MetroMonk

taken from pinterest With the advent of Advent, the church calendar marks a change in season. We enter into a season of waiting, expectantly, for the arrival of the Messiah, the Christ child; Emmanuel, the Lord with us. Outside, the leaves change and fall to the ground as the chill of winter settles in. Nature’s growth comes to a halt. We pull the sweaters out, and put the gloves on; we are zipped, buttoned and wrapped; ready for a new season. As fall disappears and winter enters, we Christians also enter a new season. A season to pause in hope for the long-awaited Messiah - Christ our king, born from heaven, ushered in through Mary in a stable. We prepare for the Messiah that had long been prophesied about in the Scriptures, the Messiah, for whom the Jews had longed. It is a season of waiting and preparation. Yet we live in a society that abhors waiting. Instant satisfaction is our mantra - fast food, 4G, DVR to fast forward through the commercials. Imagine a wor...

Image not my own I don't know if being drunk makes life better. There are a lot of people that believe this. Being drunk can certainly make a night more fun, but it can also ruin things. I know there are a lot of recovering substance abusers who would agree that the above image is a lie. Read today's scripture: Luke 21:25-36 2 Peter 3:10-13 There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. On the earth, there will be dismay among the nations in their confusion over the roaring of the sea and surging waves. The planets and other heavenly bodies will be shaken, causing people to faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world. Then they will see the Human One coming on a cloud with power and great splendor. Now when these things happen, stand up straight and raise your heads because your redemption is near. Jesus told them a parable. "Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that ...

Morning Readings: Ps. 93 & 96 Gal. 3:15-22 Luke 1:67-80 *Matt. 1:1-17 (Common English Bible) How do family trees have anything to do with Christmas trees? Christmas is a time for families, which probably means, for most people reading this: lots of food, watching football, opening and playing with presents, lounging around in pajamas, beer, egg nog and, of course, the stress. People love holidays because of the fact that it means it will be a time for their family to be together, but that also means it will be some of the most stressful times because their family will be together-the ironies of life.  The Christmas tree, to me, represents family. I have no idea of the historical background and real birth from which the Christmas tree came. I really am not that interested in that, but if someone would like to to comment below and explain that would be very welcomed. However, for the purpose of this blog post, my Christmas tree will be representing family....

Readings for Today: Psalm 55 Isa. 10:20-27 Jude 20-27 Lk. 3:1-9 [Common English Bible] “This is just as it is written in the scroll of the words of Isaiah the prophet; A voice crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way for the Lord; Make his paths straight. Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be leveled. The crooked will be made straight and the rough places made smooth. All humanity will see God’s salvation.” Then John said to the crowds who came to be baptized by him, ‘You children of snakes! Who warned you to escape from the angry judgement that is coming soon? Produce fruit that shows you have changed your hearts and lives. And don’t even think about saying to yourselves, Abraham is our father. I tell you that God is able to raise up Abraham’s children from these stones. The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be chopped down and tossed into the fire.’” Luke 3:4-9, Commo...

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 fr...

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....