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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 of the Christ child because these two Gospels begin with […]
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 saying, “Dear Lord, give me patience . . . right […]
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 for his steps.” Psalm 85:8-13 Sometimes the written word is […]
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 me up in her arms wearing her blue pea coat, […]
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 for the Annual Conference. As a soon-to-be ninth grader, my […]
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 found in “Action.” It gets back to the truth that […]
United Methodists in the California-Pacific Conference, while affected by fires in different areas of Southern California, are responding with courage and hope. Things are moving fast and reports are still coming in about damage to, or loss of, homes. Many have been evacuated from their neighborhoods. All Cal-Pac local churches in the affected areas will […]
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 is urgently telling the reader to live with expectant anticipation […]
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 Man” (Mark 13:24-27) or the “Lesson of the Fig Tree” […]
Hope 1 Corinthians 1:9 “. . . God is faithful.” I Cor. 1:9a Who do you trust? Not in a casual way, but completely. Is there someone with whom you would trust your very life? I am blessed to be able to come up with my list of family and close friends that fit this […]
