Fill the Stage

Daniel Dignan

Fill The Stage

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“…good news of great joy…”

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In A Charlie Brown Christmas, Linus explains the meaning of Christmas.

“The people who have walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone…For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.” (Isaiah 9, English Standard Bible (ESV))

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2, ESV)

Scripture records that God, the creator of the universe, became a man: Jesus of Nazareth, in the space and time of history. The New Testament (NT) reveals him to be the Messiah and the promised King of the Hebrew Scriptures. The NT gospels capture his story: a Savior who atoned for the sins of all who believe in him and answer his call to follow, a philosopher of happiness, and one who is coming again as King of the nations. The four gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John — tell this great story from four distinct perspectives.

Merry Christmas!

The Fourth Wise Man

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This Christmas season, I want to share one of my favorite Christmas movies. Like me, you have probably watched Miracle on 34th Street, A Christmas Carol (1951) starring Alastair Sim, and It’s a Wonderful Life. They are classics and fun to watch.  You may have also enjoyed The Snowman, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966), Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964), and The Polar Express. They spark good memories and holiday cheer.

The Christmas film I want to share takes viewers back to the first Christmas and helps us imagine what it was like from the magi’s perspective. The magi were Persian kings-astrologers seeking heavenly signs of a coming king. The Fourth Wise Man follows a particular magus who never made it to the manger in Bethlehem, but endeavors to find the child. It’s a moving tale that offers a glimpse of the meaning and joy of Christmas.

Christmas is truly a time of joy and celebration. I’m reminded of Charles Dickens’ character Mr. Fezziwig in A Christmas Carol; his Christmas party was so grand and happy that guests had the time of their lives. But the secret of Mr. Fezziwig was not his money or the glamor or the building or the business; it was a heart enlarged by the truth and joy of Christmas.

When paired with the Bible’s story of Christmas in texts such as Isaiah 9 and Luke 2, movies like The Fourth Wise Man can help us get closer to that kind of celebration.

If you watch the movie, I’d love to hear what you thought of it.

Anne of Avonlea

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Anne of Green Gables is about an adopted red-headed girl, about 11 years old, with heroic character traits. Her towering imagination, kindness, love of life, and the captivating story world made this book an all-time bestseller. The second book in the series, Anne of Avonlea, is a worthy sequel. Anne, about 17, fills the stage as a teacher, having given up college to help her adopted mother. The reader follows her efforts and sometimes delusional thinking as she inspires her pupils to become all they can be, but challenges await her in and outside the classroom.

This story features many learning opportunities for young readers. The author was a genius at crafting compelling chapters that delight and contain meaningful dialogue, making the scenes nearly irresistible. As Anne helps her neighbors and pupils, we see her slowly maturing into womanhood through a deepening understanding of what is genuinely true and good.

Some memorable scenes include her befriending an irate neighbor after her cow partially ruined his crops, her love for a young pupil who struggles after his mother’s death, and a new friendship with a woman who grieves over an early romance gone wrong.

The author brilliantly reveals the outworking of true religion, the purpose of education, and the realities and goodness of love and romance.

The British Are Coming

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America’s 250th birthday is fast approaching, making this an excellent opportunity for students to learn about America’s founding. Rick Atkinson’s The British Are Coming: Young Readers Edition is a fast-paced and engaging read. It’s adapted from the author’s three-volume series on America’s Revolutionary War.

Not only does Mr. Atkinson bring to life fascinating details about General George Washington and Revolutionary War battles, but he also tells a moving story. A former Washington Post senior editor, Mr. Atkinson has become a premier military historian, winning a Pulitzer Prize for An Army At Dawn, one of the books in his celebrated World War II trilogy.

The book covers some of the events that led to America’s War for Independence, the first two years of the war (1775-1777), and the first campaigns in Massachusetts, Canada, New York, and New Jersey. Events include the midnight ride of Paul Revere, the first shots in Concord and Lexington, the Battle of Bunker Hill, the Battle of Long Island, and the Battle of Trenton, which includes the famous crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas Day.

