December 22, 2016 – 2 Days Until My Head Explodes, Or Devotions to Prepare Us For Christ’s Coming

“I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” John 14:25-27

The Fourth Candle (The Candle of PEACE)

The fourth candle reminds us that Jesus comes to bring Peace to both the world and to people’s hearts. Without Christ there is no peace in this world.

On this date, December 22, 1963, the official 30 day mourning period for the assassination of President John F. Kennedy ended. Killed on November 22 in Dallas Texas by a lone gunman (though that fact is still disputed), America lost one of its great presidents. One of his greatest feats was staring down the Russian government and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev during the Cuban Missile Crisis. During this crisis, leaders of the U.S. and the Soviet Union engaged in a tense, 13-day political and military standoff over the installation of nuclear-armed Soviet missiles on Cuba, just 90 miles from U.S. shores. In a TV address on October 22, 1962, President Kennedy notified Americans about the presence of the missiles, explained his decision to enact a naval blockade around Cuba and made it clear the U.S. was prepared to use military force if necessary to neutralize this perceived threat to national security. Following this news, many people feared the world was on the brink of nuclear war. However, disaster was avoided when the U.S. agreed to Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev’s (1894-1971) offer to remove the Cuban missiles in exchange for the U.S. promising not to invade Cuba.

Peace is often elusive in our lives, but we never stop seeking peace. What sustains us in this quest is Jesus Christ – without whom there will never be peace in this world. In this season of Christmas, enjoy the moments of peace that you find, and allow that feeling to sustain you throughout the year.

Pastor Dave

December 21, 2016 – 3 Days Until My Head Explodes, Or Devotions to Prepare Us For Christ’s Coming

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

The Third Candle (The Candle of JOY)

The third candle, the only candle that is not purple (usually pink), indicates that the only lasting Joy to be found in life on earth is through Christ. All other joy is fleeting and does not last.
On this date in 1620, the Mayflower Pilgrims arrive in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The Pilgrims sailed on the Mayflower which embarked from England to America in September 1620. Most of the Pilgrims on the ship were originally from the Netherlands. The exploring party first went ashore in America on Dec. 21, 1620. The Pilgrims had originally intended to continue sailing south, but made the decision to remain at Cape Cod after they encountered rough seas and were nearly shipwrecked. We can only imagine that the people on that ship were over joyed to finally see land, yet feelings of dread would not be far behind. Not only were they coming to a new land, but they were landing during winter.

The birth of Jesus is always celebrated in the winter season in the Northern Hemisphere, since this is when December 25 comes along on the calendar. Winter is not always a time of joy with the lower temperatures, the snow, and the lack of daylight. But the birth of Jesus is the announcement of the “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.” (John 1:9) This is the joy of the season, a joy that can lift our spirits, bring light into our lives, and keep us moving forward like the Pilgrims of 1620. And this joy is not fleeting, it is the love, joy, and peace that sustains us through and for all time.

Pastor Dave