedence over academic discourse. Every angry comment, every share, every click feeds the machine and pays the content creator for it. This practice has penetrated even the Christian community, where some justify a sharp tongue as a “serrated edge.”
False Teachers and the Pursuit of True Contentment
In 1 Timothy 6:2b-10, the Apostle Paul delivers a timeless warning to Timothy and believers everywhere about the dangers of false teachers and the seductive lure of materialism. His words call us to discernment and to anchor our hearts in the true wealth of godliness with contentment. For Christians today, this passage is a vital reminder to guard our faith and find satisfaction in Christ alone.
The Root of Discontentment
It’s hard to be content.
Why is this?
Well, maybe it’s because we are constantly fed that nothing is ever enough. You’re single? You want to be married. Your friends have kids? You want kids. Your friend has that job? You want that job.
Gnosticism and New Age Practices_ Ancient Heresy in Modern Dress
The rise of New Age spirituality in contemporary Western culture presents unique challenges for Christians seeking to understand and respond to these radically belief systems. While New Age practices may appear ‘new’ and ‘inventive’, many of the New Age’s core tenets bear striking resemblances to ancient religious movements that the early Church confronted and rejected.
Caring for Widows: A Call to Compassion and Service in the Church
In 1 Timothy 5:9-16, the Apostle Paul provides a blueprint for the early church’s care of widows, a group God consistently prioritizes throughout Scripture. This passage not only underscores God’s heart for the vulnerable but also challenges the modern church to reflect on its responsibility toward widows and the elderly.
God’s Heart for Widows: A Call to Compassionate Care
In ancient Hebrew society, widows were among the most vulnerable. Without inheritance rights, they often faced poverty, exploitation, and even societal disgrace. Some viewed widowhood as a mark of shame, as if the early death of a spouse signaled divine judgment.
From Damaged Goods to Treasured Possession
Have you ever felt like those dented cans in the grocery store's clearance section? The ones that broadcast their brokenness to everyone who sees them with the large "DAMAGED GOODS" sticker. You try your best to look presentable, hoping others will notice that, despite the visible scars on the outside, the inside is still good. The harsh reality is that you're often more damaged internally than you realize.
Farewell For Now
We are told in the Scriptures to “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). I know several people who have lost loved ones recently. In times like this, we are given the opportunity for both weeping and rejoicing. Yet, there is a day coming when there will be no more sorrow for those who are in Christ. Jesus assured his disciples in saying: “you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you” (John 16:22). He did, indeed, leave John with a sorrowful farewell from the cross (see John 19:26-27), but John would soon learn that this was only a ‘farewell for now.’