"The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000 year old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God. That is a process in which we now participate, and the consummation of which we anticipate." (citation:  http://www.cresourcei.org/cyadvent.html).

For those of you not familiar with church seasons and holidays; Sunday, December 3 marks the first Sunday of Advent.  It is a season of anticipation of the coming/arrival of Jesus Christ (see above definition).  Advent is not just a day that marks the "appropriate" time to put up Christmas decorations, but it reminds us of God’s love for a fallen world.  God heard the cry of creation and came to us in Jesus Christ.  But Christmas is not only about the birth of Jesus, but the reason Jesus came into this world.  LOVE!  Jesus lived among us and went to the cross where he suffered and died.  But this is not the end of the story; Jesus rose from the grave and smashed to pieces death’s grip on our lives.  Jesus lives and reigns victorious and that victory is passed onto us.  This is the wonderful message of Christmas; love, life, and salvation.

Coming Dec. 1 is a movie I can hardly wait to see.  It is called "The Nativity Story"  (http://www.thenativitystory.com).  See this movie.  Don’t wait until it comes out on DVD, but see it now.  Experience the story and know it is for you.  Whether you are seeing and experiencing the story for the first time or not, the story of Jesus’ birth is one for the ages.  See it again and again and proclaim to the world the true meaning of Christmas; don’t let Satan win through commercialization.

Advent is here.  Christ has come.  Christ is coming again.  Praise the Lord and Amen. -EDH-