Entries by stjohn

HOW GOD WORKS THROUGH US

The other day, I was at the airport, sitting in the lounge, grabbing a quick lunch between flights. Like I always do, I made the sign of the cross and blessed my food. It wasn’t anything grand or dramatic, just a simple act of faith—acknowledging God’s goodness in providing my daily bread. But as I did, I noticed a lady sitting across from me. She gave me a strange look, almost as if to say, “What are you doing?” I didn’t let it bother me; I just smiled, enjoyed my lunch, and moved on.

A little while later, that same lady stood up and left. But as she walked away, I noticed something. She had forgotten her AirPods case on the couch. I grabbed it, ran after her, and said, “Excuse me, ma’am, you left this behind!” She turned around, surprised, and replied, “Thank you!” Then, after a brief pause, she added with a warm smile, “Merry Christmas.”

THE BLESSING OF WAITING

We live in a world where patience is in short supply. Fast food, instant messaging, next-day delivery—everything around us screams, “Hurry up!” But God’s way often requires us to slow down, to trust, and to wait. Waiting is not wasted time. It’s preparation time. It’s strengthening time. It’s trusting time.

The psalmist reminds us, “Wait for the Lord and be strong; let your heart be strong; wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:14). Waiting can feel like the hardest thing in the world. Maybe you’ve been praying for healing, and it hasn’t come. Maybe you’re waiting for a breakthrough in your career or for a loved one to turn back to God. In those moments, it’s easy to get discouraged. That’s why the Bible tells us to “be strong” while we wait.

BIRTH OF CHARLES DOWSETT

Charles Dowsett was the first person to hold a position in Armenian studies at a British university. His linguistic versatility and wide-ranging scholarship earned him an international reputation.

He was born on January 2, 1924, in London. He was educated at Barnbury Central School, and in April 1940 moved to Dame Alice Owen’s School. He went in 1942 to St. Catherine’s in Oxford for one year before military service (1943-1947), where he met Friedel Lapuner from Eastern Germany, whom he married in 1949. In 1947 he went to Peterhouse in Cambridge to read Modern and Medieval Languages and later turned to Comparative Philology.

BLESSING OF POMEGRANATES

Since 2015, we’ve embraced a beautiful tradition to welcome the New Year by blessing pomegranates. Why pomegranates? Because this fruit, so intricately woven into our Armenian heritage and Christian faith, carries profound symbolism. From its deep red color to the abundance of seeds, the pomegranate has come to represent new life, fresh beginnings, and the overflowing blessings God has in store for us.

When you crack open a pomegranate, you’re met with a burst of color and hundreds of seeds, all packed inside. It’s a visual reminder that God’s blessings aren’t stingy. God doesn’t just want to fill our lives; He wants to overflow in our lives. Ephesians 3:20 tells us He’s able to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.”

STEP INTO THE FLOW

I recently came across a quote by French author Hervé Bazin that deeply resonated with me: “It’s not the river that runs, but the water. It’s not time that passes, but us.” Isn’t that powerful? It’s a reminder that life isn’t about watching the clock tick or the days go by. Life is about how we move through time, how we choose to live in the moments God has given us.

The river itself doesn’t move; it’s the water that carries the life, the energy, the purpose. In the same way, it’s not time that changes us—it’s how we move through the moments we’re given. Are we just standing on the banks, watching life pass us by? Or are we stepping into the flow, letting God lead us to where we’re meant to go?

MAKE ROOM FOR THE MIRACLE

“She gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7). The Son of God, the Savior of the world, was about to enter history. The long-awaited Messiah was arriving, and yet, when Mary and Joseph knocked on the innkeeper’s door, the answer was, “No room.”

But that “no” didn’t stop God’s plan. That innkeeper’s refusal didn’t stop Jesus from being born. God’s purposes are going to be fulfilled whether we participate or not. Yet the innkeeper missed out on the greatest blessing of his life. He missed the privilege of housing the Son of God.

HOLY APOSTLE JAMES AND JOHN THE EVANGELIST

On Saturday, December 28, the Armenian Church commemorates the Holy Apostle James and John the Evangelist. Both held prominent positions among the twelve apostles, and they were called “Sons of Thunder” by Jesus (Mark 3:17) probably because they were impetuous and quick tempered as suggested in Luke …

DEATH OF OSIP MANDELSTAM

Osip Mandelstam, one of the foremost Russian poets of the early twentieth century, was also celebrated for his memoirs and his cycle of poems dedicated to Armenia after his trip in 1930.
Mandelstam was born on January 14, 1891, in Warsaw to a wealthy Polish-Jewish family. His father was able to purchase the right to move his family to Saint Petersburg, where only a handful of Jews were allowed to live. In 1900, Mandelstam entered the prestigious Tenishev School. His first poems were published in 1907 in the school’s almanac.

THE GREATEST GIFT OF CHRISTMAS

On a crisp Christmas morning, a mother watched with joy as her six-year-old son eagerly unwrapped his gift. All he had asked for was a wheelbarrow, and there it was—bright red, shining under the glow of the Christmas tree. His eyes sparkled with excitement, lighting up the room brighter than any holiday sparkle.

As she prepared Christmas dinner, her son disappeared with his prized gift. Hours passed, and panic gripped her. Searching the house and yard, she found no sign of him. She ran to a pastor friend, pouring out her fears. The priest, full of compassion, offered to accompany her to the police station but suggested a quick stop at the church across the road to pray for the child’s recovery.

THE TRUE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS

There’s a beautiful story about the birth of Jesus, that teaches us an incredible truth about God’s heart. The shepherds came to see the newborn King, bringing their gifts. Some brought fruits of their labor, others brought treasures from their homes. But one shepherd stood off to the side. He was very poor, he didn’t have anything to give. Can you imagine how he must have felt? Embarrassed, overlooked, like he didn’t belong.

But then something amazing happened. Mary, holding Jesus, looked at that shepherd with compassion. She saw his empty hands, and she called him forward, and she placed Jesus into his arms. In that moment, those hands that once seemed so empty became the cradle for the greatest gift in history.