MetroMonk

1st Sunday of Advent Readings: Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18 Isaiah 64:1-9 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Mark 13:24-37 (Common English Bible) "Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son, Jesus Christ, came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen." - Collect for the First Sunday in Advent, BCP The season of Advent begins today. It is a season that reminds us that someone special has come and is coming again to redeem the world. What a great message; what a great reminder! This morning, as I pray and read the scriptures, I am grateful about the Lord's presence in my life - that he is with me and has never left me. I am thankful that the Lord hears me an

Black Friday   and came went. There have certainly been millions of people occupying (keeping in line with the  OccupyAdvent movement) their local stores looking for the best deals. My wife and I actually were a couple of those people in the midst of the craziness. It’s not for everyone, that’s for sure. If you have never been before, you ought give it a whirl at least once in your life - if only to marvel at the phenomenon. You’ll get a picture of just how important consumer goods are to us, and you’ll get a better understanding of how our economy is made up of 70% consumerism. Let me give you a mental picture of what it is like: grocery shopping at Meijer (or your big, local grocery store) on a Sunday afternoon (crazy right?), now take that picture, multiply the crowd by 10 (or 100), and then imagine all those people amped up on adrenaline and cranky from being up way past their bedtime and all going after the same item on the self - that’s Black Friday. I read an email from Apple

Each morning, I drink my coffee and I still myself to read, write and pray. Each day brings its own anxieties and mind-filling "noise." My coffee is my time to quiet that "noise" and give to it God; to see life from a different perspective and awaken to a spiritual reality. Something is coming! Prepare yourselves! Prepare for Christmas! Regardless of your religious affiliation or lack thereof, Americans get ready for Christmas. Way before most of us are ready, businesses quickly make us aware that Christmas is coming (and you better start saving up). I actually saw Christmas decor in one store before Halloween had even passed. While it caught me by surprise, it did it's job - it made me aware that Christmas is coming. The Advent Season is that kind of reminder for us as believers. Advent is a reminder that Christ came and will come again. It's a message very familiar to believers, a reminder that something and someone is coming. Wake up. Prepare. Be Alert.