Observing Advent

Yesterday, Sunday November 27, marked the beginning of Advent. Advent means coming or arrival. We celebrate the First Advent of Christ while we anticipate the Second Advent. As the church celebrates God's breaking into history in the Incarnation, we also anticipate the consummation of history for which "all creation is groaning awaiting its redemption." In between these events the church confesses and expresses our responsibility to love God passionately and to love our neighbor genuinely.

Advent is filled with longing and preparation. We yearn for our deliverance from the present evil age. We long for the injustice of this world to be made right. We strain daily to overcome the curse of sin. We work out out our own salvation with fear and with trembling.  Our hope is in the return of Christ.

So, in observation of Advent, I share with you a reading plan. I found this selection of reading concerning Christ's first and second comings. I hope you enjoy reading them along with me this year.

Peace,
Stan

Day & Date	First Coming	2nd Coming/ Prophetic Lit
Sun, Nov 27th	Matt 1-2	Deut 32
Mon, Nov 28th	John 1	Deut 33
Tues, Nov 29th	Luke 1-2	Psalm 2, 24
Weds, Nov 30th	Luke 3-4	Psalm 47, 48
Thurs, Dec 1st	Luke 4-5	Psalm 72, 75
Fri, Dec 2nd	Luke 6-7	Psalm 110, 118
Sat, Dec 3rd	Luke 8-9	Song 5, 8
Sun, Dec 4th	Luke 10-11	Isaiah 2, 4
Mon, Dec 5th	Matt 1-2, John 1	Isaiah 9, 11
Tues, Dec 6th	Luke 12-13	Isaiah 24, 25
Weds, Dec 7th	Luke 14-15	Isaiah 32, 35
Thurs, Dec 8th	Luke 16-17	Isaiah 40, 53
Fri, Dec 9th	Luke 18-19	Isaiah 62, 63
Sat, Dec 10th	Luke 20-21	Jer 25, 33
Sun, Dec 11th	Luke 22-24	Dan 2, 7
Mon, Dec 12th	Luke 1-2, John 1	Joel 2, 3
Tues, Dec 13th	John 2-3	Zeph 3, Hab 3
Weds, Dec 14th	John 3-4	Zech 13, 14
Thurs, Dec 15th	John 5-6	Mal 3, 4
Fri, Dec 16th	John 7-8	Matt 24, 25
Sat, Dec 17th	John 9-10	1 Cor 15, Heb 12
Sun, Dec 18th	John 11-12	2 Tim 3-4
Mon, Dec 19th	Matt 1-2, John 1	1 Thess 4, 5
Tues, Dec 20th	John 13-14	2 Thess 2, 3
Weds, Dec 21st	John 15-16	1 Pet 1, 2 Pet 3
Thurs, Dec 22nd	John 17-18	Rev 5-6
Fri, Dec 23rd	John 19-20	Rev 14-15
Sat, Dec 24th	John 21-22	Rev 19-20
Sun, Dec 25th	Matt 1-2, Luke 1-2	Rev 21-22

Staying Young

As a lead pastor of a local church, it is important for me to honor people of all ages. We honor those who are aging. They have sacrificed much to build our church and to bless our community and world. We are grateful for all they have done. We also glean from their experience and wisdom.

However, the we must also tap into the passion of the young. When Christ chose his closest followers to be with him constantly, he chose young men. Many church historians believe that most of the twelve were teenagers, when they started following Christ. As a church we must appeal to the youth. Not only are they the future, but they are also the present. The world belong to the young. In the same way Baby Boomers changed the world forever, today's young people will change the world again.

Last night I had the great privilege of speaking to a group of university students. After, Michelle and I went out to coffee with a small group from our church. It is obvious that those with experience and wisdom mesh with those with zeal, energy and new ideas. It is also a great way to stay young.

Older people spend too much time groaning about "young people these days." It is time to connect with young people and to believe in them. Christ left his earthly kingdom to a small group of young people to lead. Perhaps we should follow his example. Let's be the ones who invest in the future, instead of glorifying and holding on to the past.

Peace,

Stan