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Thoughts

It’s Not Only Athletes: What Platform Has God Given You?

Last spring I had the privilege of speaking at a conference for NFL players put on by Pro Athletes Outreach (PAO), a group which exists to unite a community of pro athletes and couples to grow as disciples of Jesus and positively impact their spheres of influence. They have a fantastic outreach to professional football and baseball athletes and their wives. I’ve seen firsthand the amazing difference they’re making. In the off-season I exchanged emails and texts with dozens of NFL players and cha..Continue reading

Motherhood Is a Marathon

I wanted to do great things for God. In the spring of my senior year of college, on the brink of embarking upon my own journey into adulthood, my future was undecided and that was simultaneously terrifying and thrilling. As a philosophy major, my path was narrower than I had realized, but I was sure it would take me on some grand and glorious adventure. I knew the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. “Glorify” sounds like such a grand term. It evokes images of battlefie..Continue reading

Is Love of Money Really the Root of All Evils?

Is the love of money the “root of all evils” or only the “root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10)? “All evils” is the formal English equivalent of the original Greek (pantōn tōn kakōn). It is remarkable that all older versions of the Bible translate 1 Timothy 6:10 in the more literal way: “The love of money is the root of all evils” (or all evil). This includes the Wycliffe Bible, Luther Bibel, Geneva Bible, King James Version, Douay-Rheims, Darby Bible, and Revised Standard Version. Bu..Continue reading

Daily Verses

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Revelation 7:10 (07-10-16)

And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.— Revelation 7:10 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... From the voices of those who know, the message is clear! God reigns and with his rule comes salvation. This is because of the Lamb who was willing to be slain, but who triumphed over death. Because of the Lamb's work and faithfulness, we can be assured of heaven. My Prayer... Loving Father and Sovereign God..Continue reading

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Psalm 7:9 (07-09-16)

Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.— Psalm 7:9 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... In a world of organized crime, gangs, and predators, we have some real work cut out for us if we are going to influence the violent part of contemporary culture to change its ways. Maybe the place to start is down on our knees before the Father, asking him to use us to make a difference in our violent world! ..Continue reading

Daily Wisdom

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Nehemiah 9:6 (09-06-16)

Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.— Nehemiah 9:6 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... God is Creator! Life is defined in him and by him. The multitudes of heaven worship and adore him. For me, that means two very important things. First, I need to give him my heart-felt wor..Continue reading

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Nehemiah 9:5b (09-05-16)

Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.— Nehemiah 9:5b (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... "Stand up and shout it if you love my Jesus..." That's a song our children love to sing! But what happens to that youthful exuberance and joy at worshiping the Lord? God doesn't want us to lose it. Read through the Bible and highlight all the physical acts used to reverence and praise our..Continue reading

Prayers

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Daily Prayer for July 12

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20, NIV Almighty God, keep watch over us and lead us fully into the life of Jesus Christ. Let your Son Jesus Christ become truly living within us so that we may be full of joy because we belong to the realm of heaven and may live every day with faith in him. We thank you for all you have let us experience. We thank you with all our hearts that in your great compassion you have showered so much good on us who are not yet perfect in faith. Keep our hearts in the light, we pray. Keep us patient and dedicated, for then more and more can be done among us poor children of earth, to the glory of your name. Amen.Continue reading

TLG Prayer

Reaping Righteousness

Passage: Galatians 6:7-8 Prayer: Dear Father, Keep me from sowing seeds from my sinful nature, for I do not want to reap the crop they will produce. May I not invest my time, money, or desires in the deceitful things of this world. For then I will reap destruction.Help me rather to sow to the Spirit, to please you. Help me to put my time, money, and desires into proper thinking and righteous living so I will reap everlasting life.In the name of the infinitely generous Jesus I ask these things. Amen.Continue reading

