Category: Advent 2017

Love Psalm 72:1-7 “May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, 
like showers that water the earth.” Psalm 72:6 There is a certain pouring out that is characteristic of God’s love. Psalm 72 is said to be a prayer for the guidance

Love Philippians 1:3-11 “So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent,

Love Mark 1:1-8 “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ . . .” Mark 1:1 It is always a bit of a challenge to read from the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of John as Advent draws us closer to the birth

Love 2 Peter 3:8-15 “The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, 
but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish . . .” 2 Peter 3:9 Remember the old joke about the impatient person who prays for patience

Love Psalm 85:8-13 “Faithful love and truth have met; righteousness and peace have kissed. Truth springs up from the ground; righteousness gazes down from heaven. Yes, the Lord gives what is good, and our land yields its produce. Righteousness walks before God, making a road

Love Isaiah 40:1-11 “Like a shepherd, God will tend the flock; he will gather lambs
 in his arms and lift them on his lap.” Isaiah 40:11a As a young child, one of my fondest memories during the cold Christmas season was having my mother bundle

Hope Isaiah 2:4c “. . . neither shall they learn war anymore.” Isaiah 2:4c It was June 1969. As the son of a United Methodist pastor I was spending a few days with the family at the University of Redlands where my Dad always went

Hope Romans 13:11-14 “. . . let us live honorably . . .” Romans 13:13a If yesterday’s text, Matthew 24:36-44, teaches that Advent Hope is found in an “Attitude” of preparedness, then Apostle Paul in today’s Romans text raises the bar to an Advent Hope

Hope Matthew 24:36-44 “Therefore you also must be ready . . .” Matthew 24:44a When you read this full text, it seems more like the rapture theology series, Left Behind by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, than an Advent message preparing for Christmas. Matthew

Hope Mark 13:24-37 “Be aware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come.” Mark 13:33 You know what bugs me about Advent scriptures? As a whole they are not that upbeat. When I read about “The Coming of the Son of