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Stephen M. Miller

Award-Winning, Bestselling Christian Author

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Painting/photo of Jerusalem Temple-Casual English Bible

Christmas

Map of Bethlehem, Casual English Bible
December 22, 2022 | by: Stephen M. Miller | in: Blog | tag: #Casual English Bible, bethlehem, Christmas, King Herod, wise men

Great King from Bethlehem

BORN IN BETHLEHEM. When Jewish scholars 2,000 years ago wanted to find out where the coming Great King would be born, the Messiah, they turned to the prophet Micah. About 700 years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a little-known Bible prophet …

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Portrait of brother of Stephen M. Miller
December 10, 2022 | by: Stephen M. Miller | in: Blog | tag: #casualenglishbible.com, #stephenmmiller, Christmas, depression, sad

Does Christmas get sadder
as we get older?

THOSE WE’VE LOST. I took this photo of my brother a few years ago, at our uncle’s funeral. Then, two years ago, I buried this brother. Six months after that, my other brother. Is this why the older we get, the more we feel sad on those …

Read moreDoes Christmas get sadder
as we get older?
Statue of Hippolytus of Rome for article about Christmas on December 25 in ancient Christian history.
December 6, 2022 | by: Stephen M. Miller | in: Blog | tag: #biblemaps, #Casual English Bible, #casualenglishbible.com, Amos, Christmas, December 25

Christians picked December 25 before Roman pagans did

WE THOUGHT PAGANS BEAT JESUS TO CHRISTMAS. That’s what historians have taught us: Christians started celebrating Christmas because Romans were already throwing a party to the sun God Sol on December 25. It looks like historians got that wrong. …

Read moreChristians picked December 25 before Roman pagans did
Painting of man
December 24, 2013 | by: Stephen M. Miller | in: Blog | tag: bethlehem, bible, birth of Jesus, Christianity, Christmas, church, gabriel, God, jesus, Joseph, Luke 2, Mary, nativity, religion

It’s a boy: Jesus

1. ABOUT THE TIME MARY GOT PREGNANT, Caesar Augustus ordered a census. He wanted to count everyone. 2. This was the first census the Romans took after Quirinius became Syria’s governor. 3. Folks went to their hometown to register. 4. Joseph did, too. …

Read moreIt’s a boy: Jesus
girl in Santa hat
December 20, 2013 | by: Stephen M. Miller | in: Blog | tag: Christianity, Christmas, church, God, happy holidays, jesus, religion, season's greetings

Christians, chill out about Christmas

[Here’s a flashback to a post from last Christmas season…a gentle reminder.] WHY GET UPSET that the city outlaws nativity scenes on public property? Why complain about Wal-Mart greeters wishing us Happy Holidays instead of Merry …

Read moreChristians, chill out about Christmas
And angel with shepherds
December 11, 2013 | by: Stephen M. Miller | in: Blog | tag: angels, bible, bible study, birth of Jesus, blog, christian, Christmas, Christmas story, church, God, jesus, Jesus Christ, Joseph, Luke 2, Mary, nativity, nativity scene, Shepherds, worship

The Christmas Story…a fresh look

I PARAPHRASE THE BIBLE as part of a new Bible study technique I’ve been trying out. It helps me see the Bible in a different way. I compare a bunch of translations, and I think about how I would try to put the same stories and teachings in my …

Read moreThe Christmas Story…a fresh look
Painting of Virgin Mary
November 21, 2013 | by: Stephen M. Miller | in: Blog | tag: bible, bible study, birth of Jesus, blog, christian, Christmas, Christmas Reading, church, God, jesus, Mary, Virgin Mary

Mary’s Song: I took it personal

I GOT THE JOB of leading the curriculum team for our church Bible study group that meets on Sunday. Several of us take turns leading the discussion. Usually, I let others sign up to teach first. Then I pick up whatever is left. But when we put …

Read moreMary’s Song: I took it personal
boy on his bed
December 31, 2012 | by: Stephen M. Miller | in: Blog | tag: bed, bible, bible study, christian, Christmas, compassion, jesus, kindness

My church gave Jesus a bed for Christmas

I KNOW that the title of this post sounds odd. But it’s true. I found out about it on Christmas Eve—the perfect night to hear the news. The church I attend has multiple locations throughout the Greater Kansas City area: Church of the Resurrection. We …

Read moreMy church gave Jesus a bed for Christmas
Buddy the Dog
December 19, 2012 | by: Stephen M. Miller | in: Blog | tag: bible, bible study, Buddy, buddy the dog, christian, Christmas

Merry Christmas, Buddy the Dog

MY WIFE BROUGHT HOME A DOG. She was driving to work and she saw it get hit by two cars. Tagless the year-old black lab pup was suddenly broke and homeless. Three drivers stopped, including my wife, who’s a nurse and a caregiver by nature. Two men …

Read moreMerry Christmas, Buddy the Dog
Star of Bethlehem as Jupiter and Saturn in Pisces constellation
December 13, 2012 | by: Stephen M. Miller | in: Blog | tag: bible, bible study, christian, Christmas, herod the great, jesus, jupiter, nativity, pisces, saturn, star, star of bethlehem, wise men

Star of Bethlehem

THERE ARE NOTHING BUT GUESSES about what exactly led the wise men to Bethlehem. Clues in the Bible: It pointed toward Israel. The star led them initially to the capital of the Jewish homeland, not to Bethlehem: “Some wise men from eastern lands …

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women winners of a horse riding show.
December 3, 2012 | by: Stephen M. Miller | in: Blog | tag: bible, bible study, christian, Christmas, kindle fire hd

Merry Christmas to winners of the drawing

A LITTLE AFTER MIDNIGHT on Friday, I randomly selected names of 21 people who would win gifts. Top gift: Kindle Fire HD. Additional gifts: 20 free books. I chose the names from all four of my social media hangouts: Blog, Facebook, Twitter, and my …

Read moreMerry Christmas to winners of the drawing
Photo of man with a Christmas tree
December 2, 2012 | by: Stephen M. Miller | in: Blog | tag: bible, bible study, christian, Christmas

How Christian is a Christian Christmas?

I CAN’T SHAKE THIS THOUGHT: Most of what we Christians do to celebrate Christmas isn’t Christian at all. Not if we punch our work on a timecard. Or tally the cost on a spreadsheet. Most of the time and money we put into Christmas is secular. …

Read moreHow Christian is a Christian Christmas?
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