What is Advent?

The Advent season is underway. For those who don’t know what Advent is all about, you are not alone. I’m not sure there is one shared understanding.

Some churches have an advent wreath as part of their weekly service this time of year. Even that is not standardized. Some use four candles, others use five. The colors of the candles are symbolic but the colors and symbolisms vary too.

I had the joy of contributing to two advent devotional books this season. That experience gave me a new understanding for the Advent.

Most people who celebrate Advent, do so as preparation for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. This makes sense because Advent starts four weeks before Christmas. The first Sunday of Advent varies.

I’ve decided Advent should be our season of life. The definition of advent has to do with coming into view. Christ came into the world’s view 2,000 years ago.

First Corinthians 13:12 says “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

It is so easy to add “Christ” to the name Jesus without considering the significance of who Jesus, the Christ, is. The birth of Jesus is the “coming into view.” We haven’t seen the full picture in clear focus yet.

Sure it’s great to celebrate the coming into view of something great - like seeing the beginning of the parade coming your way. But if we made the effort to get a good spot to view the parade, it would be a bit silly to leave just after it comes into view several blocks away.

This reminds me of the story in Mark 8 where Jesus healed a blind man. The first time Jesus touched his eyes the man could see but not clear. People looked like trees. Jesus touched him again and he could see clearly.

Anyone out there following me? I’m just a bit excited as I type.

Before this healing, the Pharisees have asked for miracles and Jesus says they aren’t going to see any. They have eyes. Jesus is doing miracles all around them but they don’t see it. Then he tells the disciples to watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees. The disciples are clueless. I sense a little frustration in Jesus words at Mark 8:21 “Do you still not understand?”

The blind man healing comes right after that question. When the disciples are scratching their heads, Jesus usually sits them down and explains things. (i.e. Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13).

The healing is followed by Peter’s confession of who Jesus is. “Who do people say I am?” Jesus continues “But what about you? Who do you say I am? Peter answered, you are the Christ.”

I hope someone out there is catching the significance of this because I know my words are not expressing the plethora of thoughts rushing through my mind right now.

Jesus, the Christ, came into view. One day we will see him clearly. Not as a baby in a manger. And not in human likeness (see Philippians 2:7). We are living in Advent. Many of us can see Christ but only as a poor reflection. He looks like a person – like us. One day we will see him face to face. Then we will understand fully.

I’m convinced that if we are going to celebrate Advent, it should be celebrated with shouts of Revelation 22:20. “Come, Lord Jesus.”

Keep watching, the Grand Marshal says “Yes, I am coming soon.” Revelation 22:20.

Why Do I Write

The facilitator in the writers group last night asked the question “why do you write?” I’ve blogged before about writers who say “I can’t not write.” That phrase has been a stumbling block to me because I’ve not felt that way. I could easily not write. There are plenty of other things I could fill my time with.

I woke up thinking about the facilitator’s question this morning and sensed something deeper. Why do I write? Why does anyone write or talk or do anything?

Another phrase was also on my mind. “If I had been the only person on earth, Christ still would have died for me.” I’ve heard that said many times and it always puzzles me. God gave me new insight on these thoughts during my quiet time with him this morning.

John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.”

That last scripture is very interesting to me. Do we assume that God thought the male he created might do ok alone? Was creating the female a second thought after seeing that the man needed someone else? Maybe. Maybe not.

Why did man need woman?

Look again at John 1. The Word, which is Christ, was with God and he was God. Yet we worship one God. Explaining the trinity – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit can be difficult. Even more difficult is trying to separate the three. Which one do we worship? Is one greater than the other?

Genesis 1:27, male and female are created in the image of God. It does not say males are made in the image of God the Father and females are made in the image of God the Son.

Let’s add one more scripture Matthew 22:36-40. “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Why do I write? It is the way I share myself with others. It is out of love for God and the desire to be one with others just as the Father and the Son are one. Maybe the bigger question is why do I hesitate to write? Could that be Satan’s attempt to make me believe that God created me and sent his son to die for me alone?

Writing is not the only way to love God and love others. How are you sharing yourself and uniting with others?

Christian vs Christ-follower

I'm trying to stay focused on writing advent devotionals. So this week, I offer you a blog that speaks my language. It's aimed at writers but applies to everyone.

"Are you a Christian or a Christ-follower? Is it about you and your words, or is it about the Word you are following?" Mick Silva

Just click on Link below or the title of this post to read Silva's article. It's worth the click.

Another Walk to Emmaus

My sister-in-law attended the Ashland (KY) Area Women’s Emmaus Walk #24 this past weekend. The sense of anticipation on Thursday was just as I remember it for my walk. The “Pilgrims” were eager but apprehensive because they don’t know what will happen over the next 72 hours. The sponsors and servants have silly grins because they know exactly what the pilgrims are about to experience.

Some think the Emmaus Community is a secretive group. It’s not at all. The reason it seems hush, hush is because words cannot fully describe the experience.

The women attempted to express the same sentiments over and over at the closing service Sunday evening. “I saw the face of Jesus,” several said. How can you explain that to someone who hasn’t seen him face to face? It’s impossible. It seems to be just a cliché but it’s not. At some point on the walk, each Pilgrim looks around and realizes she has been with Jesus all weekend. A transformation takes place at that instant. She knows her life will never be the same again.

