Jerry Arnold

Jesus and His parents went to Jerusalem every year for the Feast of the Passover (Luke 2:41-50). Luke tells us of the family’s experience when Jesus was twelve years old. After the Feast had ended, Mary and Joseph joined the caravan of people traveling back to their homes in Galilee. Typically, the women and children walked in the front, and the men walked in the back. Because Jesus was twelve years old, He was eligible to walk with the men, but He was also allowed to walk...

I started pastoring in Montgomery, Alabama, in August 1993, overseeing two churches. It was in December of that year that there was no mistaking I was definitely in the South when the head elder of the church announced the hymn for the opening song. Instead of saying, "Our opening song today is 'O Come, All Ye Faithful,'" he said, "'O Come Y'all Faithful.'" Not one person in the church seemed to notice the mistake. They just stood up and began to sing. It is a Christmas memory I will not forget.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be an animal? If you could be an animal, what would you be? I often think of two possibilities: a squirrel or an otter. Squirrels are cool because they seem so carefree. It must be fun to have their quick moves and climbing skills.