Opening the Year – Preparing for Advent

Greetings Dear Reader,

Some of my time yesterday was spent reviewing my menus, gift lists, and photos of Christmas just past.  The exercise was designed to help organize me better so that I can repeat the preparedness of this year. 

Things will rotate out of my plans.   Lists will be edited.  Gifts will begin to refill my hiding places.  The practical side of my preparations continue all year long.  They aid in keeping my mind focused on the eternal preparations.

A month ago when we were just beginning our Advent conversation I mentioned the return of Christ; the Second Advent.  As A Christ follower I am supposed to be constantly wishing and watching for Christ to return.  I try to live this daily. 

All those reminders of Christmas are to keep me in mind of the alpha and omega aspect of the presence of Christ.  His physical presence, his God with us is the reason I celebrate anything.  His beginning Advent was humble and seemed insignificant.  His Omega Advent will be obvious and world reaching. 

I long for Christmas to return.  I long more deeply for Christ to return and make the promises of Christmas real for everyone.  I long for peace on earth.  I yearn for all men to be people of good will.  The potential of Christmas is realized in Christ. 

So as I enter the new year of writing and work I do so with an eye to next Christmas.  I do so with the hope of its promises.  I also do so hoping that when it arrives Christ has returned and made all things good.      

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store." 

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Why I love Christmas – Advents One and Two

Happy Christmas Dear Reader,

I do not wish to put too many clouds on the horizon of you Christmas joy.  It does, however, bear calling to mind that purpose of the birth is death.  The import of the incarnation is to create a vessel like us that can pay the penalty of sin for us.  The first advent creates the path to the cross.

The death then leads us to resurrection.  The hope is fulfilled in part by the acceptance of Christ by God as the penalty for our sin.  We rejoice at the birth.  We mourn the death.  We rejoice again at the resurrection.  Then Jesus departs.  We are left with history and faith.  We are left like those before the first century waiting for the fulfillment of a promise.

Jesus promised us a second advent.  He promised to prepare a place for us and then return.  I love Christmas because it reminds me that there will be another advent.  It will come when time is full again.  It will be sudden and unexpected by most.  It will be the last need for advent. 

We are traveling toward this day just like the Magi traveled toward Bethlehem.  Some of us reach Christ before he comes for us.  Every Christmas I hope that it is the last Christmas we celebrate in anticipation of Christ’s Second Advent.  I long to wish Jesus a “happy Christmas” face to face.

There is no known recording of this song.  I wish there were.

A Pauper’s Hymn – Michael and Sarah Sharp

Traveling hard  before  a  Sabbath  sunset, 

Cold the woman great with child. 

Lonely taxed from Naz’reth wand’ ring, 

O’re Judea’s barren wild. 

Homeless in a stable came the birth that night. 

What could this weary woman bring? 

Nothing less on earth than Heaven's Best; 

A Savior, Redeemer, King.    

Men of the East with wisdom following 

The star that heralds heaven's own 

Christ the Savior come to ransom 

Those who would choose Him to disown 

Warned of the madness of a puppet king, 

The child  is safe in Egypt as he grows, 

But in David's City the children die. 

Rachel weeps for those she'll never know.           

The decades pass, the boy a man, 

Condemned by hope and a lie, 

Hanging cold upon a wind-swept hill, 

Suspended between the worlds to die. 

How long will you wait to embrace His gift? 

Where else will you find harbor for your soul? 

Than in  the  out-stretched  arms  of  the  Christmas  babe, 

Who  ransomed  your  eternal  soul.                         

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store." 

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)