Christ is Born....

The message for us from Mary & Elizabeth is in their faith that God's favor was resting upon them. Joy is resting in the truth that God's favor and love are present in the Coming of Jesus.

Joy in Judgement?!? Yes - Judgement is not about fleeing to safety, as so many have been wrongly taught, like we're evacuating a fire. It's about transformation. Jesus came to transform our lives, not help us escape. Repentance is changing your mind, your way of life, here, now... To this good news, in Luke 3:7-18, the people ask, "So, what should we do (here, now)?" and were invited into both personal and systemic repentance and action to bring God's kingdom to earth in their daily lives. Joy is not just a good feeling. It is a deep knowledge that all shall be well. Judgement is joyful because all will be made right! Judgement brings good justice and we can participate that here, now!

12/5 - Peace can be so hard to find. Remember though, that every single story is a story of God seeking His people. Someday there will be peace on earth! Phil. 1:3-11

Hope. Apocolypse. Those don't seem to go together but Apocalypse doesn't mean scary, doom to come as so many have taught. It means revealing to reveal. That's very different! Christ will reveal - show, the hope that is coming in Christ who was, who is and who is to come.

A flourishing community of faith gives attention to 4 things. Acts 2:42-47

What if our discipleship was more about who we are instead of what we do. Wasting time just might be the best use of our time.... James 4:13-17

Ecclesiastes 5:10-20 - It's better to learn how to think, not what to think - how to be, not how to act... Everything we have and are comes from God and is gift. What is our relationship to money? 

The beginning of our journey - following Jesus into a new life....

Shema Israel - The Lord your God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.... And in Leviticus - Love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus repeats these to His listeners and to us. It's all summed up by Love God, Love Others. The End. The church's purpose is to follow this; to work for God's glory and neighbors good.