BibleScribbler

Coffee, a Bible, and a Napkin to Scribble On

Silent Night at Taylor University – Another night, Another Lay Up

· ·

Keaton Hendricks plays basketball for Taylor University. He shoots lay ups, long shots, free throws, the whole bit. But one night, there was one shot, that set everyone cheering like none of his other 351 points that season.

2014 Taylor University Silent Night from Dan Hendricks Media on Vimeo.

They do this close to Christmas every year. The whole arena is silent until Taylor scores the 10th point. When that happens, the crowd goes wild and cheers for 10 points worth of cheering.

It is appropriate that they do this during Christmas. On the night Jesus was born, it was just another night for a lot of people. Just another night of helping sheep birth their young; just another night of animals being fed and rulers of nations taking a census to justify their armies and taxes.

I’m not sure what angels do when a baby is born, but they did something different with this one. All of the cheering, all of the chaos, all of the rejoicing-joy of these Taylor University students is a dimly lit cup of luke-warm tea compared to the festival that the angels had over the fields that night.

Watch that video again and cheer.

Advent of Peace

· ·

This weekend I was scheduled to teach at Westminster, but the snowpocalypse was bad enough that we decided to cancel services this Sunday. Instead, we are emailing out a link to this post, so everyone can be cheered on in the safety of their own homes.

First is a note from Dave, then a video message from me:

Last Sunday, we lit the candle of Hope. The world tells us to hope in so many things, but we know that we have to look to something greater than this world in order to have true hope.

This Sunday, we won’t be physically lighting a candle, but we can still think about the Peace that God sent to this world. This past week, the world lost Nelson Mandela. He was a man who fought against inequality and struggle between races. Mandela worked every day to advance the peace that he felt all people deserved to experience. His efforts paid off for South Africa, and influenced so many in this world.

There are great people in this world whose life work is the advancement of peace. God offers us a peace that this world will never touch. Christ told us about peace in John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

God offers every person a peace that remains in hard times; a peace that can’t be wiped away by struggle. It’s a peace that can’t be understood this side of eternity. We may not be able to fully understand it, but I assure you…it can be experienced!

Advent of Peace from Daniel Sullivan on Vimeo.