Reflections from The Cradle, Cross and Crown During December we’ve been reading the advent study, The Cradle, Cross and Crown by Billy Graham. These are three great symbols of Christmas: the cradle of the baby Jesus, the cross of Jesus, and the crown Jesus wears as he sits at the right hand of God. All three are inextricably linked together and yet most of the time, we don't think about it this way. The Cradle Many see the cradle or the manger as a symbol of Christmas. The

The Silent 15 … When I was a youth pastor in Texas some years ago, we incorporated the Silent 15 as often as possible. It is a simple principle; for 15 minutes, everything stops, all noises are silenced, distractions set aside and you are still. It was just a different space that changed the pace and therefore, welcomed the Almighty God in a different way. And it was a game changer. The change of pace allowed space for emotions to settle which helped restore some tense relati