"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Romans 15:13

The Epiphany

A child born in a humble manger sparked a revelation that echoes through time—a moment the world now calls the Epiphany. This word, Epiphany, comes from the ancient Greek epiphaneia, meaning “appearance” or “manifestation.” It marked the unveiling of a divine plan to bring salvation to the world.

This feast day celebrates more than a historical event; it honors the moment God made Himself known to all nations—breaking through darkness with light, hope with promise, and mystery with clarity. It’s a celebration of revelation itself: the divine stepping into human history, visible and undeniable.

The Epiphany carries two profound meanings depending on the context. In Christian tradition, it often points to the moment Jesus Christ was revealed to the world as the Son of God—offering hope, salvation, and a promise that extends beyond any one people to all who believe.

Most vividly, it commemorates the visit of the Magi, or Wise Men, who followed a radiant star from distant lands, to Bethlehem. These Gentile scholars, guided by ancient wisdom and celestial signs, came bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Their journey symbolized the universal revelation of Christ—not as a Messiah for one nation alone, but for the entire world.

The Star of Bethlehem that led the Magi remains a divine beacon, a luminous sign of Christ’s birth and the fulfillment of prophecy. Each gift they presented holds deep meaning: gold for a king’s royalty, frankincense symbolizing divine presence, and myrrh which served as a poignant foreshadowing of suffering and sacrifice.

In some Christian traditions, the Epiphany also embraces the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. As Jesus emerged from the waters, the heavens opened wide, and the Holy Spirit descended like a dove. From above came a voice proclaiming, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)—a divine affirmation that announced the start of a new chapter in salvation history.

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"Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route."

Matthew 2:7-12

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September 11, 2001

My Epiphany

Beyond its religious roots, the word epiphany has come to mean a sudden, transformative realization—an insight so profound it leaves a permanent mark. That’s what happened to me.

While the Epiphany marks the moment Christ was revealed to the world, my epiphany was when He revealed Himself, personally and unmistakably, to me.

It began in the days following September 11, 2001—a time of national shock, sorrow, and confusion. Like so many, I was overwhelmed. The sheer weight of what had happened pressed on my spirit, and I found myself searching for meaning amid the chaos.

One morning, as I drove to work, the song "Epiphany" by the band Staind was playing on my cassette deck. Its sorrowful tone and raw emotion stirred something deep inside me, and I was overtaken by waves of grief, longing, and urgency. That moment moved me to pray—not for relief, but for purpose. It was the first truly selfless prayer I had ever spoken.

The lyric from the song that stayed with me was this:

“But I know I’ll do the right thing if the right thing is revealed.”

That line became a quiet promise. What followed was not immediate, but it was unmistakable. Over the next four months, I entered a period of intense searching and mind-bending insight that led to a discovery unlike anything I could have imagined. What began with sorrow, confusion and a prayer eventually pointed me to someone I had never truly believed in: Christ.

My hope is that what you find here will speak to something deeper than intellect, and that the miracle at its center will leave a lasting mark on all who witness it. Perhaps you too, in this visit, might experience an epiphany of your own.

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But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit

Mark 4:20

My hope

But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit

Mark 4:20

As I share this presentation, again my deepest hope is that it reaches those who encounter it—not just as an intellectual discovery, but as a life-altering message. Still, I know it won’t land the same for everyone. As Jesus taught in the Parable of the Sower, the same seed, planted with the same intention, can yield very different results depending on the ground it falls upon.

In that parable, found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus describes four landing spots for the seeds of truth:

The Path: Some will not be ready to receive spiritual truth. Many in this group may never finish this presentation. Others might become fixated on surface-level details, missing the deeper truth beneath. A few may even reject or oppose the message outright—guarding their own beliefs, reputations, or assumptions from being challenged.

The Rocky Ground: Others will hear and be moved, even excited. But without a deep root, their belief won’t endure when tested by hardship. What first felt powerful fades, unable to survive pressure or pain.

Among the Thorns: Some will receive the message and believe, but the pull of life’s distractions—the worries, comforts, and desires of the world—will slowly choke its growth. Faith remains, but stunted, never coming fully alive.

Good Ground: And then, there are those whose hearts are open and ready. For some of the nearly 2.4 billion Christians in the world, this discovery will affirm and deepen a faith already strong. For others, especially those who once believed but now feel distant, it may rekindle their faith.

This message is for all people, no matter where you are in your spiritual journey. If you consider yourself spiritually neutral, good-hearted and morally sound, but perhaps unsure about God or unfamiliar with Christ—then I pray the seeds sown here will fall on fertile ground in your heart. May they stir something real and lasting.

And to those on the path, among the rocks, or surrounded by thorns: I hope that you open your heart to becoming good soil. May what is planted here take root—nurturing a purpose that transforms, a faith that endures, and a life that reflects God's grace.

Good Ground

But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit

Mark 4:20

My hope

But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit

Mark 4:20

As I share this presentation, again my deepest hope is that it reaches those who encounter it—not just as an intellectual discovery, but as a life-altering message. Still, I know it won’t land the same for everyone. As Jesus taught in the Parable of the Sower, the same seed, planted with the same intention, can yield very different results depending on the soil it falls upon.

In that parable, found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus describes four landing spots for the seeds of truth:

The Path: Some will not be ready to receive spiritual truth. Many in this group may never finish this presentation. Others might become fixated on surface-level details, missing the deeper truth beneath. A few may even reject or oppose the message outright—guarding their own beliefs, reputations, or assumptions from being challenged.

The Rocky Ground: Others will hear and be moved, even excited. But without a deep root, their belief won’t endure when tested by hardship. What first felt powerful fades, unable to survive pressure or pain.

Among the Thorns: Some will receive the message and believe, but the pull of life’s distractions—the worries, comforts, and desires of the world—will slowly choke its growth. Faith remains, but stunted, never coming fully alive.

Good Ground: And then, there are those whose hearts are open and ready. For some of the nearly 2.4 billion Christians in the world, this discovery will affirm and deepen a faith already strong. For others, especially those who once believed but now feel distant, it may rekindle their faith.

This message is for all people, no matter where you are in your spiritual journey. If you consider yourself spiritually neutral, good-hearted and morally sound, but perhaps unsure about God or unfamiliar with Christ—then I pray the seeds sown here will fall on fertile ground in your heart. May they stir something real and lasting.

And to those on the path, among the rocks, or surrounded by thorns: I hope that you open your heart to becoming good soil. May what is planted here take root—nurturing a purpose that transforms, a faith that endures, and a life that reflects God's grace.