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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Thoughts as we prepare

I have been having a rough week. There have been two verses that keep coming to mind:

Matthew 2:18 "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."

Revelation 21:4 "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

The tragedy in Newtown, CT hit me pretty hard. First, I have a child and younger nieces/nephews and couldn't imagine them in that circumstance. Second, I work with youth at our church that I care about. Third, I thought of all the campers I spent time with this past summer. I even started thinking about how I would react if something like this happened at a school, church or even at camp while I was there. What would I do? Would I be able to do anything? 

I have no answers. 

What I know and what I believe is that last Friday more angels were added to the ranks. There have been so many posts on FaceBook about the children, the teachers, the school and the community and the ones that hit me are the ones dealing with those young angels and the guardian angels in the school. 

As we prepare for Christmas and the silence of Christmas Eve and the promise that brings please pray for those angels and the safety of all children no matter where they are - school, playground or even their home. Make sure to hold your loved ones (and maybe not so loved ones) tight as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. There is good in this world - even in the midst of tragedy and I will be looking for that as the New Year begins.

Merry Christmas, Peace and Blessings to you all!




Thursday, December 6, 2012

Community (Subtitle - the manager or the cross?)

I have had a few things happening in my life as we prepare for Advent.
A very significant one is that my Grandpa - the Rev. C. Keith Epps passed on to his heavenly home on Saturday November 24th. He was 94 and I think ready to go as he knew where he was headed. I have been thinking a lot about him and camp the past two weeks since he was a part of the group that helped to purchase the land and get camp going. It really makes me think about connections and community.

I have also been leading a small group for my church via FaceBook set up to look at the book "Silence and other surprising Invitations of Advent" by Enuma Okoro. Usually when we prepare for Christmas we think about Mary, Joseph and Jesus. Prior to them was Elizabeth and Zechariah. When Zechariah was in performing his priestly duties in the holy of holies at the temple many people were praying for him in community. It was at this holy time that he learned he would have a son - even in his old age and Elizabeth was no spring chicken either. 

It was in this community they were supported. 

My community over the year has been changing and growing in many different ways and I am glad to have the support as I learn what God has planned for me. Know that I also pray for you and what God has planned for you as I know it is great things!

With Advent comes Christmas music and I wanted to share one of my FAVORITE songs by the Go Fish Guys.. 
Video: http://www.gofishguys.com/track/its-about-cross

It's About the Cross
Verse 1:

It's not just about the manger
Where the baby lay
It's not all about the angels
Who sang for him that day

It's not just about the shepherds
Or the bright and shining star
It's not all about the wisemen
Who travelled from afar

Chorus:
It's about the cross
It's about my sin
It's about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again

It's about the stone
That was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday

It's about the cross
It's about the cross

Verse 2:

It's not just about the presents
Underneath the tree
It's not all about the feeling
That the season brings to me
[m/lyrics/g/go_fish/about_the_cross.html ]
It's not just about coming home
To be with those you love
It's not all about the beauty
In the snow I'm dreaming of

Repeat Chorus

Bridge:

The beginning of the story is wonderful and great
But it's the ending that can save you and that's why we celebrate

It's about the cross
It's about my sin
It's about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again

It's about God's love
Nailed to a tree
It's about every drop of blood that flowed from Him when it should have been me

It's about the stone
That was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday
So that you and I could have real life someday

It's about the cross
It's about the cross