Advent – Apprentice 2 Jesus

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”

Deceived by darkness

34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. 35 See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. (Luke 11:34-35, NIV)

Second Sunday of Advent

For Christians, Advent is not a time of opening up little windows with chocolates as we await the really big booty of presents under the tree on Christmas morning. That is not what we are waiting for. We are waiting for light, for God to renew and heal the world, a promise that we understandContinue reading “Second Sunday of Advent”

Advent and the power of prayer

Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” (Luke 11:1, CEB) George MacDonald wrote this about prayer: And why should the good of anyone depend on the prayer of another? I can only answer with theContinue reading “Advent and the power of prayer”