TLG Prayers Clenched Hands

Daily Prayer for July 11

So let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, with hearts that have been purified from a guilty conscience and with bodies washed with clean water. Hebrews 10:22, TEV Lord our God, grant us true unity with your Son Jesus Christ, so that his power can be revealed in us and we may find new life in which we can truly serve you. Protect us from all error. Be among us with your Spirit to make us people who are genuine. Let your will be carried out more and more in this age. Let your will again intervene so that a new creation may come, a new heaven and a new earth, as we have been promised. May your name be great among us, may your kingdom come and everything in heaven and on earth be done according to your will. Amen.Continue reading

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Prayer, especially for Today

O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.Continue reading

Church & Ministries

Moscow v Constantinople: The battle over Ukraine’s Orthodox Christians

Priests of Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate took part in a procession marking the Christianisation of the country; there was a separate Moscow Patriarchate procession. Russian military intervention in Ukraine, including annexing the Crimea and supporting separatists in the east of the country, has poisoned relationships between the two states and outraged international opinion. Originating from Russian fears about Ukraine's perceived pivot to the West, there are no..Continue reading

Catholic bishops to be trained in how to deal with sex abuse in the Church

As part of efforts to root out sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, newly appointed bishops will take part in training on how to deal with child abuse, it was announced on Monday. ReutersPope Francis has denounced clerical abuse as "intolerable" and "the most terrible and unclean thing imaginable". Members of the sex abuse commission set up by Pope Francis, who has taken a hard line on the issue during his papacy, will deliver the training. Scores of allegations of sex abuse by clergy have be..Continue reading

US missionary to Russia faces appeal court over fine for evangelism

Don and Ruth Ossewaarde. A Baptist preacher, Ossewaarde was fined 40,000 rubles for holding religious services in his home. The US missionary charged in Russia with offences against the country's restrictive new religion law has asked for prayer in advance of his appeal hearing. Independent missionary Don Ossewaarde served in the central Russia town of Oryol with his wife Ruth. He was fined 40,000 rubles (around $700) for holding religious services in his home and advertising them on the ..Continue reading

David’s Story: Finding Hope In the Midst of Schizophrenia

Growing up, I had a relatively normal childhood. I grew up in the church and I remember committing my life to Jesus when I was just five years old. My school years were fun, and in high school I enjoyed being on the wrestling team. In the fall of 1991, I started attending a local Christian university. But by the spring of 1992, things rapidly deteriorated in my life. I was diagnosed with schizophrenia, struggled with hallucinations (both visual and auditory), and I was troubled with delusions. ..Continue reading

Hot Topics

Castro’s Victims & Religious Defenders

Even a quarter century later, it’s unclear how many lessons if any have been learned by Castro’s longtime religious apologists. Those apologists for oppression will be lamented or forgotten. Remembered and honored will be the saints, martyrs and heroes who resisted Castro’s cruelty, even in filthy prisons, while the firing squads could be heard. Villadares in his memoir admiringly recalled one saintly inmate who ministered to his fellow prisoners Fidel Castro, dead at age 90, was one of the las..Continue reading

Dying to Self in the Age of Self-love

There is great talk of self-love in Christian circles right now, the kind of self-love that promotes a perceived circumstantial happiness. When I hear of Christian bloggers or authors or even just professing Christians in my own private life diverging from orthodox Christian faith or values because it is “too hard,” I feel a depressing weight on my shoulders. Their quest for happiness outside of orthodoxy demoralizes me in a way that a combative atheist never could. They demoralize me in a way t..Continue reading

Husband, Learn Your Wife

As a husband learns his wife, he will better equip himself to know her wants, her fears, her happiness, her anxieties, her struggles, her sins, her enjoyments, and what satisfies her most. Only in spending much time together, regularly, and making it happen (on the calendar) can this kind of deep, intimate knowledge occur. It’s not a matter of a husband asking to make it work. It’s a husband’s duty to move and shuffle and exchange things if necessary so he can have adequate time with his wife. ..Continue reading

