List Day Three: Words to Live By

...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Romans 3:23

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Jeremiah 17:9

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23

if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:9

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:1

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:12-13

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:35 - 39

On feeling old

At fifty-seven, my foot has yet to slip over the edge of the grave, but I'm still what one would call solidly ensconced in middle age. This fact bothers me less than many of my similarly-aged friends, as I've no children growing into adults to make time's progression in my life obvious to all.

But boy, am I feeling old today.

Yesterday, I went to a wonderful baby shower. I've the privilege of calling both the grandmother-to-be and the expectant mom my friend. You see, I met them both when they first came to my church - back when the mom to be was eight years old.

Sigh.

A whole crop of the young ladies who were my charges in AWANA when they were eight and nine years old are now married and having children at a rather quick pace. A quick survey of the kids who were part of the program the years that I was a leader shows at least ten kids, and three more (that I know of) on the way.

There is a special joy in this, even for a non-parent like me. These young parents have, for the most part, been faithful to what they have been taught, walking out their beliefs moment-to-moment. They are setting an example for these little people, in the hope that they, too, will come to a life of faith.

While I will play no part personally in handing down my physical genetic make up, I hope I've played a part in handing down my faith. If that's true, I can live with the grey hair, aches and pains.

With fairly short notice for this shower, I did not have time to make even a small baby quilt, and for that, I'm thankful. Chris was able to give to her daughter Kim a baby quilt that was made for Kim by the women of the church Chris and her husband attended back when Chris was pregnant with her. Every other square is signed by the women who encouraged and helped Chris with her first pregnancy. Several of the women who signed that quilt were at the shower.

As I said, these young people are popping out kids with abandon. A month from now, I've the joy of going to a baby shower for another very special young woman.

Note to self: Get hair colored before then...

All we need are the peanuts and cotton candy

The circus is in town this week, or at least touring the state. All five remaining serious contenders for party presidential nominations are in Wisconsin, thanks to our only-in-the-nation-that-day primary coming up next Tuesday.

The three Rs (who bear nothing at all in common with readin, 'riting and 'rithmatic) are having a "town hall" about a mile from campus tonight. I'm half expecting Trump to take offense at some point during the proceedings, walking off the stage in a huff. Given that he hung up on a local conservative talk show host yesterday, I think a walk-off is a possibility.

While I was off last week, I intended to drop in to City Hall to early vote. That never happened. The new plan is to go after work tonight. While I feel a responsibility to do my civic duty, I find the choices available less than stellar, and feel a low level of repugnance for the whole process.

On the bright side, while it may be a circus, I know the Ringmaster and trust Him. Will He give us what we need - or let us get what we deserve? Either way, I know He has a plan, a long range, all encompassing plan in which this election is a small, small point.

Keep reminding me of that, would you?

Sunday morning

Friday afternoon

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Matthew 27:45 - 54

Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah 53:11 - 12

Blessings

It's always fun when you see God making provisions in your life for what is important.

I sponsor a sweet little girl in El Salvador through Compassion International. In addition to a very low monthly payment that provides the basics of the program (which is really awesome - check it out!), I have an opportunity every year to provide additional gifts, including Christmas and birthday gifts.

When I chose Idalia, I had just a few criteria: 1. A child who had been waiting a long time for a sponsor, 2. A girl, and 3. Someone who shared my January 8th birthday (so I wouldn't forget).

Silly me, I didn't factor in that because of the time involved in getting the funds transferred and gifts purchased (you send the cash to Compassion, who sends it to the center your child attends, who then buy gifts locally - and you always get a picture later of your child with their gifts - such fun!), that I would have to decide on and pay for the gifts in October, the one month of the year my expenses are heaviest.

This year wasn't looking good, and I wasn't sure I'd have the extra cash I needed beyond enough for the basic Christmas gift. But I didn't figure in God.

When I went to set up the payment for my utility bill this morning, I discovered it was the end of the budget billing period. My settlement balance? A $16 credit. I owe them nothing this month.

