The older I become, the more I tend toward a more traditional view of the Christmas season. I used to count down the days to the day after Thanksgiving, because that meant I could get out all my Christmas CDs. Now, I am more selective when it comes to what I listen to in the four weeks before Christmas.

Advent: a period of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of Christ’s coming. We remember how he came to us in the form of an infant; we look forward to the day He returns upon the clouds, leading us into eternal victory. I’m starting to believe that instead of celebrating every day till Christmas, we should treat Advent the way my beloved Episcopals treat Lent.

I come by this view honestly. I blame my father entirely. I will never forget hearing him sing Steven Curtis Chapman’s version of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” several years ago. I cried. Cried for the desperation I heard in the lyrics, for His beloved Israel who somehow missed the gift when it was right there on the cross.

This year, I come before the throne desperate. I see the depths of my sin and I know that there is nothing good in me. I consider myself in an exile of my own. I need a Savior. I am waiting for a rescue.

Maybe it’s because everything bad in my life always happens in December, and this December is no different. But once again I find myself looking to the skies asking the question, “How long?” Yet I need not wait long. Because Christmas is just around the corner, meaning Easter Sunday isn’t far behind.

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”
O Come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And Death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice, rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

He will come to us, as well.

Look beyond the window there
To the sky above, to the open air
Look beyond what you can see
Close your eyes and just believe
The lion roars and the lamb lays down
They live together in a whole new town
They’re calling me and they’re calling you
From the cold hard fact that we’re on our own
To the age old truth that we’re not alone
So don’t be afraid, little warrior bride
Your victory’s on the other side
You’re not alone, you’re not alone

Today I gave a presentation on the needs of middle school students. The short version? Middle schoolers need…

(1) to be heard
(2) to have their feelings validated
(3) to feel accepted regardless of the circumstances

Apparently, I have those needs, too. Because the only reason I’m posting right now is to say that today a dear friend told me that she reads (and likes!!!) my blog.

I feel validated. And heard.

Oh happy day. 🙂

Back to work on my take-home final.

Sweet Jesus, my Savior
You are my faithful friend
You made me, You know me
And You see my every sin
And my soul is amazed
By this gift of Your grace
And these arms that take me in
Sweet Jesus, my Savior
You are my faithful friend

Sweet Jesus, my sheltor
You are my faithful friend
The refuge that I run to
When my world is closing in
Why should I be afraid
When I know I am saved
By the arms that take me in
Sweet Jesus, my shelter
You are my faithful friend

Sweet Jesus, my shepherd
You are my faithful friend
You hold me, You lead me
I’ll follow to the end
And once more I will say
On that beautiful day
When Your arms take me in
Sweet Jesus, my Shepherd
You are my faithful friend
Sweet Jesus, my Savior,
You are my faithful friend.

About a month ago, two visitors appeared at my door. You know the ones I’m talking about. Baby-faced, slightly post-adolescent men in suits and ties. Their name tags begin with the title “Elder”, but they aren’t fooling anybody.

I don’t really know why I answered the door. I was in the middle of eating lunch and watching Fox News. In the past, whenever these missionaries came to our house, I would pretend I wasn’t home. They weren’t going to convert me, and I was afraid to try to talk with them. But this day was different, and the difference was that I listened to the Holy Spirit. I opened the door and engaged in a weighty dialogue for the next two hours.

I didn’t convince my Mormon friends that Jesus is enough. In fact, I’m sure they left feeling sorry for me. I pray that maybe someday it will just click for them, but it might not.