Cutting the Proverbial Apron Strings

Problems can arise though when parents overstep their boundaries and meddle in their married children’s business, or married children continue to be emotionally dependent on their parents. Therefore, it’s important that everyone has this sorted out before adult children decide to marry. Among our favorite things to do over the holiday season is spending time with our adult children and grandkids. One of our children lives in Southern California and every Christmas their family makes the trek to..Continue reading

Life & Society

Books of Christian Author Pulled Off the Shelves Because of Her Pro-LGBT Views

Christian author Jen Hatmaker upset LifeWay Christian Resources when she said that LGBT relationships can be holy.(Facebook/Jen Hatmaker) LifeWay Christian Resources has decided to pull Jen Hatmaker's books off its shelves after the author and former HGTV star expressed her support for gay marriage and affirmed the LGBT lifestyle. "In a recent interview, [Hatmaker] voiced significant changes in her theology of human sexuality and the meaning and definition of marriage — changes which cont..Continue reading

Tim Keller Warns People Against Political Fragmentation: ‘You’re Christian First’

Pastor Tim Keller warns, 'There is more and more political fragmentation in so many countries, and unfortunately Christians might be tempted to be fragmented right along.'(Facebook/Timothy Keller) There's nothing wrong with Christians entering politics, but Timothy Keller, senior pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, said believers should never let their work get in the way of their faith. On Thursday night, Keller spoke before the Movement Day Global Cities C..Continue reading

Over 600 U.S. Cities Declare ‘In God We Trust,’ Affirming That America’s ‘Foundation Is In God’

(Pixabay) Christianity remains strong in America, regardless of what some doubters might say. Recently, more than 600 U.S. cities declared their dependence on God, with their city councils all voting to put the motto, "In God We Trust" on plaques and decals on city property, CBN News reported. The latest city to make the declaration is Chesapeake in the state of Virginia. The city council there recently voted 7-0 to allow the words "In God We Trust" to be displayed throughout the chambers of ..Continue reading

‘See What This Drug is Doing’: Indiana Authorities Release Photos of Mother Passed Out From Heroin Overdose

HOPE, Ind. — Authorities in Indiana have released photos of a young mother who was found passed out from a heroin overdose last weekend—with a baby in the back seat of the car. “My intention with these photos is not to shame the mother, although I realize it may appear embarrassing,” Hope Town Marshal Matthew Tallent told reporters. “I honestly think this picture should be used as an educational tool because I want people to see what this drug is doing.” The matter unfolded on Saturday in the ..Continue reading

Movies

“Hell House” and shock-and-awe evangelism

George Ratliff’s “Hell House,” (2002) resonates with me in a way few documentaries have. Its depiction of evangelicalism is strikingly familiar. When its church members speak about sin, salvation, and Hell, I hear phrases that could have come from my own lips 20 years ago. As I’ve returned to the film over 10 years, my relationship to it has changed. At first, I was sympathetic to the members of Trinity Church, located in Cedar Hill, Texas. Years later, I was frustrated. Now, I find their tactic..Continue reading

Review: Inferno (dir. Ron Howard, 2016)

Remember The Da Vinci Code? It was all the rage a decade or so ago, what with its sensationalistic claims that Jesus had had a wife and child, and that a secret society had been keeping his descendants hidden for centuries to protect them from the big bad Catholic church. The book spawned a film, and the film spawned a sequel (which was actually based on an earlier book), and then… it all just kind of stopped. Dan Brown wrote a third novel, The Lost Symbol, but the studio never got around to fil..Continue reading

Is Doctor Strange the best Marvel Cinematic Universe movie yet?

