Thoughts for Advent

We are now in the season of Advent, (from the Latin word meaning “coming”), a time to prepare one’s heart both for the Christmas celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ (and the salvation He brings), and for the eventual Second Coming of Christ (and the perfect world He will restore). The Advent season lasts for four Sundays beginning on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, and ends on Christmas Eve.


click here to read about week 4 - The promise of PEACE on earth!

Sunday, December 24th, 2023.

archived blogs

2023

In honor of 40th Anniversary - Sampling of writings over past 40 years

Advent 3 - JOY OF JESUS' ARRIVAL | December 17, 2023

Advent 2 - FAITH IN SAYING YES TO GOD | December 10, 2023

Advent 1 - THE LIVING HOPE | December 3, 2023

WHAT'S A HAND GOOD FOR? | posted Nov 9, 2023

WHY STUDY THE BIBLE | posted Oct 12, 2023

WHAT THE VILLAGE SCHOOL CAN MEAN TO A LOCAL CHURCH | posted Sept 28, 2023

THE WALK ON THE EMMAUS ROAD | posted Sept 21, 2023

THE TRUSTWORTHINESS OF GOD | posted Sept 14, 2023

LEARNING FROM NEHEMIAH; A PERSONAL JOURNEY | posted Sept 7, 2023

UNCEASING PRAYER | posted Aug 31, 2023

WHAT MAKES PSALM 119 APPEALING? | posted Aug 24, 2023

OBSTACLES: FROM GOD OR SATAN? | posted Aug 17, 2023

HOW MAJESTIC IS YHOUR NAME: AN EXPOSITION OF PSALM 8 | posted Aug 10, 2023

CALLED TO BE A WATCHMAN (EZEKIEL) | posted July 27, 2023

EXPERIENCE WITH THE COVER-TO-COVER COURSE | posted July 20, 2023

BIBLICAL COUNSELING | posted July 13, 2023

WELCOME TO PASTOR RYAN HABBENA. THE STONES IN OUR SHOES, EXPLORING THE PURPOSE OF SUFFERING IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE | posted July 6, 2023

WELCOME TO DR. HARVEY MARTIN | posted June 29, 2023

A FAREWELL TO MAX AND A WELCOME TO WARREN | posted June 22, 2023

A STRONG TOWER IN THE MIDST OF A CHAOTIC WORLD | posted June 15, 2023

JONAH: SOME PERSONAL THOUGHTS | posted June 8, 2023

REFLECTIONS ON ISAIAH | posted June 1, 2023

WHY ARE THERE FOUR GOSPELS | posted May 25, 2023

IN MEMORIAM OF MONTY SHOLUND | posted May 18, 2023

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES THAT WILL LEAD TO SUCCESS | posted May 4, 2023

UNDERSTANDING TEACHING | posted April 27, 2023

THE CROWN OF DISCIPLESHIP | posted April 20, 2023

IS INDIA OUR MACEDONIA | posted April 13, 2023

LET GOD BE GOD | posted April 6, 2023

PRINCIPLES FOR CHOOSING A LIFE WORK, OBSERVATIONS FROM ISAIAH | posted March 30, 2023

A STUDY IN THE LIFE OF JOSEPH | posted March 23, 2023

WHAT DID ASA DO TO PROMOTE A RELIGIOUS REVIVAL | posted March 16, 2023

A RESPONSE TO SUFFERING BASED ON THESSALONIANS | posted March 9, 2023

THE PARABLE OF THE THREE WATCHMEN | posted March 2, 2023

THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER YOU | posted February 16, 2023

MAKE DISCIPLES, NOT JUST CONVERTS | posted February 9, 2023

WELCOME MAX FRAZIER | posted February 2, 2023

SHOLUNDS TO VISIT AFRICA | posted January 26, 2023

SEVEN VILLAGE SCHOOLS COMPLETE 3RD YEAR WITH 192 STUDENTS | posted January 19, 2023

