Between Two Advents

In the past week, I attended two different Celebrations of Life for two friends via Zoom.

Both were lovely, God-honoring ceremonies. 

Both women had committed their lives to serving their Lord in another country - one in Costa Rica (age 40), the other in Zimbabwe (age 84). 

Both will be remembered for the joy that overflowed in their lives. 

I was reminded at both celebrations of a quote attributed to St. Augustine:

"We are Easter people and halleluia is our song."

Easter People.

What a thought!

We aren't just Christmas folk; we're more - way more! 

We live in light of a resurrection that sealed the Lord's promise to return again.

What hope!

What joy!

What a difference it should make as we live life between two Advents - 

How should Easter People live? 

It's odd, but the little story that came to mind is found in the gospel of Luke, chapter 1.

After Mary's conversation with the Angel, she traveled to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, in the hill country of Judah. 

She arrives, enters the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth, and greets them.

Immediately, Luke records the rest of this story in verses 41-44. Here's how they read:

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice, she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy!"

In this whole story, "joy" is a major theme. Elizabeth was filled with joy, and Mary's magnificat that follows is a song of joyful praise, but the one that stands out to me is the joy of the unborn child, John. 

Even before Advent, John rejoiced in Jesus...and, continued to do so throughout his ministry. 

It speaks to our life between two Advents - joyously celebrating the coming (first and second).

Death can't quench it...we're in His Presence with fulness of joy.

Life should amplify it...

Here's the rest of the Augustine of Hippo's quote:

"We are an Easter people and halleluia is our song. Let us sing here and now in this life, even though we are oppressed by various worries and uncertain times, so that we may sing it one day in the world to come, when we are set free from any anxiety that plague us."

We are an Easter people!

Let us leap for joy!

Jesus fulfilled the first Advent.

He will also complete the second.

Bank on it.

Like John, even before He arrives on the scene - get a little leapy in your joy!

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

I'll join you again in January.

Living in the Waiting

Over last summer, we lost a friend who'd been battling a terminal illness for over four years. 

In spite of the illness, our friend never lost his sense of humor, his "knack" for interminable teasing, and spunk.

I was honored to be asked to give a eulogy at his celebration of life service. 

As Bay and I reminisced together different stories from our shared past, one word kept rising to the surface as we laughed and discussed all the memories. 

From that one word, I wrote the eulogy, describing Dave's life...

Here's the word:

FEISTY

What a fantastic descriptor of someone's character.

That one word actually has three parts to its definition.

The first part had me laughing. It comes from an Old English word coined back in the 1500's, meaning "fire blower." A fairly descriptive word for someone who can express their opinion rapidly, "breathing out fire," and then move on. Fire blowers tend to be quick to speak, often regretting they didn't do a better job of counting to 10 first. And, yet, you always know where this person stands. You never have to wonder what they might be thinking. I find most fire blowers are quick to want to put out the fire and make things right, as well. 

Meaning number two tells us that the "feisty" lean towards courage and fortitude in the face of difficulty. These folks have pluck and determination. Definitely, a skill I covet...

Last, but certainly not least, in the pile-up of definitions is the one that told me "feisty" marches in with a spunky attitude and enthusiasm. 

Put those three definitions together and you have a picture of our friend, Dave. 

However, I had just put the last period on my eulogy notes, as I was also beginning to study the life of John the Baptist. 

It certainly didn't get past me that John might easily be described by his close friends the same way. 

As a preacher, John most definitely fit the "fire blower" piece of the feisty puzzle.

Crowds knew where John stood on religion and politics of the day; and, he spoke with fortitude and determination (it didn't seem to bother him in the least if he might offend someone), which also fits the spunky attitude (definitely, John). 

Yes, feisty fits John, just as it does his predecessor, Elijah, before him, 

Frequently described as a "fiery" prophet, John walked in similar sandals. 

As we look toward the end of 2024, and step into a new year, it might behoove us all to examine our lives and add just a little bit more feisty to them. 

Quick to speak Jesus and what we believe about His gospel.

Showing up with fortitude in spite of our difficult circumstances.

And, living with a little more heart, a little more spunk in our attitudes.  

As we wait for our Savior's second Advent, John the Baptist, once again, gives us a clue how to walk along on the way as we are in the waiting: 

FEISTY

Stay Covered in the Dust of Your Rabbi

In this Advent season, I've been digging a little more deeply into the life of John the Baptist, because no-one, and nothing, is more symbolic of the Advent of Jesus than John. 

I want to know from his life how we might live as we Pre-Advent Jesus' second arrival. 

I loved this message from our former pastor, which he posted recently on Facebook - a much needed reminder that Jesus is, indeed, coming again:

"Advent. Jesus came the first time to bear the cross and He will come a second time to wear the crown. Because we had a First Coming, we are guaranteed a Second Coming. Jesus will come again to finally and forever put an end to all that is contrary to the will of God. This is the certain hope of every follower of Jesus. Come, Lord Jesus (Jeff Daley)."

One of the things that impresses me most about John is his unique demeanor (camel's skin clothing and locust-eating aside).

Raised by a righteous priest, who walked blamelessly before the Lord (Luke 1:6), John stepped into the role of rabbi at a very young age. 

He seemed to quickly gain a following of disciples - men who wanted to adopt his message and way of life; men who walked the same road he walked; lived life alongside him; and, leaned into his teachings and belief system (certainly not easy-believism-stuff). 

We don't know how many disciples with whom John journeyed, but we do know that one of them was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother (John 1:35-42). 

And, we do know that several of John's disciples soon began to follow the new rabbi gaining notoriety around the area (Jesus). They left John's dust, for Jesus'. 

YET, we never see competition between John and Jesus.

One of the most notable Jewish blessings of the day was this one: 

"May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi." 

Meaning, may you walk so closely behind your rabbi, as you learn from him, that you are always covered in his dust. 

Acceptance by a rabbi in those days was akin to being accepted into an Ivy League doctoral program. It was a big deal...so, to leave following one rabbi for another just didn't happen...

Yet, John's disciples exchanged the source of their dust...as Jesus came on the scene inviting ALL who would,"Come, follow me (Matthew 4:19)."

...and, John happily (or so it seems) celebrated the new rabbi his disciples followed: Jesus, the Lamb of God. 

John's whole demeanor declares loudly the essence of humility. 

He believed, and lived it out, that he held no special significance, or importance, that put him above any other.

He lived totally against typical human behavior - his attitude opposite the norm. 

Gotta tell ya, if I were John, I'd battle jealousy (especially if they were "my" disciples...), and, sadly, jealousy smacks of pride.

But, this was not John's way, and it fits how he always lifted up Christ, saying, "He must increase, but I must decrease...He who comes from heaven is above all (John 3:30-31)..."

John's life gives us a clear picture of how we, too, are to live during the wait for our Second Advent: humbly exalting Jesus, giving Him first place, seeing Him honored above all, excited when others are drawn to Him, willing to take a back seat, so that His name is proclaimed, exchanging our agenda for His...

...and, above all, showing others how to walk in the footprints He left behind, covered in His metaphorical dust, traveling with Him through the teaching of His Words, as we wait for His return. 

In other words, live as a passionate, sold out, disciple of Jesus.

PS. Great read: "Practicing the Way," by John Mark Comer. Available on Amazon here.