Tag: christianity
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advent: precursor
“He will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents…” (Malachi 4:6) These words, the last in the Old Testament, echo the hope and heart cry of so many, even more poignantly in this season of waiting. The verses also provide a segue to the New Testament…
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advent: the big picture
It’s easy, dare I say human to get caught up in the dailyness of living. You know – finances, family issues, food, house cleaning, car maintenance, work obligations, pets, health, time for meditation – just getting through the day and foreseeable future. Then we see Scripture challenging us to live beyond tunnel vision. We are…
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advent: utopia
We are told in the Scriptures that “the Kingdom of Heaven is among us.” As I look around, I’m not seeing the Eden of Paradise. I see religions promoting reward systems with the promise of a future utopia. It appears easier for mankind to obey religious laws and rituals than to accept the transformation offered…
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advent: before and after
This is for those who are feeling ill, broken hearted, outcast, lonely. Jesus comes along with compassion, identifying with those in pain; healing physically, but more importantly, healing injured and downcast souls. Medical cure is not His foremost commission. Many restorative examples are found in the New Testament. Leprosy in those days was a…
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advent: stars and stables
John Maxwell asks, “What if you follow a star and find a stable?” Consider the Magi. Wisemen from the East, donned in kingly array, bearing precious gifts for the new King. On their long journey, following the special heavenly star, anticipating a grand royal palace, royal court and kingly throne. Instead, the eastern kings find…
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advent: duality of thought
By their very nature, spiritual beliefs and doctrines present paradoxical dilemmas. God is three in one. Jesus comes as a human and is of divine nature. His mother Mary is a virgin and a mother. To understand these and other contradictions, those with rational minds search on, through other modalities: intellectual, spiritual, emotional. Creatively searching…
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advent: waiting
The word advent derives from the Latin adventus, meaning coming, arrival. For Christians, advent is a time of reflection and expectation. As Christians, we are admonished to live in a state of “non-fulfillment,” believing perfect restoration (personal, family, societal, nature, etc.) is promised to come in the future. Demanding the future we want leads to…
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advent: living in darkness
We must accept darkness surrounds our lives, acknowledging this earthly darkness will never go away. We must also remain hopeful, shining a light in the darkness (hunger, poverty, contentiousness, killings from womb to tomb, etc). This is not giving in. Hope is transformation through the risen Christ. We must receive this Light, then spread this…
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liberty
I sure hope none of you were raised in oppressive religious christianity like I was. If you were, may this contribute to your liberation, as it did for me. I share this morning’s reading from Oswald Chambers. “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free.” Galatians 5:1 “Jesus said, ‘Go and…
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the abyss of love
My grandfather was a pony riding, “hellfire and brimstone” minister, saved after a vision from hell, following extended revelry. My mother raised on this continual scaring, never managed to shake her fear. Even into her 9th decade, she struggled with the love of God. And that is why this morning’s reading touched me, continuing…
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