VIBRANT YOUNG COUPLE ROOTED IN GOD'S KINGDOM | posted January 12, 2023

TO STAND BETWEEN | posted January 5, 2023


2022

HOW THE VIDEO SCHOOLS ALL BEGAN & VISION SHARPENED | posted December 22, 2022

MEMBERS OF THE NEWLY-ELECTED COUNCIL | posted December 15, 2022

STUDENTS GIVE STRONG END-OF-YEAR CHALLENGE | posted December 8, 2022

VIDEO-SCHOOLS ATTRACT INTEREST | posted December 1, 2022

A CALL FOR FRIENDSHIP | posted November 17, 2022

WHAT IS A VILLAGE SCHOOL OF THE BIBLE | posted November 10, 2022

AMERICAN LEADERS COMMENTS ON THE BIBLE | posted November 3, 2022

STUDENT'S GRATEFUL COMMENTS | posted October 13, 2022

ORIGINAL VSB LOGO - TWO PINE TREES | posted October 6, 2022

PHOTOS OF FIRST EVER VSB BIBLE STUDENTS 1983-84 | posted September 29, 2022

FIRST EVER NEWSLETTER "LINK TWO" ARTICLES-1983 | posted September 22, 2022


2021

THEY RETURN AT EVENING, SNARLING LIKE DONGS, AND PROWL ABOUT | June 7, 2021

TOO MUCH DRAMA | June 2, 2021

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE SPIRITUAL? | May 25, 2021

PRE-ASCENSION APPEARANCES AND MINISTRY OF THE RISEN CHRIST | May 18, 2021

MEET OUR SUMMER CLASS TEACHERS: Ryan Habbena | May 12, 2021

MEET OUR SUMMER CLASS TEACHERS: Laurie Besonen | May 5, 2021

MEET OUR SUMMER CLASS TEACHERS: John Mayer | April 28, 2021

MEET OUR SUMMER CLASS TEACHERS: Harlan Seri | April 21, 2021

MEET OUR SUMMER CLASS TEACHERS: Harvey Martin | April 14, 2021

THE HEART SONG OF GOD | April 7, 2021

CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY | April 4, 2021

THE MARVEL OF CHRIST'S SACRIFICE | April 2, 2021

MAUNDY THURSDAY | March 31, 2021

TEN THINGS GOD DOES WITH OUR SIN | March 24, 2021

INTERCEDE FOR OTHERS | March 17, 2021

A PARTICIPATORY TALE OF UNBINDING | March 10, 2021

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES | March 3,2021

A REPENTANT LIFESTYLE | February 24, 2021

WHAT IS ASH WEDNESDAY? | February 17, 2021

VSB VALUES: Spirit Filled | February 10, 2021

VSB VALUES: Growth | February 3, 2021

VSB VALUES: Student Focused | January 30,2021

VSB VALUES: Christ Centered | January 23, 2021


2020

SKIP THE NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS | December 30, 2020

THOUGHTS ON ADVENT: How a mountain shows us Christmas | December 23,2020

THOUGHTS ON ADVENT: Peace | December 20, 2020

THOUGHTS ON ADVENT: Joy | December 13, 2020

THOUGHTS ON ADVENT: The "Yes" that changed the world | December 6, 2020

THOUGHTS ON ADVENT: The Living Hope | December 2, 2020

PSALM 1 | October 23, 2020

REFLECTIONS ON THE PSALMS | October 20, 2020

HELPING THE POOR IN PAKISTAN

WHAT IS GOD DOING THROUGH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC? | May 26, 2020

EVIDENCE OF THE RESURRECTION | April 10, 2020

VSB-YMCA PARTNERSHIP | February 19, 2020

THE GOSPEL BETWEEN TWO THIEVES | January 14, 2020


2019

NEW YEAR RESOLUTION TRADITIONS | December 30, 2019

IF DAN RATHER HAD BEEN LIVING IN 1809 | December 18, 2019

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE SPIRITUAL | July 26, 2019

THE EFFICACY OF GOD'S WORD | July 2, 2019

THE BEST GOSPEL PRESENTATION | May 31, 2019

THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL | May 24, 2019

THE RESURRECTION BODY OF BELIEVERS | April 19, 2019

A NEW SEASON OF MINISTRY | March 26 2019

A LAUGHING MATTER | February 13 2019


2018

THE INTOLERANCE OF TOLERANCE | December 28, 2018

SILENT NIGHT HAS BEEN SILENCED | December 21, 2018

GREAT COMMISSION MULTIPLICATION | December 6, 2018

GRATITUDE: THE MARK OF A HAPPY BELIEVER | November 20, 2018

PRAYER AND REVIVAL | November 2, 2018

POLITICS, IMMIGRATION AND THE GOSPEL | October 8, 2018

CHRISTIANITY AND POLITICS | August 13, 2018

SURVIVING COLLATERAL DAMAGE | July 16, 2018

RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTS A NATION |June 29, 2018

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SUFFER GREAT LOSS? | June 15, 2018