The amount I didn't have to pay for utilities on the budget this month is pretty much exactly what I needed to match the gifts I made last year for Christmas, Idalia's birthday and a family gift (funds are used for things Idalia's family needs).

How cool is that?

The morning after

Well, we are all here this morning, how about that?

The clouds cleared over southeastern Wisconsin last night just in time for most of the harvest-moon, super-moon, blood-moon, fourth-blood-moon-in-the-tetrad deathstar performance.

I could see a bit of it out the upstairs window, though obscured by a tree. Never did see any red color - it really just looked as if the moon went behind a symmetrical, very, very slow moving cloud, then crept out the other side of it. Honestly, the moon setting this morning was more spectacular, bright white against a deep blue morning sky.

There is a subset of my friends who, though for the most part very rational, have been anticipating this event with an almost unholy amount of glee. Predictions of economic collapse, signs in the sky and the rise of a one world power abounded. Pretty much anything can be twisted to fit their narrative (the stock market decline weeks ago was hailed as the economic collapse they anticipated, even though "it happened earlier than they expected" - yeah, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, people).

I love my friends, and when they start on this, I mostly nod and smile and change the subject. But inside my head...

Seriously, dude?

Scripture is very, very clear that no one knows the timing of the end except God. It's not that there are hidden "codes" in the Bible that will point the super smart, holy people to the exact timing of everything, it's that the time simply has not, and will not be revealed ahead of time.

Paul wrote the following to Titus:

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ

Titus 2:11 - 13

Paul is clear that we are waiting for the return of Jesus. But he is equally clear on what we should be doing while we wait, and it has nothing to do with scouring Scripture and ancient writings for "proof" that the world will end on such-and-such a day, or that certain contemporary world events are sure signs of an imminent end.

What does he say we should do?

Live like you follow Christ, not the world. Work on your faith, root out any persistent sin, steep yourself in the truths about God revealed in His word. Live out your faith rather than just giving lip service.

Time is much better spent that way than in idle speculation.

The complexities of modern life

My niece graduated from college this spring, just a month or so after her thirtieth birthday, after taking years of night school while working full time. She has a double major in business management and human resource management.

Apparently, finishing school has left her...stressed. Second guessing whether or not she truly wants what she thought she did from life. On Facebook tonight, she posted the following:

"It's amazing what a conversation with your parents can do to make you less stressed."

I couldn't help myself. My reply:

"LOL, given the state of the modern family, I kind of have to ask - *which* parents, parental groupings or combination of random parents?"

Let's see if I can explain this in a coherent fashion. My sister and my nieces' father divorced shortly after my niece was born. My sister remarried, and her new husband is a great guy, who happened to have a daughter from his first marriage about the same age as my niece. The girls spent every other weekend together growing up, and have a close, wonderful relationship. So this is parental set #1 and #2 - biological parents and mom and stepdad.

My niece's biological dad also remarried. Twice, actually. My niece has half siblings from both those marriages (honestly, the kids all get along great together, and my current brother-in-law and my former brother-in-law hung around together for a while (neither had known the other prior to all this)), and one ex-stepmom and and a current stepmom on that side. These are parental sets #3 (dad and stepmom #1) and #4 (dad and current stepmom).

Can you wonder why I had to ask?

Everyone involved, as far as I can tell, get along fairly well (it's worth noting my sister and BIL have been married over 25 years now, I think, and former BIL and his current wife have been together somewhere between 15 and 20 years). It may be a little insane, but it works, much better than many similar situations do. The whole family is extremely blessed in that.

I can't help but feel a bit of melancholy, though. As well as it works, as supportive of each other as everyone can be, this isn't God's design for an ideal family. Obviously it can work, but it works in spite of the complications of the relationships that spring from broken relationships, not because of them. As we continue to travel down the road away from the values that God had enumerated in Scripture, away from His ideal, the complexities arising from what we have created are going to collapse under their own weight. And that won't be pretty.

Oh - the answer to my question? Mom and stepdad.

Good work

I shared this over on Facebook, but wanted to elaborate a bit on my thoughts.

The linked article is a bit old, but deals with reaction to Shia LaBeouf's conversion to Christianity last year, and his continued potty mouth, even when describing the event.

