Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:13-14

Merry Christmas!

The secular world has now pretty much finished up with Christmas.  The radio stations will phase out the Christmas music and return to their normal programming.  The emails from retailers are now about “getting the stuff you really wanted instead of what you got” sales.  The decorations will start coming down and shelves are filled with Valentine’s Day hearts.

Yet Christmas continues.  It is a season and a celebration of a significant event that continues to guide us (or at least it should).

When the heavenly host of angels proclaimed glory to God, they also offered peace to all (after all, God’s favor is for all).  It is our mission to spread that peace. 

As we travel through this Christmas season, be peace for those around you.  Offer grace to the underpaid and overworked retail clerks.  Give peace to those who are harried and under pressure.  Grant peace to those in your household.  Be peace for all around you.

May you enjoy this Christmas season,

Pastor Bill

²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,because he will save his people from their sins.” ²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:20-23

Have you ever had a dream that was more than a dream?  Has God spoken to you in dreams?  Have you had a dream that inspired you to go above and beyond?

Throughout the bible we read of God speaking to people in dreams, either directly or through an angel (a Messenger of God).  These messages are important and, when followed, usually lead the person towards a greater purpose.

God may be trying to speak to you through angels, through strangers, through loved ones, and even through your dreams.  Keep alert, keep aware and pay attention to these things.  You never know, God might just be calling you to something special.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19

Hopefully you recognize this scripture from the prophet Isaiah (I used it last week).  It is important for us to open our eyes to new possibilities instead of vainly clinging onto the things of old that just did not work or no longer work for us (notice what I said there, things that did not work or no longer work for us).  Even back in the days of the Hebrew Scriptures, God was telling the people to look ahead, look towards something new instead of dwelling on the past. 

This does not mean to ignore or forget our past, for it is important, but to not dwell on the old things that do not work (or never worked), the old things that brought us hurt (we need to heal then move forward), or the “way we used to do it.”  God is doing something new in our lives.

Recently there is a lot of speculation on the future of the D.C. Comics movie universe.  The “DCEU” was a failure.  While there were some good movies and some good portrayals of iconic characters like Superman and Wonder Woman, the overall output did not live up to the potential of the possibilities.  New leadership is making plans to change everything, and the comic book movie world is buzzing.  Unfortunately, because nobody yet knows the plan, everyone is making things up.  Will Henry Cavil remain as Superman? 

Will Gal Gadot be Wonder Woman?  Who will be Batman? 

It is amazing that thousands of people will watch a YouTube post that tells us nothing new, rather than an inspiring post that could change their lives. 

It is also amazing that so many will argue with the new plan (which has not been released yet) because it changes the old thing so many want (even though everyone admits it did not work). 

Unfortunately, the church works the same way.  We often get so wrapped up in the old ways of doing things that we miss out on what God is doing right now.  We miss the opportunity to meet God today and grow in our faith.  We miss opportunities to help someone else see God’s love in action and instead drive them away.

We can be different.  We can be better.  We can be the community we are called to be and this is where the scriptures help.  We read them, not to create lists of rules, rather to be inspired as we read what God has done and look to what God is doing in front of us.  Let’s try to do this.  As you continue your Advent journey, open your eyes, minds and hearts to see what God has done, is doing and will do. 

Peace,

Pastor Bill

This is what the Lord says—he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, ¹⁷ who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: ¹⁸ “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. ¹⁹ See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. ²⁰ The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, ²¹the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise. Isaiah 43:16-21

Advent is about new beginnings.  It marks the beginning of a new church year, it marks the beginning of a festive season, and it can be the beginning of something new for you as well.  Advent looks back to the promises of God, looks forward to the ultimate return of the Lord, and guides us in celebrating the birth of Jesus.  And it is a time of new starts.

Isaiah is reminding the people of God not to forget what has happened, after all our past is important and we should always remember those who came before us, rather he is saying “do not dwell on the past.”  This has always been a problem for people.  We get so caught up in the “good old days” that we do not see the good happening before us right now.  We complain about how things were better “back then” while ignoring the problems of that time.

Personally, I am in a new beginning as I start a new ministry.  It is a great opportunity to live this passage as I guide a congregation into their new beginnings. 

What about you?  What new beginning are you in right now?  Can you look at your life and give thanks for the good things of the past as you embrace a new change?  It might not be anything huge, it might be the time for you to start something good.  Look around, what new thing is God doing in your life today?

Peace,

Pastor Bill