TRULY HE IS RISEN! | March 29,  2018

THE POWER OF PRAYER | March 2, 2018

A GIFT FOR A LIFETIME: THE JOY OF MARRIAGE | February 14, 2018

THE END | January 17, 2018


2017

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION 2018 | December 30, 2017

BEHOLD! A VIRGIN WILL BE WITH CHILD | December 18, 2017

CHRISTMAS IN HANOI | December 13, 2017

AN ADVENT THOUGHT | December 6, 2017

THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION | November 21, 2017

HOW ACCURATE IS THE BIBLE? | November 8, 2017

SIX STEPS TO MORE FRUITFUL BIBLE READING | October 31,   2017

THE SCANDAL OF BIBLICAL ILLITERACY: ITS OUR PROBLEM | October 25, 2017

LEGAL DO'S AND DON'TS FOR CHRISTIANS | October 20, 2017

GOD TURNS TRAGEDY INTO VICTORY | October 16, 2017

THE TONGUE | October 10, 2017.

MORE ON GOD'S PROVIDENCE | October 2, 2017

EVERYDAY FAITH: LIFE'S BIG QUESTIONS WITH BILL MAST | October 2, 2017

EVERYDAY FAITH WITH PROF. ART HILL | September 25, 2017

SAVORING GOD FOR HIS PROVIDENCE | September 21, 2017

LET'S RECOVER THE GOSPEL | September 7, 2017

41 YEARS OF MARRIAGE TO A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN | September 1, 2017

THE SCARLET THREAD OF REDEMPTION: FINDING JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT | August 29, 2017

PERSPECTIVES ON THE POWER OF GOD'S WORD | August 15, 2017

LET'S REMEMBER MONTY & DORIS! | August 7, 2017

NOW IN PLACE! VSB ALUMNI ASSOCIATION | July 31, 2017

ATHEISM: 10 QUICK RESPONSES | July 25, 2017

COVER-TO-COVER BIBLE STUDY-ESSENTIAL PERSPECTIVES | July 20, 2017

MUSIC AS MISSION | July 10, 2017

4TH OF JULY REFLECTION | June 30, 2017

THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT | June 19, 2017

A PRAYER OF CHRIST-CENTERED JOY | June 13, 2017

WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT THE BIBLE | June 6, 2017

WASTELAND | May 29, 2017

BEING RENEWED DAY BY DAY | May 22, 2017

BONHOEFFER | May 17, 2017

GOOD NEWS IN A SIN-WEARY WORLD | April 28, 2017

THE RESURRECTION BODY OF BELIEVERS | April 13, 2017

THROUGH  A DEEP VALLEY | March 22, 2017

A GOD SIZED VISION | March 13, 2017

EXPOSITORY PREACHING | March 9, 2017

THE GOSPEL AND POLITICS | February 28, 2017

NO SCAR? | February 13, 2017

THE LOST ART OF JOURNALING | January 31, 2017

FAITH STORY: DANNY JOBIRA | January 19, 2017

LIKE A JIGSAW PUZZLE | January 10, 2017

THE LIFE-CHANGING IMPACT OF OF COVER-TO-COVER BIBLE SURVEY | January 6, 2017


2016

HAPPY NEW YEAR | December 28, 2016

SILENT NIGHT! | December 20, 2016

ROOTS: HISTORY OF VILLAGE SCHOOLS | December 7, 2016

VILLAGE SCHOOLS' IMPACT | December 5, 2016

STUDY GOD'S WORD AT HOME | November 28, 2016

THANKSGIVING GRATITUDE, 2016 | November 21, 2016

OUR SKY IS NOT FALLING | November 11, 2016

POLITICS AS MISSION | November 6, 2016

MULTIPLICATION MINISTRY | November 4, 2016

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2016 - PLEASE VOTE | October 31, 2016

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS ON PSALMS | October 26, 2016