The money quote from the article:

"It’s even worse when Christians expect instant holiness from recent converts..."

It's no wonder people resist the idea of coming to Christ. We preach total acceptance by Christ, "just as you are" - yet as soon as someone professes faith, we expect their behavior to change overnight.

God is a deeply personal god. He knows every bit of my history, my darkest thoughts, the things that make me happy or drive me to despair, the things I don't even want to admit to myself. He understands exactly where and how I'm broken. He forgives my sin, past, present and future, and commits to working in me to conform me more to the likeness of Christ.

Don't you think we should let Him work on us in His time, in the areas He sees our greatest need? That area and that timing are as personal as His knowledge of us. For some, the heart attitude needs to change before behavior will change. For others, the change of heart follows after the outward change of behavior. It's different for each one of us - and that is exactly as it should be.

Rather than picking at people, or even questioning the validity of their faith, we should be celebrating the work of God in their lives. Instead of scolding someone for continuing to swear, we should be asking. "So how is God working in you today?" Encourage growth, but let God choose the class schedule and curriculum.

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:3 - 6

The "good work" that God is doing is that of transforming our lives. Rejoice with one another that He continues to work individually, personally in us.

Pray for that work to bear fruit in our lives.

Fat Tuesday

Or Shrove Tuesday ("shrove" comes from the old English "shrive", which has to do with confession of sins and asking of absolution), Pancake Day (based on an old pagan holiday where pancakes symbolized the sun, and the object of eating pancakes was to help the gods to usher in spring) or Mardi Gras (a belief in drinking and partying until you wake up with a killer headache and no memory of the previous three days)(but technically the name for the day spent eating the fatty, rich foods one is giving up for Lent).

As a Catholic university, we lean towards the "Shrove Tuesday" definition (at least officially - the students may have a different perspective). We have a long tradition in our office of...food. Every quarter or so we have a donut day for the entire department, held alternately in our building or a couple of blocks away, where the student services section contingent works. It seemed a natural to have this quarter's mixer on Fat Tuesday.

In Milwaukee, in addition to other places around the country with a larger Polish immigrant population, there is an additional sweet incentive for the day: paczki. The link will provide an explanation along with a mouth-watering picture. I'm not much for filled doughnuts, nor for things covered in powdered sugar (I've been to New Orleans twice, soon to be three times, and have yet to have a beignet), but for these, I'll make an exception.

If you take a look at the recipe at the end of the link, you'll see why paczki are a fitting treat for Fat Tuesday: the dough, with 20 egg yolks for four dozen doughnuts, is incredibly rich. The two traditional fillings are prune (actually quite tasty) and raspberry, but I see that Grebe's is offering a new flavor for the year that includes...bacon.

Whether your town offers true paczki, a smorgasbord of pancakes, hurricanes or a simple jelly filled doughnut, have a sweet treat today; Lent begins tomorrow.

On Christmas Eve

Not quite the picture you expected, given the post title, huh? The "Christmas Eve" portion of the day hasn't really begun for me just yet. By ten o'clock this morning, I'd been to the gas station ($2.23 a gallon; the station that had it for $2.19 wasn't open at five to six this morning), spent about two and a half hours at Panera having breakfast, journaling and organizing my thoughts, and gone to the bank to pay the property taxes.

Next up, printing out the recipes for the bounty in the refrigerator, some time in the studio, lunch and some more time in the studio. Then the fun began.

The picture is the chicken I mentioned in the prior post. The marinade smelled divine. As for cutting out the backbone, well, let's just say I need better cooking shears.

So that is done and marinating. The chicken bits - the packet of miscellaneous parts from inside the chicken plus the removed backbone - are simmering in a pot of water along with some aromatics in hopes of getting a nice, healthy broth. The turkey thighs are in the oven, roasting away for eventual use in soup.

Naturally, the kitchen smells like Lysol. Had to disinfect that counter, you know.

I'm taking a short break before mixing up the pizza crust dough. It only rises once, for 1 1/2 to two hours; I'm sure that in my little kitchen, with the oven's residual heat, it will take less time.

