Advent Message II- Let us not be distracted

I love Advent and the seasons of the Church, it is so helpful and it is one of the reasons I left the. I love being in a liturgical church that uses a calend as it emerses us in the seasons of the Church and gives us a chance to take part of the created order, it isnt all about us, and no not everything does revolve around us. While we have free will we are not in control of it all. This allows us and gives us the chance to allow us to remember who we are and who we are for. We should wait and do our best to remember what the real meaning of this season is about. As much as I enjoy the Christmas stories of Frosty, Santa, Rudolph, Jack Frost, and what not, those stories are not nearl as important and they are not central, just entertainment. It isnt even about family or giving to others (though these are good secondary themes and Christian Ideals). Lets try to observe Advent because they help us remember who and who we are. It helps us remember why we do the work we do whether, political, social, church, work, or otherwise-we do it because we are following God and he is leading us to use our talents in these areas to bring Glory to him and his kingdom. Advent is like that, the church's seasons, they are for our benefit not to limit us or chain us to a strict set of rules. Now if you want to forget all about advent season and go home and decorate your house prematurally for Christmas if you want to put a baby Jesus dall in the manger now and set in the stable surrounded by blow up frotsty the snowman and blinking light reindeer you can do that! As far as I can tell God isnt going to be offended or put off or hurt. Your certainly not going to hurt anyone else either. Its your own business and certainly absolutley none of my buisness. None of these events mean you follow Christ less or you shall not have eternal life, but my respeoncibilities is places under my domain such as my house or church remain provide an oasis for those who wish to avoid the superhyped comercialized premature Christmas...You can decorate your house, walk the streets, you cna open a newspaper, turn on your tv and find lots of this version of Christmas. However some places in our lives, some of us want and oasis from all of that, where we remember what this season is really about, the anticapation, waiting, and celabration of the birth of the divine among us. May you have a blessed Advent whatever way you choose to spend it!

Intro to Advent: Advent Series Part 1

 2 Peter paraphrase: Therefore I intend to keep reminding you of these things, even though you know them already. One of the blessings of a church that goes by calendar is it constantly is reminding us of things. Were we come from, were all hope stems from, knowing who we are and who we are for, who we belong too. At this time of year it is getting colder and darker, often dreary in setting. The days grow shorter and shorter, and at least where I live the nights get longer and colder. Even so we have well heated and lighted buildings we can rely on, but God's people of the past hadn't had these modern advantages, imagine how frightening life was around the early church with the persecution, martyrdom, and so much more. Imagine how much they longed for deliverance the saving Grace of God and their need for a savior. Our need is just as great especially because of all the modern idols that steal our thoughts and time. Our need is every bit as great, its just has become easier to ignore because of modern conveniences (which is truly sad)-we are just as much in the face of tragedy, despair, remorse, sin. Our need is every bit as great, Advent is the celebrating the  upcoming birth of Christ among us/is a time to slow down and notice. Notice what you may be asking, to notice how much we need God and nothing can replace him, no amount of technology or anything at all can replace him- We need God who is far bigger than our appetites or our inadequacies, a God who expects much of us and gives much to us, and saves us who turn away --saving us even from our selves. May we have the Grace and discipline to enter this season to prepare us for anything and everything our redeemer has in store for us. God Bless