THE TWIN CITIES IMMIGRATION EXPLOSION | October 17, 2016

BUSINESS AS MISSION | September 21, 2016

THINK WHILE ITS STILL LEGAL | August 22,2016

BOLT 7, PHELPS 28; NERO 1,808 | August 15, 2016

LET THE LORD BUILD THE HOME - DISCIPLING CHILDREN | August 8, 2016

WHY TAKE A COVER-TO-COVER BIBLE COURSE? | July 21, 2016

LEAD BIBLICALLY, WITH EXCELLENCE | July 12, 2016

BUSINESS AS MISSION: A NEW MOVEMENT OF GOD | June 21, 2016

VILLAGE SCHOOLS AT MACHE | April 27, 2016

YOU ARE INVITED! | April 15, 2016

HE IS RISEN! | March 24, 2016

“WHY ARE SO MANY CHRISTIANS BIBLICALLY ILLITERATE?”February 21, 2016

JOIN COVER-TO-COVER BIBLE SURVEY ONLINE LEARNING | February 16, 2016

FACING HARD TIMESFebruary 12, 2016

ELISABETH ELLIOT IS WITH JESUS TODAYFebruary 10, 2016

COVENANTS: GOD’S WAYFebruary 4, 2016

MISSIONAL LIVING / FAITH-AT-WORK SEMINAR SERIESJanuary 29, 2016

ANOTHER LOOK AT ROE V. WADEJanuary 22, 2016

JEWISH IMMIGRATION: A LOOK AT GOD’S FUTUREJanuary 17, 2016

THOUGHTS ON CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIPJanuary 8, 2016


2015

A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONDecember 31, 2015

WISHING YOU A BLESSED CHRISTMASDecember 24, 2015

IF DAN RATHER HAD BEEN LIVING IN 1809 | December 12, 2015

AN ADVENT THOUGHTDecember 4, 2015

BEN STEIN’S CONFESSIONNovember 28, 2015

THANKSGIVING DAYNovember 19, 2015

OUR NEXT FIVE YEARS AT VILLAGE SCHOOLS OF THE BIBLENovember 13, 2015

A SHARED THEOLOGY. A NEEDED EXHORTATIONOctober 30, 2015

LISTEN TO JOANN MAGNUSON ON GROWING ANTISEMITISMOctober 28, 2015

BLESSINGS THIS LABOR DAYSeptember 5, 2015

WHAT STUDENTS ARE SAYING ABOUT COVER-TO-COVER BIBLE SURVEYJuly 28, 2015

“I WANT A LAMBORGHINI?”July 21, 2015

WELCOME WARWICK ALCOCKJuly 8, 2015

WHAT HAS MADE AMERICA GREAT IN THE PASTJuly 2, 2015

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE AND THE SUPREME COURT DECISIONJune 26, 2015

RESURRECTION POWERApril 1, 2015

THE PERSECUTED CHURCHMarch 2, 2015

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF PRAISE?February 13, 2015

TROUBLED MARRIAGE? THERE IS HOPEFebruary 8, 2015

COWBOY’S PRAYER ON HUMILITYJanuary 23, 2015

WHAT IT REALLY TAKESJanuary 6, 2015


2014

‘DO NOT BE AFRAID’December 21, 2014

‘IT IS THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!’December 16, 2014

OUR GREATEST NEED | December 10, 2014

GRATITUDE: A MARK OF A HAPPY BELIEVER | November 23, 2014

HAPPY REFORMATION SUNDAYOctober 30, 2014

RESURRECTED CHRIST. RESURRECTED BELIEVERSOctober 27, 2014

LIGHTING UP YOUR DAYOctober 21, 2014

A PRAYER OF CHRIST-CENTERED JOY: A PURITAN PRAYEROctober 15, 2014

MID-TERM ELECTIONS 2014. PLEASE VOTE!October 10, 2014

THE SILVERSMITHOctober 4, 2014

STEPHEN HAWKING MAKES IT CLEAR: THERE IS NO GODSeptember 27, 2014

VOICE MAIL FOR PRAYER: A LITTLE HUMORSeptember 19, 2014

THE SHY MEMBER OF THE TRINITY BY JASON MEYERSeptember 4, 2014

WHOEVER HAS THE SONSeptember 1, 2014

LABOR DAYAugust 31, 2014

WHERE ARE PEOPLE AT WHEN IT COMES TO THE BIBLE?August 6, 2014

MARK TWAIN AND THE BIBLEAugust 4, 2014

CONTENTMENT: A PURITAN PRAYERJuly 15, 2014

RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTS A NATIONJuly 1, 2014

A MARRIAGE RESTOREDJune 20, 2014

SCHOOL #433June 13, 2014

BIBLICAL ILLITERACYJune 5, 2014

10 THINGS PASTORS HATE TO ADMIT PUBLICLY BY PASTOR MATT BOZApril 21, 2014

EVIDENCE OF THE RESURRECTIONApril 16, 2014