Christmas
Today we celebrate the birth of theology; the light of the world built a home in out shadow lands. This is the fulfillment of advent. We give gifts because we have been given much. We feast because the bread of life calls us all to the table. We share life because the darkness is being pushed back and life is teaching us love.
“Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee o Israel.”
From the archives: Advent: what it is and why we wait
Advent is the time we wait for this coming and all it’s implications. Advent is when we wait for the dignity of humanity to be restored. Advent is when we wait for shalom (the overarching peace, harmony, and health of all things in the cosmos) to be renewed. Advent is when we wait for the culpable violation and rape of shalom to finally be judged and for all to be once and for all set right. Advent is when we wait for Jesus who came in a manger and is coming again in majesty, glory, and power.
Why waiting though? Why does the Church year begin with this season of waiting, unfulfillment, longing? Why not begin with Christmas time, easter, something more joyous that the haunting emptiness of waiting?
A good Advent resource
Jason Vana is this random dude on the internet that I met and have come to consider a friend. He heads up a group called Ignite. He also is one of those design type people.
For advent (which starts tomorrow FYI) he has put together a devotional book/calendar that is defiantly worth your time and energy to check out. You can down load them free here. I’ve looked over the book, and am very excited to walk through Advent with this resource…well, try to anyways. I usually get about a week in and then suddenly it’s New Years. Like three or four weeks just disappear in a blink of an eye.
So, what resources are you using to celebrate and explore this Advent season?
Father, Husband, Theological Dreamer, Web Designer, Photographer, Coffee Chugger... Jesus obsessed & dreaming of a better Christianity. It's kind of like listening to a cross between guerrilla radio and a street corner prophet with a bad case of tourettes.
