Saturday, December 26, 2009

Good News of Great Joy

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Isaiah 9:6
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And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
Luke 2:8-15
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May you become more aware of the grace and peace you have already been blessed with as we celebrate the birth of Christ and await the start of a new year.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Christmas Vacations 2009

Disney at Christmas time is quite a nice experience. The lights and decorations were incredible and the Candlelight Processional at EPCOT was very well done and quite enjoyable.
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Cinderella's Castle at the Magic Kingdom.
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Osborne Family Spectacle at Hollywood Studios.
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Sunday, December 13, 2009

Bellingrath Gardens Magic Christmas in Lights

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Saturday afternoon Matt, Katie, Tammy and I headed of to Bellingrath Gardens to enjoy the annual "Magic Christmas in Lights". The weather was a bit iffy but we were able to walk most of the evening without getting too wet. The rain did limit my picturing taking opportunities but I was still able to snap a couple decent images. Tammy & I definitely want to go back in the spring during daylight to walk the gardens. I added a web album with several of the other images I took during our visit.
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Grace & Peace

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Advent (the coming)

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"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." Matthew 2:1-2
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Possible route of the Magi from the East
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The details concerning the journey, route and circumstances of the magi from the East are few and some of what has become the traditional story of the "Three Wise Men" comes from sources outside the books of the New Testament. Taking just what is written in the book of Matthew 2:1-2 we get the basics of quite a story;
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-a location (Bethlehem in Judea)
-a time (the time of King Herod)
-a group (Magi from the East)
-a question (where is the one born king of the Jews?)
-a reason (we saw His star in the East)
-a purpose (to worship a king)
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Pretty amazing to consider that these Magi made decision to embark on a journey that could have taken months and covered a distance of hundreds of miles because of what they saw and interpreted in the sky. So as we live out the next few weeks of the Holiday Season and as we consider what the Christmas celebration means let us ask ourselves a few questions.
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What is guiding me today?
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What journey am I on this Christmas Season?
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What king am I going to worship?
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Grace & Peace