First Sunday in Advent

Readings:  Jeremiah 23:5-8; Psalm 24; Romans 13:(8-10)11-14; Matthew 21:1-9

Contrast the two readings for this day.  The gospel reading:

“Say to the daughter of Zion,’Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”"Say to the daughter of Zion,’Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”

And the reading from the psalms:

7 Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
8Who is this King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle!
9Lift up your heads, O gates!
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
he is the King of glory!

Israel was expecting the Messiah prophesied  in the Psalms what they received was what was fulfilled in the gospel.  The incarnate Lord condescended to come as a humble baby the first time.  When he comes again it will be as the Lord of Glory to whom every knee will bow and every tongue will confess.  On this first day of Advent let us look to Christ as the Lord of Glory!

Comments are off

I’ve shut off the comments on this blog.  There are many reasons for this foremost is people posting comments on subjects months or even years old.  And the replies being gibberish.  I even received a reply from someone when I was still posting on Doxoblogy. 

So if you really must contact me, e-mail me.  There is a contact button on the blog use it. 

Thanksgiving 2008

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
(Colossians 3:17 ESV)

I am thankful for salvation, which comes through no merit of mine but only the merits of Christ and his sacrifice upon the cross. 

I am thankful for the word of God and ministers who continue to preach it as the word of God.

I am thankful for those blogger’s, too numerous to name, who have instructed me in the things of God and challenged me to grow more in my Christian faith.

I am thankful for my family near and far. 

I am thankful for my dear wife who has supported me during these thirty-three years of marriage. (Anniversary this week.) 

I am thankful for my children whom God gave me so that I could be called father. 

And last but not least I am thankful for my friends who care for me and look in on me to see how I am doing. 

God bless you all.

 

Technorati tags: Thanksgiving, Friends, Bloggers, Word of God, Salvation, Family

American Civic Liberties Test

Dan J. Phillips has pointed me to a civics test of which my score was 87.88 % (29 out of 33 correct) give it a try.

Civics Quiz

Technorati tags: Civics, Dan Phillips, tests

Veteran’s Day 2008

Veteran

Chris L. Nelson

1905-1986

Enlisted March 25, 1942

World War II Veteran

Husband, Father, Grandfather

History of Veterans Day

Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In legislation that was passed in 1938, November 11 was “dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day.’” As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.

In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress — at the urging of the veterans service organizations — amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting the word “Veterans.” With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

My father and uncles served in the military during World War II some of those uncles giving their lives in service for this country.  My brother also enlisted in the Army and served for twelve years.

Men of whom I have the utmost respect have had the honor of being veterans of the armed forces of this country.  My closest friend Bruce, a former marine had the honor of seeing his son follow in his footsteps and join the Marines also.

Take a moment today or tonight and thank God for these brave men and women who took the time to serve their country some giving their lives so that we can live free.

One day until the end of the world…

Of course as I am writing this in the early evening I’m not going to hold to a literal 24 hour day unlees you go by the evening to evening scale.  And currently it seems that every other commercial on the idiot box is a political one.  Just think as of Wednesday that will all be gone, thankfully.

On the web I read a rather vitriolic post by Daniel J. Phillips on people who vote for third party tickets.  As I happen to fall under that category I guess I’m insane by his standards and the man that I voted for a fool who’ll never accomplish anything.  (His words not mine.) Well he is entitled to his opinion even if I do find it lacking in charity for those of us who differ from him.  I’d also point out that in American history the two main parties have changed over time as they have fallen out of power to be replaced by others who members became the majority party.

On other things around the web I am still chuckling over Kim Riddlebarger’s idea about boosting sales for his book The Man of Sin read about it here.

Yesterday my wife pointed out that in the local paper we had our first homosexual marriage announcement.  They had been married in California and according to our state law their marriage isn’t recognized as valid.  The attitude of the editors of the paper is that a wedding announcement is a wedding announcement.  Which just goes to show that what is done in California will have repercussions through every state even if the states’ laws don’t recognize the marriages.  By the way I use the term “marriage” because I can’t think of another word to describe what it is that they are doing.   If someone can think of a better term I’d appreciate a heads up.