Sunday, November 28, 2010

Advent Season 2010

advent wreath
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Thanksgiving Day has come and gone and we get to enjoy the leftovers for a few more days.  College footballs regular season is over with conference championships and bowl games to be played and enjoyed over the next few weeks. Black Friday sales were pursued by many helping shoppers with gifts and presents to be enjoyed over the next months and years. Yes, the Holiday Season is upon us.
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Advent Season has also come, it starts today.  The word advent is based on the Latin word adventus meaning "arrival" or "approach". The Advent Season is a time, a four week window leading up to Christmas Day, when Christians focus on the arrival of Christ through His birth in Bethlehem.  Christians in many traditions are also reminded of His anticipated second arrival. (aka the Second Coming of Christ) and the eternal consequences facing believers and non-believers.
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The Advent Conspiracy was an idea which has turned into a movement of sorts.  It was started in 2006 by five pastors whose desire was to help people in their communities do four things;

Worship Fully
Spend Less
Give More
Love All

Not a bad thing to consider as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ.
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Grace & Peace

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Thanksgiving 2010

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  Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth. 
    Serve the LORD with gladness;
         Come before Him with joyful singing. 
    Know that the LORD Himself is God;
         It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
         We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 
    Enter His gates with thanksgiving
         And His courts with praise 
         Give thanks to Him, bless His name. 
    For the LORD is good;
         His lovingkindness is everlasting
         And His faithfulness to all generations.
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Todays news headlines do not often inspire a person towards happiness and good spirits. Our busy lives can also add to the challenges in showing gratitude, giving thanks and to more fully appreciating that which we have. Thanksgiving Day in the United States is a great reminder to a nations citizens to pause and give thanks; a reminder we truly need each and every day we wake up.

I am reminded of the hymn "Count Your Blessings" by Johnson Oatman Jr. which contains a chorus which serves as a reminder to something we should all endeavor to perform every day.
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"Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done."
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What have you been blessed with today? This week? This month? This year?
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Grace & Peace

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Veterans Day 2010

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"On Veterans Day, we come together to pay tribute to the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces. Americans across this land commemorate the patriots who have risked their lives to preserve the liberty of our Nation, the families who support them, and the heroes no longer with us. It is not our weapons or our technology that make us the most advanced military in the world; it is the unparalleled spirit, skill, and devotion of our troops. As we honor our veterans with ceremonies on this day, let our actions strengthen the bond between a Nation and her warriors."
Presidential Proclamation Nov 2010
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Grace & Peace