Once the dough is rising, I can start celebrating. A glass of wine, a fire, reading the Christmas account and the various prophecies that go along with it. Reflecting on the audacity of God's plan - to provide a way for us to be free of His justified wrath against sin by entering humanity Himself, a tiny baby at the mercy of His creation. As always, He surprised everyone, not coming as a conquering King, but as a servant and sacrifice.

God rest ye, merry gentlemen
Let nothing ye dismay.
Remember, Christ, our Savior
Was born on Christmas day.
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy.
O tidings of comfort and joy.

From God our Heavenly Father
A blessed Angel came;
And unto certain Shepherds
Brought tidings of the same.
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy.
O tidings of comfort and joy.

"Fear not then," said the Angel,
"Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Savior
Of a pure virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan's power and might.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy.
O tidings of comfort and joy.

Merry Christmas

Yearning for streets of gold

The band at my church tends to make fun of country music, in that annoying, overly-ironic wanna-be hipster way (no offense meant;  I'm just feeling my age today). But sometimes, there are sentiments that only a country melody and a talented baritone can fully express.

Yearning for heaven today.

Mansion Over the Hilltop

I'm satisfied with just a cottage below
A little silver and a little gold
But in that city where the ransomed will shine
I want a gold one that's silver lined

I've got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that Bright land where we'll never grown old
And some day yonder we will never more wander
But walk on the streets that are purest gold.

Don't think me poor or deserted or lonely
I'm not discouraged, I'm heaven bound
I'm but a pilgrim in search of a city
I want a mansion, a harp and a crown.

I've got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that Bright land where we'll never grown old
And some day yonder we will never more wander
But walk on the streets that are purest gold.

Written by Ira F. Stanphill

What goes around...

When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.

Revelation 6:7-8

In 1918 - 1920, the Spanish Flu killed 50 million people. While contemporaneous records of this particular type were not kept back then, estimates indicate that up to a third of the world's population at the time were infected - the math would indicate, then, that anywhere from 3 - 6% of the world's population died in this pandemic. In smaller countries where medical treatment wasn't as advanced, death rates as a percentage of population were much higher: in Samoa, the disease killed 20% of the population in just two months.

So naturally, someone decided it would be a grand idea to recreate that virus in a lab today.

It does strike me as a bit odd that this research is being conducted just down the road in Madison, yet I found out about it only through an article in a British publication.

This same scientist previously did research on the H5N1 virus - a strain of avian flu that is deadly to humans, but thankfully, not easily passed from person to person. The point of his research? To make it more easily transmissible.

His is not the only study, by any means, and certainly not the first. Since the early 2000s victims of the pandemic have been dug up (preferably those who died in northern climes, where their bodies remained frozen) for samples, and the bits and pieces of the virus isolated, mutated and studied.

Even other scientists don't agree that this is a good idea. From the linked article:

“This is a risky activity, even in the safest labs. Scientists should not take such risks without strong evidence that the work could save lives, which this [study] does not provide,” Professor Lipsitch said.

Robert Kolter, professor of microbiology at Harvard Medical School, said: “The scientists doing this work are so immersed in their own self-aggrandisement, they have become completely blind to the irresponsibility of their acts. Their arguments in favour of such work, i.e. increase ability for surveillance, remain as weak as ever.”

I'm not against scientific inquiry by any means, but I do think that we need to pay a whole lot more attention to the moral, ethical and common sense aspects of any given quest. The question should not just be "can we..." but "should we...". The most secure lab in the world cannot stop one fruitcake bent on mayhem.

One is all it takes.

I'm willing to bet that the "pestilence" portion of the destruction of a quarter of the world's population will be via something "accidentally" released from a research lab.

Good Morning Girls

For a few years now I've participated in a group using the Bible studies from Good Morning Girls. It's a great encouragement to spend time in the Word on a daily basis alongside other women. While there are in-person groups, most, including ours, are done on-line, through private Facebook groups.

The study for this next eight weeks is based on the book You Are Loved, by Sally Clarkson and Angela Perritt.