Readers learn something about the views of both sides through firsthand accounts and correspondence of King George III and others. They gain awareness of both the brutal and civil aspects of the war, including an early attempt to end it in a meeting between Benjamin Franklin and British Admiral Lord Richard Howe.

Overall, the author underlines the price of freedom, the suffering and sacrifice of civilians, and the fact that many young men died.

The book might spur students to read more history about America and the West: a worthwhile outcome.

Finally, the battles described in the book are enlivened by numerous pictures and excellent maps that depict geography, towns, troop movements, and maneuvers, adding much to this educational experience.

Confronting the Presidents

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Looking for highlights of each U.S. president’s time in office? This is the book for you. O’Reilly and Dugard excel at providing important information about each president in an upbeat, succinct style. Starting with Washington and ending with Biden, who was president when this book was published, the authors provide pros, cons, and historical context for each commander-in-chief. You may be surprised at the various and unsuspecting issues as well as victories these men experienced as they held the nation’s highest office.

On the other hand, if you want an in-depth analysis and biographical sketch for each president, I encourage you to look elsewhere. But it is reasonable that they don’t provide an exhaustive survey, since they have to discuss all the presidents; giving a lot of information on each would turn into a marathon reading project. Also, O’Reilly and Dugard do not rank all the presidents from worst to best based on their views, though they do provide some of their favorite and least favorite presidents throughout the book.

Consequently, this is a great book that offers a “30,000-foot” view of each president’s time in office without boring you with too many trivial details. Indeed, a good read for those wanting a helpful introduction to those who have held the most powerful office in the world.

Guide for Young Leaders

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I wrote a short book for teen leaders, promoting several books I have written about on this site. It’s available for download.

The idea is to provide parents and teens with a quick and easy summary of books that expand vision and teach character and leadership.

If you know a parent who might benefit from the guide, please send the guide page.

Veterans Day

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Originally, Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I, Veterans Day honors all American military veterans. The holiday is an opportunity for young people to deepen their knowledge of and appreciation for our veterans.

My pastor shared Frank DeVita’s story at church. A World War II veteran, his D-Day story is astonishing. Here’s a two-minute introduction. More is available on YouTube.

If you are a veteran of the United States Armed Forces, thank you for your service!

The Walk

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This is a different kind of book. It’s a guide to what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ, the benefits of following him, and how to follow him. It assumes no prior knowledge of Christianity or the Bible. The author calls it a “Discipleship for Dummies” book.

The book guides readers through the Bible’s Gospel of Mark (the first Gospel) and the book of Romans. Overall, it helps readers understand the story of Jesus.

One of the things I like about the book is that it addresses common questions about whether one has to go to church, how to read the Bible, and what words like “justification” and “sanctification” mean. The book is easy to read, yet it offers a systematic explanation of God’s good news.

The author is a pastor; trusted Christian leaders, including Tim Keller and Carl Trueman, endorsed the book. My pastor uses the book to help new followers of Jesus grow in their faith. This is a significant benefit of the book; it can help you help others follow Jesus, too.

If you are interested in this topic, I highly recommend the book. The Walk is accessible, well-written, and suitable for middle and high school students. If you read the book, let me know what you think.

Nehemiah

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An insightful commentary on Nehemiah, the best leadership book ever written. The commentary is short, entertaining, and provides leadership lessons appropriate for high school students and young adults.

I have read several commentaries on Nehemiah, and this one is the best, or at least top of the stack. James Montgomery Boice was a brilliant pastor, author, and leader in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the second half of the 20th century. He does a great job explaining the dynamics of leadership.

Nehemiah was a Persian official over 400 years before Christ who saw a need, formulated a plan, and executed it despite significant dangers and difficulties. The commentary explains the dynamics of Nehemiah’s leadership and how he accomplished the task of rebuilding Israel’s wall and reviving the nation.

Nehemiah is truly a leadership manual for those who want to lead and work with distinction.