Advent – Apprentice 2 Jesus

Reading Revelation

It was in college I was freed from the fundamentalist timeline of “The Late Great Planet Earth” and the “Thief in the Night” movies of the 70s and 80s. One little book that freed me was by a pastor who described reading through Revelation together as a congregation on a series of Sunday nights. AllContinue reading “Reading Revelation”

What does “salvation” look like?

In this season of daily reading I am struck over and over by what IS mentioned when it comes to eternal life and what is NOT mentioned. Today it was the story of Zaccheus in Luke 19. Zacchaeus knew his life was changed when Jesus wanted to come to his house. As the party isContinue reading “What does “salvation” look like?”

Good news and bad news: Jesus will come again

The daily office readings for today include two very different perspectives on God dealing with his people. His coming. His coming again. Our responses. So, I have good news and bad news: Jesus will come again.

The imperfection of Advent

I grew up without the concept of Advent in another Christian tradition. When I was pastoring and learned a bit more about it, we would walk through Advent in small ways. When I came into the Anglican Church, I have learned so much more.

The favor of Mary

“The presence of the Lord that once overshadowed the ark in the tabernacle (Ex. 40:35) had now come to rest upon a lowly virgin (Luke 1:35). Mary is honored throughout church history because the Incarnation began within her.” — Hannah King, “The Gospel of Advent” (Devotional readings from CT Magazine)

Face the darkness and see a great light

I am reading an Advent devotional put out by Christianity Today and Rich Villodas reflects on Isaiah 9:1-2 in a powerful way. Villodas pastors in New York City and is a native New Yorker. He admits he’s never been to the 9/11 Memorial. He hasn’t gone because it is a reminder of intense darkness.

We need to SEE in Advent

“Among the asses (stubborn I as they) I see my Saviour where I looked for hay.” — C.S. Lewis

Hope in darkness

Hope and light in the darkness comes when WE are the light of Christ. We become the light of Christ when we deal with the darkness in our own lives.

Preparing the Way

I was thankful for the opportunity to preach last week, the Second Sunday of Advent. The service is about an hour. My message begins around 17 minutes.

The “Second Coming” and what we may not want

I am reading NT Wright’s biography on the Apostle Paul currently and once again in awe of Wright’s grasp of 1st Century Judaism. He talks about the conversion of Saul and walks the reader through what “preaching” really was in that day (which is far different from what we have in our minds today), alongContinue reading “The “Second Coming” and what we may not want”