Christmas Love The gospel according to Nicholas (my grandson): At this time of the year I find it easy to blend Christmas folklore with the truth of the incarnation and come up with a messed up understanding of what Christmas is really all about. Recently, I passed a house that went overboard on its Christmas décor. The lawn was packed with blown up versions of Santa, Frosty, Rudolf, elves, and in the middle of all this a nativity scene. It all blends together to make for a confusing holiday stew. It is easy to get pulled into the middle of all this and I was recently confronted with my own confusion. I have a 6 year-old grandson named Nicholas who is intelligent and strong-willed. He and h

Christmas Love The gospel according to Nicholas (my grandson): At this time of the year I find it easy to blend Christmas folklore with the truth of the incarnation and come up with a messed up understanding of what Christmas is really all about. Recently, I passed a house that went overboard on its Christmas décor. The lawn was packed with blown up versions of Santa, Frosty, Rudolf, elves, and in the middle of all this a nativity scene. It all blends together to make for a confusing holiday stew. It is easy to get pulled into the middle of all this and I was recently confronted with my own confusion. I have a 6 year-old grandson named Nicholas who is intelligent and strong-willed.  He and h

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great JOY, which shall be to all people.” – Luke 2:10 “For a second you catch a whiff in the air of some fragrance that reminds you of a place you’ve never been and a time you have no words for. The extraordinary thing that is about to happen is matched only by the extraordinary moment just before it happens. Advent is the name of that moment.”- Frederick Buechner I have a confession: this year I broke the rule of appropriate Christmas carol commencement and instead of waiting until after Thanksgiving, I began listening in the beginning of October (which even for this Christmas-fanatic, is a new record)! Between a fall, filled with family he

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great JOY, which shall be to all people.” – Luke 2:10 “For a second you catch a whiff in the air of some fragrance that reminds you of a place you’ve never been and a time you have no words for. The extraordinary thing that is about to happen is matched only by the extraordinary moment just before it happens. Advent is the name of that moment.”- Frederick Buechner I have a confession: this year I broke the rule of appropriate Christmas carol commencement and instead of waiting until after Thanksgiving, I began listening in the beginning of October (which even for this Christmas-fanatic, is a new record)! Between a fall, filled with family he

“And His name will be called… Prince of Peace.”- Isaiah 9:6 On Christmas Eve, when I was young, I would attend my grandparent’s (on my dad’s side) church, Peace Lutheran in West Seattle, for the candlelight service, dressed in my Christmas best. During the greeting time, parishoners would “pass the peace” to one another; in which my Uncle Jeff, in his faded blue jeans, would attempt to be cool by flashing two fingers and saying, “peace” in a low voice. I always wanted to sit near my grandpa during the service, to listen to his voice, which was so deep you could feel it when he sang the hymns and carols. His tone was stable and reassuring. Toward the end of the evening, as it neared midnig

As we enter the second week of Advent, we reflect on the theme of faith. I would ask our hearts to consider the goodness of God, regardless of the disappointments last season may have held and no matter what uncertainty the current season may hold – steadfast in the promise that God is always working on our behalf. As we kicked off the Advent season reflecting on hope, it seems appropriate to now lean into faith as we look towards Christmas and the promise it represents. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). This is the whole point of Advent isn’t it? That we look forward to the coming of an unseen God, the manifestation of love in

"Genuine hope is not blind optimism. It is hope with open eyes, which sees the suffering and yet believes in the future." ~ Jürgen Moltmann For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-7 The Gospel of Matthew begins with a proc