Variety magazine’s chief film critic has seen Doctor Strange, and he calls it “Marvel’s most satisfying entry since ‘Spider-Man 2’ ”. That’s high praise, considering Spider-Man 2 came out four years before Iron Man, and thus four years before the invention of what we now know as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Other critics have been a little more reserved with their praise — IndieWIRE merely called this film “the most exciting addition to [Marvel’s] ever-expanding universe since ‘The Avengers,’ ..Continue reading

Watch: Desmond Doss refuses to fight back in a clip from Hacksaw Ridge

Before he faced combat on the front lines, Desmond Doss — a World War II medic who refused to carry a weapon because of his religious beliefs — had to face his fellow soldiers. A new clip from Hacksaw Ridge shows how some of Doss’s fellow troops bullied him and called him a “coward” for refusing to kill or fight back. Here is the clip: The film opens across North America two weeks from today, on November 4. Update: A second clip, of Doss rescuing a sergeant who had dismissed him because of his ..Continue reading

Watch: Desmond Doss refuses to fight back, and rescues one of his comrades, in two clips from Hacksaw Ridge

Before he faced combat on the front lines, Desmond Doss — a World War II medic who refused to carry a weapon because of his religious beliefs — had to face his fellow troops. A new clip from Hacksaw Ridge shows how some of Doss’s fellow soldiers bullied him and called him a “coward” for refusing to kill or fight back. Here is the clip: The film opens across North America two weeks from today, on November 4. Update: A second clip, of Doss rescuing his sergeant, has popped up too: Check out earl..Continue reading

Newsbites: The independent Christian film edition!

Here are three quick news items that came up over the past week. 1. The Hollywood Reporter says atheists are complaining that I’m Not Ashamed, a film about the Columbine massacre, depicts Rachel Scott, the first person killed by Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, as a Christian martyr. The news site also has a clip of the scene in which Scott is shot. The film comes to American theatres tomorrow. 2. The makers of God’s Not Dead have been sued by several people who claim that the film ripped off the..Continue reading

“The Second Coming of Christ” drama coming in March 2017

Flawless Production Inc. (Tarzana, California) has released the first trailer for their upcoming action drama “The Second Coming of Christ.” The main protagonist is a female atheist scientist experiencing end events leading up to Christ’s return. Experienced cast members include Golden Globe nominee Tom Sizemore (“Saving Private Ryan”), Oscar® nominee Sally Kirkland (“JFK,” “Bruce Almighty”), Jason London (“Dazed an..Continue reading

Box office: The Accountant balances the books in North America, while Inferno heats up ticket sales overseas

A thriller starring Ben Affleck topped the North American box office this week, but the biggest winner globally was a Da Vinci Code sequel that opened overseas. The Accountant, starring Affleck as an autistic hit man, led the way domestically with an estimated $24.7 million between Thursday and Sunday nights. But Inferno — the third film starring Tom Hanks as a Harvard “symbologist” who uses his knowledge of Renaissance art to thwart a series of global conspiracies — made more than double that, ..Continue reading

Watch: Two more TV spots for Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge

Another week, another pair of Hacksaw Ridge TV spots. Here’s one called ‘Stay True’ (as in Desmond Doss’s line, “I don’t know how I’m going to live with myself if I don’t stay true to what I believe”): And here’s one called ‘Witness’: The film opens November 4, which is three weeks from today. Check out earlier Hacksaw Ridge trailers and other videos here: The ‘Believe’ trailer (July 28, 2016)The ‘Greg Laurie Interviews Mel Gibson’ video (August 31, 2016)The ‘Incredible’ and ‘Duty’ TV spots (O..Continue reading

Music

Aaron & Amanda Crabb To Join Inaugural Festivities

Acclaimed Difference Media husband/wife duo Aaron & Amanda Crabb will head to Washington, D.C., next week to perform at Family Research Council's Faith Freedom & Future Inaugural Ball, it was recently announced. The couple joins a lineup of top performers, including best-selling comedian Chonda Pierce, at the black-tie gala set to follow the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump on January 20. RELATED Chonda Pierce To Perform At Faith Freedom & Future Inaugural Ball "We truly count i..Continue reading

