Finding Your Soul by David Anderson
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The Shepherds
Luke 2: 8-18 “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened,which the Lord has made known to us.” We’re often told that shepherds were a rough, disreputable lot. They were poor, uneducated, uncouth, we are reminded. Considered thieves and liars. All of that is true, but that depiction misses the…
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The Holy Family
Luke 2: 1-7 “And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city.” It was December 22, 2000. I was sitting at my desk proofing a service bulletin when a call came in. The receptionist said someone wanted to talk to “the pastor.” That usually meant: someone wants money. This bulletin was past deadline,…
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The Morning Star
Revelation 22:16 “I am the root and offspring of David, the bright morning star.” I’m an early riser, and in late fall that means I’m up just before the sun. Near September’s end I began to notice a star low on the eastern horizon. Or was it a star? Its light was lambent and clear,…
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Bethlehem
Luke 2:15-20 “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened,which the Lord has made known to us.” I have a friend, now gone, who used to send a Christmas card every year that ended with, “I hope you make it to Bethlehem this year.” I always heard in those words…
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Image and Likeness
Matthew 22: 15-22 “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” At Advent we say, “Come, Lord Jesus.” The Lord of your life is the one who receives your highest loyalty. Who is that for you? When Jesus’ enemies asked him the loaded question about paying taxes to Caesar, Jesus asked for a coin stamped with Caesar’s…
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Swords Into Plowshares
Isaiah 2:1-6 “They shall beat their swords into plowshares,and their spears into pruning-knives.” On October 7th Yaron Bob was happily living in his kibbutz, one mile from the Gaza border. Then terror struck. “A lot of my friends were killed,” said Bob. He survived after hiding in a safe room for 33 hours with no…
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Second Coming
James 5:7 “Be patient, then, my friends, until the coming of the Lord.” Advent is not simply about the first coming, or even the second coming of Christ. There is a third advent. St. Bernard of Clairvaux called it the “Middle Coming,” the long, faithful road from Bethlehem to the end of time. Here is…
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The Dawn
Luke 1:57-80 “The morning sun from heaven will rise upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” When John the Baptist is born, his father Zechariah bursts into a song of praise. John will merely pave the…
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Lock and Key
Isaiah 61:1-3 “…to proclaim liberty to captives and release to those in prison.” Jesus begins his ministry in a synagogue, reading from the prophet Isaiah’s scroll. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor, . . . freedom for the prisoners and recovery…