Advent is a season of expectation. It is an annual reminder of the imminent return of Christ. Advent asserts that the 2nd coming is about to happen, or “at hand.” In the Apostle’s context, it is like being in a darkened room where the doorway to the light is within immediate reach. One’s groping hand will grasp the doorknob at any moment. That’s why Paul urges the Church at Philippi to rejoice, remain faithful, and be at peace. 

We will meet with Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, on the second Sunday of Advent. From him we will learn that God has a plan that will not change, no matter our circumstances. The covenant promises will be fulfilled.  The LORD may choose to shut us up for a time so we can focus on the right things. Then, like Zechariah, we can emerge with prophetic praise.

It's the first Sunday in Advent. You'll want to remember that Advent is mainly about the 2nd Coming of Christ and not so much a countdown to Christmas. This weekend we will meet Mary the virgin mother of Jesus - "For unto us a child is born; unto us a Son is given." Mary understood the true nature of her child and the magnificent, glorious plan the LORD unfolded in and through her.  Mary was the first Christian. Please plan to cap your holiday weekend with worship at Shiloh Church in the sanctuary a6 9:00 a.m. and the Life Center at 11:00 a.m. 

We finish our brief discussion about thanks-giving and praise on Sunday. Scripture refers to praise as a sacrificial offering. Honest reflection begs the question, "Why is praise a sacrifice?" Could it be that praising God costs us something? Putting valuable livestock or hard-earned money on the sacrificial altar is costly. Therefore, authentic praise should be too. When you worship God like you just can't help it, inhibition and pride diminish. Why is it so hard for most of "frozen chosen" to get there?

This two-part series will remind us that giving thanks is essential to our relationship with God. However, we must seriously consider what we are thankful for. Everyone benefits from daily thanks-giving, but holiness comes from thanking the LORD for His good and perfect gifts from above. 

A meditation on the hymn, “For all The Saints.”

Today we learn how God provides for every need, as long as we understand God knows what we need more than we do.

A series of messages about forgiveness would be incomplete without considering the importance of seeking forgiveness from God. Until we do so, we cannot genuinely forgive others and ourselves. Join the Shiloh family on Sunday to worship, pray, and learn about the importance of repenting. 

God intends to judge us all according to the one standard, His Son Jesus Christ. As recipients of inconceivable grace, we must share it with others. In fact, it is overflowing so that we should spill it into the world. Our undeserved cup of blessing never drains and always spills over its brim.

We gather around the Lord’s Table as one family of Christian Believers from around the globe on World Communion Sunday. We come from many nations, cultures, languages, and races but we have one thing in common and we celebrate it in the act of Holy Communion. It is a sign of Christ's sacrificial gift us His cup of blessing. He took our deserved cup of wrath and gave us an undeserved cup of blessing so that it could preserve us for eternal companionship with God, as it was in Eden. Now, that's something to celebrate!