Archive - November, 2010

Advent Devotions: Christmas Lights

November 30, 2010 in Faith, Receptivity of God with 2 Comments

Read Romans 13:11-14

During this time of year the nights grow longer. That makes being a kid riding in a car pretty tough. Though it certainly helps when video and DVD players and iPods light up the night. As a kid during Christmas many times we would make the trek from Vermont to Pennsylvania to visit family. During that trip one of my favorite things to do was to look out my window and see the Christmas lights we’d see every once in a while.

From time to time as we make our way along God’s path through this Advent season we catch glimpses of the light of our heavenly home. These hints come to us as a favorite hymn or song in worship. They also come as a renewed awareness of the forgiveness, acceptance, and peace God offers through the pastor. They especially come as that wonderful taste of the heavenly feast when we celebrate the Sacrament of Christ’s body and blood.

These glimpses thrill our hearts and remind us of the wonderful place waiting for us. The lit candle on the Advent wreath-and the three that remain to be lit in the coming weeks remind us how little time is left to prepare for the day that is rapidly approaching. Paul reminds us of this same fact in our Bible reading today.

Like a beautifully lit house at Christmas time, Jesus shatters the darkness and fills us with the warmth of His glorious light. He is the Light of the world who came into the darkness and vanquished it through His suffering, death, and resurrection. And each of us who were reborn in His image in Baptism shine like stars in this dark night of sin, giving those who do not yet know Jesus Christ a brief glimpse of God’s love through our words, attitudes, and actions. How brightly are you shining in the crowded store aisles, in the long checkout lines, in the jammed parking lots, and on the busy roads?

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we would be Your lights, shining brightly in this dark and selfish world. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we may live as You choose, bringing the light of Christ’s love to this dark world. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Advent Devotions: Gathering

November 29, 2010 in Faith, Receptivity of God with 1 Comment

Read Isaiah 2:1-3a

Holidays are great fun, especially when brothers and sisters who are scattered across the country gather together for Christmas. Imagine getting a message from a family member in Michigan: “I can’t wait to spend Christmas with you at Mom’s!” Then you get an e-mail from a brother in California: “Looking forward to catching up when we get in for Christmas!” And then there’s a text from a third in North Carolina: “3 1 /2 wks & counting-can’t wait …” Our excitement builds when we realize we will be together again.

In this week’s Old Testament Lesson our brothers and sisters in Christ are excited to share a similar message with us: “Let’s go up to the house of God!” But it isn’t a once-a-year invitation just for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. This invitation is given to us every weekend. Their joy won’t be quite as full unless you are there with them!

One of the best examples of this is the National Lutheran Youth Gathering that was held in New Orleans during the summer of 2009. In the days, weeks, and months before the event you can bet texts, and e-mails were flying across the country among friends who were looking forward to spending the week together. And in the weeks after the get-together many more e-mails, texts, tweets, and posts crisscrossed the nation and the world: “That was so great! Wish we could do it again!” Now imagine a worldwide gathering that won’t end after a few days but will last forever! That’s heaven. I was completely amazed at how that one event changed the lives of so many youth.

It took a lot of hard work and planning by dozens of dedicated people to put the National Youth Gathering together. But to put our heavenly reunion together it took Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection: He suffered and died to take away our sins so we would be fit to come, and He is now preparing a place for us to stay eternally.

THE PRAYER: Lord, open my ears to hear my brothers and sisters calling me to join them, and let me join my voice with theirs. Especially lead me to call those who have not yet heard Your invitation. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

*Adapted from the LHM 2010 Advent Devotions

First Sunday in Advent Devotions

November 28, 2010 in Faith, Receptivity of God with 1 Comment

Read Psalm 122

Did you receive a Thanksgiving invitation this year? I guess all of us who regularly have the chance to gather with family and friends for the holidays take it for granted. The wonderful smells of the holiday meals, the laughter filling the house, and everybody catching up with events in each other’s lives make the holidays so special.

But today Thanksgiving weekend comes to an end and all those happy get- togethers must break up. Roads are packed with travelers scattering their separate ways. Of course in a few short weeks, we’ll hear a new invitation: “Come on up for Christmas!”

The church is sending out its own invitation this Advent. In the next few weeks people in churches all over will be decorating, learning parts for the Christmas pageant, and practicing anthems for Christmas Eve. We are doing all of this because we want to invite you to come on up for Christmas as together we will celebrate our Savior’s coming.

This invitation is unlike any other that you will receive. You will not have to worry about getting stuck at the kids table or not having enough mashed potatoes. There is room for all and your cup will overflow with wonder and amazement.

That’s what Advent is all about, and that’s what these Advent devotions are all about. We will recall why the Lord Jesus came down from heaven so long ago. We will recall that the only way we can call heaven our home was because Jesus took our guilt and sin upon Himself and suffered and died in our place. Then, putting our faith in Christ, we will join our brothers and sister in Jesus Christ in joyful expectation as we journey on together. So light the first Advent candle, and accept our invitation. Prepare the way of the Lord.

THE PRAYER: Gracious and Loving God, thank you for the opportunity to gather with family and friends. Thank you also for always being there for us even when we might not see you there. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Happy Thanksgiving

November 25, 2010 in Community, Miscellany with 1 Comment

Happy Thanksgiving from LGC!

Eat some turkey

Say your prayers

Have some fun!!!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmFfTJlIvhQ

Wordless Wednesday: Calumet 90′s

November 24, 2010 in Care for Names, Community, Faith with 1 Comment

Wordless Wednesday: Rhinoceros

November 17, 2010 in Family with 1 Comment

Amazing Crowder Video

November 14, 2010 in Miscellany with 1 Comment

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8cAU475dQo

This is the new video from the David Crowder Band called SMS (Shine). It recently was featured in Yahoo News! You can check out the article/blog post here. It really is an amazing work of art; they didn’t use any digital special effects, just a bunch of lite brites! In fact it took thousands of hours and over 700,000 lite brite pegs to make. Enjoy the video!!

Lutheran Websites

November 13, 2010 in Care for Names, Faith, Social Media with 3 Comments

There are three new Lutheran websites that this blog has been listed under. I wanted to share these resources with you since there are other Lutheran (and non Lutheran) blogs listed under them. If you want to see some of my favorite blogs check out the sidebar for those links. Over the next several months I will try and tell you more about my favorite blogs.

But for now here are the Lutheran websites for your enjoyment:

1. Living Lutheran – This is a new site run by the ELCA. There are stories about people living out their faith posted on the website. There is a great resource of Lutheran blogs, video’s and as well as other resources. On the website you will find posts on culture, and there will be plenty of conversations about what is happening in the world from a Lutheran perspective. I was a featured blogger on their website recently so you know it has to be good.

2. Lutheran Central — This Lutheran website was launched in 2000. However, after about a year the website was too much for one person to keep up so it stood dormant for a number of years. In January of 2009 the site came back to life and it is a great resources for people to use to keep up on all things Lutheran. Their goal is to connect Lutherans on the web and there is lots of information on it so check it out.

3. Theological Degrees Online — This is not a “Lutheran” site. This is a website that helps people find information about getting a theological degree. The website is run by Timothy Dalton. However, there is a post in his blog where he lists the Top 50 Lutheran Blogs and yours truly was listed number 12. So if you want to know what is happening in the Lutheran Blog world check out this post – also if you are interested in pursuing a theological degree check out other parts of the website.

Lots of great information on all of those websites. Check them out and feel free to link back so others can check them out as well. The more we can get connected online the better off we will all be.