Bethel Music’s Brian & Jenn Johnson To Unveil ‘After All These Years’ January 27

More than 10 years since their last solo release, Bethel Music's Brian & Jenn Johnson will debut their highly anticipated album After All These Years on January 27, capturing the wonder, conviction, and tenderness of heart behind the story of who they've become and who they've remained over the past season. Cowriting every song on the album together, After All These Years varies stylistically from previous projects, as each track is marked by a distinct and bright 80-piece symphon..Continue reading

Thousand Foot Krutch Gives Away Three Song EP

Thousand Foot Krutch is starting the new year by giving away a three song EP via NoiseTrade. You can download it here. RELATED Thousand Foot Krutch Fights With A 'Different Kind Of Dynamite' The EP features "Push," the latest single from last year's album Exhale, alongside a remix of Oxygen Inhale's song "Untraveled Road" and an acoustic version of "Let the Sparks Fly" from 2012's The End is Where We Begin. All three songs are available on a free or pay-what-you can b..Continue reading

Chonda Pierce To Perform At Faith Freedom & Future Inaugural Ball

Best-selling comedian Chonda Pierce is set to take the stage for a performance at the Faith Freedom & Future Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C., January 20. Presented by Family Research Council, one of the country's leading policy organizations, the ball is among a slate of high-profile celebrations to follow the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump earlier that day. RELATED Chonda Pierce Caps 2016 With Sold-Out National Tour, Award-Winning DVD And Key Appearances "The inaugural even..Continue reading

Big Daddy Weave Kicks Off 2017 With Set Free Tour

Fervent Records/Word Entertainment artist Big Daddy Weave will kick off 2017 with their Set Free tour. The 25-city tour, which will begin January 25th in Joplin, Missouri, will feature guest artists We Are Messengers and Zach Williams. The current singles from the three artists Big Daddy Weave's "The Lion and the Lamb," We Are Messengers' "Magnify" and Zach Williams "Chain Breaker" are all topping the Christian music radio charts. RELATED Big Daddy Weave Receives The Rich Mullins Arti..Continue reading

Cece Winans Returns After Nine Years With Soul-Stirring Album

Ten-time Grammy winner Cece Winans' long-awaited new album, 'Let Them Fall In Love,' is set for release on February 3, 2017 via Puresprings Gospel/Thirty Tigers. Recording her first solo album in nearly a decade, the multiplatinum-selling artist returned to the studio to cut her most adventurous album yet. Produced by her son Alvin Love III, along with Winans' long-time collaborator Tommy Sims (Garth Brooks, Michael McDonald, Bonnie Raitt) and mixed bye Dae Bennett (Tony Benn..Continue reading

MercyMe’s Bart Millard Announces Movie

Bart Millard, lead singer for GRAMMY-nominated band MercyMe, has announced that he is in the process of filming a movie based on his childhood and how it inspired the writing of MercyMe's biggest hit. "5 years ago I was approached about making a movie about my childhood and how it inspired the song "I Can Only Imagine." This is Dennis Quaid, who plays my dad. CRAZY!" Millard shared via social media this week. RELATED MercyMe Announces New Album Through PledgeMusic Campaign The movie, dire..Continue reading

Worship Artist Josh Pantana Premieres New Video

Josh Pantana is an independent artist based in Nashville, TN with a style reminiscent of singer-songwriters such as James Taylor, and John Denver. His modern effect of ambient post-rock and electro influences can be heard in his songs that deal with topics such as faith and healing, and his story-esque approach pays homage to the stylings of greats such as Johnny Cash, and Paul Simon. NewReleaseToday.com is premiering his new worship video, "My King is Known By Mercy," today. "My church, Midto..Continue reading

Cana’s Voice To Launch New Year With Video Shoot In Houston, TX

Cana's Voice remains a busy touring act and will start off the New Year with a live concert videotaping at Champion Forest Baptist Church, Houston, Texas on Jan. 22. Mark Lowry will be the special guest on the program, and the church's choir will join Cana's Voice on several songs. This will be a free concert, with an open invitation for anyone to attend and be a part of the live taping. Doors will open at 6 pm CST and the concert will begin at 7 pm CST. Cana's Voice will per..Continue reading

World

American

Is the Book of Acts Loveless?

