Extravagant. Magnificent. The temple and its building materials.
Enormous stones.
Gold and polished bronze.
The dedication is a ceremony to end all ceremonies.

Extravagant. Magnificent. The temple and its building materials.
Enormous stones.
Gold and polished bronze.
The dedication is a ceremony to end all ceremonies.

Christmas approaches. Like a freight train. It’s that time of year.
Loud in commercials and sales. Glitz and glitter. Richly-colored wrapping and ribbons and bows.
Bright trees. Exquisite nativities. Christmas baking on point.
And the music. Playlists mixing winter themes and manger scenes. O Holy Night and a blue Christmas without you.
In the midst of it all? Hunger for something more.

Christmas prophecies. Read and proclaimed. Every Advent. Christmas Eve. Christmas Day.
Among them, Isaiah’s words.
“For to us a child is born,
to us a Son is given,
and the government will be
on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6