Each day GMG provides wonderful graphics for the on-line leaders to use on the group pages, along with blog posts and videos to share.

Early this week, at the start of this new study, a large number of leaders were suddenly locked out of their facebook groups, unable to post. No real reason was given by Facebook, other than an "unlock" date a week or more in the future. Our leader was one of those locked out. Since I was already planning to step in for her a week or so during the study due to her schedule, I have access to the graphics and have been posting on her behalf.

It's frustrating for everyone involved, but at the same time, it's an incredible confirmation that this particular study is important - enough so that the forces of evil are trying to upset it.

This week's memory verse gives just a glimpse of not only how much God loves us, but how much He delights in us:

How incredible is it that God is not only with us, but greatly delights in us, comforts us with His love and sings over us?

If you have the inclination, please pray for a swift resolution to the Facebook attacks, and protection from further disruption. The studies will go on.

Friday

It doesn't seem right.

The sun is shining brightly on grass that is just starting to green up. Birds are singing in the trees. While the breeze is still a bit nippy, the air smells fresh and new.

This is the day we remember the horrific sacrifice made on our behalf, to pay our debt.

It's difficult to be somber on the first truly spring like day after an extended, difficult winter. But while this is a day off for many people, it's scarcely a "holiday". Self examination, rather than celebration, should be the response to the remembrance of Christ's sacrifice. Our sin, my sin, - past, present and most ashamedly future - paid for by the sinless Lamb of God. Incalculable grace and mercy rained down on the undeserving.

It doesn't seem right that the sky isn't weeping, that the day isn't gloomy and the wind piercing. Even after all this time, the weight of the remembrance of all that sin should surely cause all nature to break out in groaning, the earth even to give up its dead as it did that afternoon two thousand years ago.

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Matthew 27:45 - 54

I was Christian when Christian wasn't cool

What he said.

h/t to Tim Challies.

I'd go a couple of steps beyond the author of the linked piece, and state that it's not only some pastors that are obsessed with looking "cool", but some churches and some entire congregations.

I'm not advocating turning away the fashionably dressed, or the too-hip-to-even-be-called-hipsters, nor eschewing a particular church because they have a coffee bar. Rather, I'd question those whose commitment to the faith is less than their commitment to the latest glasses frame shape.

We are not of this world. -John 17:14 - 16

We are not to conform to this world -Romans 12:2

We are not to work to please people, but to please God. -Galatians 1:10

There is more, but you get the point. We should not be as concerned with our outward appearance as with the faith we profess.

Note I'm not saying we should all go around in 70's polyester with sky high teased hair (though if you want to, I'm okay with that). A clean, put together appearance is expected. It's when we care more about the image we project than the One whose character we are supposed to reflect that we get into trouble.

When people look at you, which speaks louder, the character of Christ in you, or the clothes on you?

Veiled in flesh

A day or so ago I finally had the opportunity to sit for a few minutes with Christmas carols running on Pandora. While I've had them playing in the background at work, this was my first chance to truly pay attention, to savor the meaning behind the melody.

I was thinking it was past time to get up and continue cleaning, when an old favorite came on. "One more song," I thought. Sitting back down, I started singing along. We reached the second verse.

I came totally undone.

Christ by highest heav'n adored,
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of the Virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see.
Hail the incarnate Deity.
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.

So much of the usual talk around Christmas centers on the Baby in the manager, the salvation that men when God stepped into His creation to provide a way for us to reconcile to Him.

But have you considered what Christ gave up to come here?

All the heavenly creatures knew who He was, and worshiped Him constantly. His glory shown out, the glory of the true and everlasting God. He spoke, and worlds came into being, sustained by His will.

Yet He chose to step into His own creation, to put aside His glory and take on flesh, becoming fully man while remaining fully God. Not only does He enter the human world in human form, but He arrives as the most fragile of creatures - a baby.

While Mary and Joseph undoubtedly were given an extra measure of grace to manage the day-to-day care of the baby King, they were still...human. First-time parents as well. Can you imagine God incarnate sitting waiting with a soaked diaper for a change? He who could call the angels to do His bidding, waiting on busy parents for so basic a need.