By John Frye For the observant reader of the Bible, it comes as a shock to read the Gospel of John with it use of the word “love” some 39 times. John: the gospel of love. The shock sets in as the reader continues on into the Book of Acts. How many times does the word “love” appear? Zero. None. Not once. We know that “love” is one of Luke’s vocabulary words because he uses it 19 times in his Gospel (I’m working with the NIV). Why the absence of this great word in Luke’s sequel to Theophilus—the B..

Michael Licona: The Gospels as they Really Are

Years ago, when my research was on the Synoptic Gospels, I composed a list of how the Evangelists “edited” their sources. Using the standard theory of their relationships (Mark first, then used by both Matthew and Luke, both of whom also used another source called “Q”), I came up with the following sorts of edits by the Evangelists: 1. Instead of editing they “conserved” or “preserved” by copying. 2. They sometimes conflate two sources into one. 3. They sometimes expand the source they are using..

Pro-Abortion Whoopi Goldberg: Quit Using the Term Pro-Life “Because Nobody is Not for Life”

Thursday on The View, the mostly liberal panel surprisingly talked about an event that ABC News routinely ignores: the annual March for Life. The hosts were respectful of the marchers but Whoopi Goldberg took issue with the march’s use of the term “pro-life.” The whole panel then made contradictory and confusing arguments then about how one could be both “pro-choice” and “pro-life.” The show began with Whoopi announcing this Friday was the annual March for Life. She then began to tear into the ..

EPIC: Jonathan Cahn Sums Up Obama’s Anti-Christian Legacy

Rabbi Jonathan Cahn’s last words to Barack Obama, as described in his National Prayer Breakfast remarks, are perhaps the most fitting summary of Obama’s anti-biblical and anti-Christian legacy. He said, Obama: “led this nation to champion the killing of the unborn, and not only within its own borders, but in that of other nations across the world. “labored to strike down the standards and order ordained by God concerning man and woman and marriage, not only within these borders, but around the w..

US

Vocation in Hacksaw Ridge

Notice how many movies are about vocation. For example, consider Hacksaw Ridge, Mel Gibson’s movie about Desmond Doss, the first conscientious objector who won the Medal of Honor. A medic, he rescued 75 wounded servicemen in the Battle of Okinawa. I haven’t seen the film yet, but a review in World Magazine by Sophia Lee quotes a passage that goes to the heart of the doctrine of vocation. Read it and my discussion after the jump. From Sophia Lee, A pacifist at war | WORLD News Group: Desmond hold..

Red Letter Christians

Tony Campolo and some other liberal evangelicals have started a movement they call “Red Letter Christians.” The term comes from the convention in many editions of the Bible to print the words of Jesus in red. Red Letter Christians believe that Christianity should be about following the words of Jesus, rather than getting involved in theological disputes, culture war issues, and right wing politics. Rather, followers of the words of Jesus will be advocates for the poor, promote tolerance, and be ..

So why the loss of interest in the NFL?

Television ratings are way down for professional football games. The NFL is trying to figure out why the sudden loss of interest. I have to say that I am not as interested in the games as I used to be, even last year, and I’m not sure why. I don’t think it’s just because the Packers aren’t doing all that well. I saw them through rougher times. And it’s not because the games are too long. I like long games. And it’s not because Colin Kaepernick is disrespecting the flag. He’s getting sacked so mu..

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Another remarkable prophecy of Christ in the Old Testament (the study of which is a classic devotion for Advent), is Isaiah 9:1-7. Not only do we learn that the Messiah will live in Galilee and will be the eternal Davidic King. Verse 6 also establishes His deity and does so in Trinitarian terms: And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. The child who is born to us will be called “Mighty God.” We also have an intimation of the inter-relat..