Happy New Year

A few of you might have noticed and even fewer of you might have cared that I didn't write a blog yesterday for the last Sunday of the year.  Since Advent is over and that was technically the start of a New Christian year I have decided to do something different this year.  Rather than writing a weekly blog on the Lectionary, I am going to work on bigger projects and post them perhaps in episodes like they used to release articles and such, like Sherlock Holmes.  That is a weird example, but its the only thing I can think of currently which was first released as magazine articles.

I thought I had a document on my computer of papers I wanted to write and topics to consider once I finished seminary, but I can't find it.  So, for now the first topic is yet to be set.  But if you know me these will probably be researched and footnoted and the like. If you have any suggestions of topics please let me know.  So far, my very first blog topic was marriage and I have also written a post on the Christian Calendar so I won't be doing those again.  I hope this a suitable arrangement for all of you my readers, and we can learn, dialogue and think theologically and biblically this year.

Happy New Year, God Bless, and Grace and Peace.

Advent week 4

Psalm: Luke 1:46-55

Old Testament: Micah 5:2-5

Gospel: Luke 1:39-45

Epistle: Hebrews 10:5-10

As I type this, half my family, (the women) are at a baby shower for my cousins’ baby.  Many people understand what it means to wait for the birth a baby.  We have showers, paint the baby room, and set the crib up.  Christmas time is often just viewed as a baby story; a time to celebrate cute babies, and pink bows, and tiny cute feet.  But is it more than that? The answer is yes and no.

This will again be a shorter reflection since I am in Redding with the family and it is a bit crazy over here.  Yet, I always enjoy writing these, so I persevere through all the madness.

Advent week 3

Psalm: Isaiah 12:2-6 
Old Testament: Zephaniah 3:14-20

Gospel: Luke 3:7-18
Epistle: Philippians 4:4-7

Well, I write this blog today with a change of scenery. I am currently in San Diego, but in the next week and a half we are getting all the highlights of California: Disneyland, Sacramento, Yosemite, the central coast, Santa Rosa, and finally Redding. So we will be busy.  Oh yeah, this afternoon we’re going to the true happiest place on earth, the San Diego Zoo, so this blog will be short.

Advent week 2

Psalm: Luke 1:68-79

Old Testament: Malachi 3:1-4
Gospel: Luke 3:1-6
Epistle: Philippians 1:3-11

Welcome to the second week of Advent.  It finally feels like winter over here and we are both freezing when we go outside.  Still no snow, though.  Last week, we explored the idea of waiting during this Advent season.  I ended with the statement that we are not just to wait quietly and passively for Jesus’ return, but we are to serve God and be about his business.  So this week, I want to explore the idea of preparation.  As we wait, we are to be preparing the way of the Lord.