His humiliation did not begin with His arrest and trial.

Yet in spite of knowing all that was ahead, from dirty diapers through an ignominious death, He still chose to come.

He loves us that much.

Mild, He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.

Hark, the herald angels sing, 
Glory to the newborn King!

Merry Christmas, all.

Waiting

Is there anything more tedious than waiting for software to download? I'm installing Office 2013 on the new desktop (the old one - at over 5 years, ancient by PC standards - has finally given up the ghost), periodically checking the download screen, which insists "You can use Office now", while the little bar crawls across the bottom of the screen along with the message "We're wrapping things up - please stay online as we make some finishing touches".

We are a people who increasingly hate to wait. The line at the fast food place never moves quickly enough. The grocery check out is interminable (especially this time of year). The two seconds to open an app on our phones is two seconds too long.

The only time we seem willing to wait is on the night before Black Friday, when hundreds of people line up out in the cold for hours ahead of the opening time. Or worse yet, camp out overnight.

Advent is, at its core, a time of waiting. A time of anticipation.

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God."

Luke 1:26 - 35

Mary didn't find out about her pregnancy at six weeks or two months along - she found out about it as the child was conceived in her. She and Joseph had a full nine months of waiting, of bearing up under the whispers, the innuendo, the outright condemnation that would have been heaped on Mary for becoming pregnant before marriage. Pregnant, as she insisted, with no action at all on her part.

Waiting.

Waiting to greet this baby, this child who was all man, and all God. Wondering what plan God had, to send His own Son to earth as a fragile, dependent baby.

Are you waiting for Christmas? Not waiting for the kids' pageant, the carolers, the special feast. But for the celebration of one of the most wondrous events in history: the coming of God into His creation.

Savor it. Yearn for it.

Wait for it.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

It's been years since I last watched A Charlie Brown Christmas. Poor Charlie Brown - depressed, missing the meaning of the season.

Truth is, I see a lot of myself in Charlie.

It is incredibly difficult to find signs of the true meaning of Christmas in the bustling and busyness of the four weeks or so between Thanksgiving and Christmas. In the cartoon, each character displays a different aspect of what we consider holiday spirit.

Snoopy slaps as many lights and gee-gaws on his doghouse as possible, hoping to win a prize for best decorations. Rerun is obsessed with the girl who sits behind him in class, striving in vain to get her address and name (which she changes every day) in order to send a card. Lucy is focused on her list for Santa.

The odd thing is that Linus up and gives the true meaning of the season near the beginning:

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

 “Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Luke 2:8 - 14

The cartoon is truly an odd conglomeration of Scripture and secular traditions. There is more of the Bible quoted -and accurately quoted, without any "creative" editing - than in any Christmas special I've seen in the last ten years. If the cartoon weren't considered a "classic", they would edit it out. In fact, the network made much during the advertising that the show would be run "in its entirety". As I recall from previous years, the content edited out to make room for more ads was generally Linus quoting the Luke passage.

Yet ACBC ends up the same place most secular holiday tales end: Christmas is about love.

Well yes, Christmas is about love, but not our love for ourselves or our neighbors. It's about the unconditional, unearned, freely given love of God for His errant creation. It's about the sacrifice of Someone for those who do not deserve it. It's the unfathomable - God not only taking on human form, but arriving as humans do, fragile, hungry, wailing.

Good news indeed.

Yet another compelling reason to get right with God

Randy Alcorn scoured Scripture for years, studying, cross referencing and meditating on what is said about heaven. The end result, in addition to deeper understanding of what it will be like, is the realization that we should be thinking about heaven now, and aligning our actions and attitudes to reflect an eternal perspective.

I'd highly recommend his book Heaven, as a starting point, or the daily blog posts on his ministry website, Eternal Perspectives Ministry.

In today's blog post, Randy asks a question that strikes to the very heart of our thinking about heaven:

Will we drink coffee on the New Earth?

True to his ongoing research, Randy offers a balanced, Scripture-based response to a question I, at least, really, really want to know the answer to.