I’ve thought a lot about theology and evangelism in the days since. I’ve read a lot of commentaries and listened to a lot of sermons. What is the difference between Christianity and Mormonism? I’m not really asking that question: I know the answers and I am confident that I know the Truth. But it’s hard to explain that to someone who tells you that you’re not allowed to use the Bible in defense of your argument (only the King James Version insofar as it is accurately translated – that’s crap). Really, it makes for a rather unlevel playing field…

The reason I bring this up now is because today at church Bill gave a very simple but profound answer to the question. What makes our religion different from the rest, be it Mormonism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, or Catholicism (and before you get angry and stop reading, I am NOT saying that all Catholics are going to hell)? The aforementioned religions all have different definitions of “the good life”, they have this in common: the good life is difficult, and not everyone will live it. We, however, do not think that the Christian life is difficult. Nope. Not difficult at all. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE!!!!!!!!! No matter what I do, I can never live a life that pleases God, that fully satisfies the standards He requires. I simply cannot.

I can’t… “There is no one righteous, not even one.”

…BUT HE CAN! Peter writes, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” Paul tells us that this power “is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.” And if those two men don’t have enough credibility for you, hear the words of Christ himself. “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

This is the difference. I can’t but He can, for I am in Him, and He is in me.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!”

Amen and Amen.

On this Veteran’s Day, I am remembering this man: Houston B. Couch. Fought in World War II. Married his love after knowing her only 10 days and still looked at her with wonder and tenderness over fifty years later. Became the world expert on diseases of turfgrass. His lawn was impeccable. Pastored a church. Started a school. Played a huge role in making my father the man he is today.

And did I mention that he loved me?

Four years since he went to be with Jesus. I can’t wait to see him again in the presence of the King he showed me how to love. I love you, Granddad.

To the President-Elect: Democracy is fragile. Please protect it. Especially our liberty. I realize that by voting for you the American people essentially declared that they’d rather the state take care of them. We voted against personal responsibility and therefore against personal freedom.

But for the sake of the 47% of us who kind of like rights such as keeping the money we earn, owning guns, and just overall being able to take care of ourselves, please don’t take the majority seriously.

I thought I’d start off November by sharing one of the things I am thankful for.

That would be happy hour at Sonic.

My current favorite is Diet Coke with Diet Cherry Syrup and Real Cherries.

44oz for less than $1.50 – that’s better than a 20oz bottle in the grocery store. AND they now have “chewable ice”, which is one of the greatest things God ever allowed man to create.

This quote is from a March interview, but I didn’t here about it until today.

“I’ve got two daughters – nine years old and six years old. I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.” (Barack Obama)

I am hopping mad.

What a world we live in. Just the other day a friend told me about a conversation he had with a foreign national. “I think people just value life way too much over here.”

I had a lot to say about this, but now, as I type, none of it matters.

This world is a dark place without the Light of the Truth. It grieves me.

I was in a wedding this weekend. My former suitemate, Megan McFall, became Mrs. Joseph Riddell in the most beautiful wedding I have ever attended. That’s saying a lot, considering I’ve been to more weddings than I can count.

It wasn’t because of the dress, it wasn’t because of the flowers. It wasn’t even because it was the most perfect fall day ever to grace the “armpit of Ohio.” It was because of the Lord and His abundant love. He brought Joe and Megan together – and Joe and Megan together is a beautiful thing. As the Psalmist said, “The Lord has done this and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

There was so much rejoicing on Saturday, both with laughter and with tears (mostly my own). Watching Megan waiting patiently, peacefully, in the bridal suite for the time to finally arrive (she was so beautiful)! Watching Joe gaze at Megan as she walked down the aisle on her father’s arm. Every minute of the day was blessed by the Lord and overflowing with His goodness, love, and beauty.

So much love. And so much joy. Joy for two people who are better together than they are apart (even though they are both amazing on their own). Joy because their relationship with each other has clearly deepened their relationships with the Father. Joy because as they learned to love each other more they began to love everyone else around them even more richly. Mr. and Mrs. Riddell are one of those rare treasures – a couple that you (that’s a single you, not a couple you) are practically begging to be around (a rarity when talking about Grover relationships). I don’t have to look any farther than these two to show you what I hope for in a relationship.

This was quite possibly one of the best weekends of my whole life.

“When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’ The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”

JOY!

I am going to see these wonderful people on THURSDAY!