God has been speaking to me about the need to be in real community. This weekend and my Bible reading this morning are strong nudges from God.

In Acts 2 the Holy Spirit enables the disciples to speak in other languages. There were “God-fearing Jews from every nation” in Jerusalem that day. A sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven. Then “a crowd came together in bewilderment because each one heard them speaking in his own language.” Verse 11 says they heard them declaring the wonders of God in their own language. This crowd asked “What does this mean?” But others made fun of the disciples and accused them of being drunk.

Experiencing the manifest presence of God brings people together. Those who “hear” the wonders of God are united in their search for more understanding. Those who refuse to “hear” and prefer to accuse and point out differences continue in life unchanged.

The Emmaus Community is a gathering of people united by their experience of God’s manifest presence. The indescribable wonders create a hunger to know God more deeply and a realization that without Christ I am absolutely nothing.

Do you have to go on a Walk to Emmaus to see the face of Jesus? No. But you do have to be in community with other believers to experience the fullness of the Body of Christ. Once you’ve seen his face, you’ll either be drawn in or you will reject the experience as too bizarre to be true. If you are drawn in, you will want to be with others having the same experience. That’s all the Emmaus Community is.

The Walk to Emmaus is an ecumenical Christian Renewal program open to anyone interested in a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. Links to several Christian Renewal programs are listed below. Don’t be satisfied with learning about God. Find a community of people who experience God’s presence.

o Catholic Cursillo
o Christ Renews His Parish
o Cum Christo
o Episcopal Cursillo (or Happening Youth Weekend)
o High School Catholic Kairos
o Koinonia
o Lutheran Via De Cristo
o The Great Banquet
o Tres Dias
o Walk to Emmaus ( or Chrysalis Youth Weekend)

Read about my Walk in post titled I Have Seen Jesus.

Talking it Out

They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

Luke 24:14-16

Last week I blogged about the people at the crucifixion. Those who knew him kept watching even after he stopped breathing.

Beginning at Luke 24:13 we read about two of these people who knew Jesus. They most likely were at the crucifixion – watching. Now they are on the road to Emmaus a couple days later. Their conversation indicates that the events of Jesus’ crucifixion were still puzzling them. They were no longer watching the cross with expectation. They were now attempting to make sense of everything among themselves.

Then Jesus joins them and they don’t recognize him.

Does that stab you like it stabs me? How often do we discuss the things of Jesus without recognizing his presence and power right there with us?

Awesome Lord, forgive us for treating you as a joiner to our groups. May we seek your face. May we wait with anticipation as long as takes. May we recognize you in our midst and listen to your voice.

Keep Watching

The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. - Luke 23:47-49

When Jesus died, the people watching responded in different ways.

The centurion was impressed with Jesus’ response to death. Because of what he saw, the centurion believed Jesus was an innocent man.

Many people turned and walked away disappointed. Perhaps they had something different in mind for him to do. For them, it was finished.

Those who knew him kept watching even after he died.

How are you responding to Christ? Is he just an innocent man who was wrongly put to death? Are you disappointed in circumstances that didn’t turn out the way you expected? Is your hope in your ideas or in Christ?

Keep watching.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. - Isaiah 55:9

When Darkness Reigns

Read: Luke 22:39-53

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation."

Luke 22:39-40

This narrative follows the account of the last Passover meal Jesus had with his disciples. During that time together, Jesus revealed that one would betray him. They tried to determine which one that would be then went into a discussion of who was the greatest. I can just imagine these grown men. “Well, I’m not going to betray him. I’m his best friend.” Another pipes in, “You may spend more time with him now but I’m the one that’s going to be his right hand man in running the kingdom.”

Jesus tries to get his message across to his disciples. He even warns one of those closest to him that he will turn away from him. He also encourages him to strengthen the others after he gets through the rough times.

Then he goes to his place of solitude. The disciples follow. Jesus’ heart is heavy. He knows what this night holds. He petitions his friends to pray not for him but for themselves. The Son of God steps away to cry out to his Father. He returns exhausted and saddened to find the disciples asleep. Once again, he tries to get the significance of his message across to his friends.

While he is still speaking…Judas, one of the twelve approached Jesus to kiss him. Now the adrenaline is flowing. The disciples jump into action. Swords come out. But Jesus stops the commotion.

“Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, ‘Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour--when darkness reigns.’”

Luke 22:52-53

It’s been a couple thousand years since the events of this passage took place. All the things happened just as Jesus said they would. Judas betrayed him. Peter denied knowing him. It was a dark time for all the disciples. Eleven of the twelve found strength in reuniting. Judas, alone, committed suicide.

Have you become so accustomed to the darkness around you that you are falling asleep? Pray for strength to resist temptation before it comes?

Maybe you are struggling with a dark circumstance in your life. Petition your friends to pray with you, not for you but for themselves in this circumstance. Their strength to support God’s will for you is vital.

Dear Jesus, you are our Lord and Savior yet you call us friends. May we wake up and heed your message. May we always be prepared to resist the impulse of our flesh. Thank you for pouring out your Spirit so that we have the strength to follow you when darkness reigns.