THE ADVENT CHRONICLES

CHRISTMAS EVE REFLECTION

I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn an oath to David my servant: I will establish your line for ever, and preserve your throne for all generations. (Ps. 89:3-4)

Let ' s jump for a moment on this day before Christmas to its counterpart in the Christian liturgical year...the Feast of the Ascension, traditionally celebrated on the fortieth day after Easter. As on Christmas we give praise to the God who comes straight down from heaven in the person of Jesus, on Ascension Day we celebrate his going straight up, taking our own human and frail, but resurrected, flesh with him, in order to be crowned the Sovereign of all sovereigns.

The Ascension, that almost-forgotten feast of western Christianity, has its foundation in Christmas-the two go hand-in-hand, and lie at the heart of our bond in Christ. To borrow a metaphor from B.B. King, "love comes to town on Christmas, " and on Ascension Day we will take Love' s train to the Heavenly Places.

Then, you and I and all humanity, are invited to share in the sovereignty of Jesus Christ, in whom we are united in baptism. You and I are joined in Christ in the mysterious union of the Holy Trinity itself! No wonder that in the Eastern church children, and the newly baptized, and newly wedded couples, are crowned with garlands of flowers, symbolizing the royalty we have in the God who came among us and then carries us up to reign with him on the throne of God.

We Americans, sadly, in our squeamishness at royalty, abandoned all of that. What a pathetic loss! So on this day of preparation and waiting and busy-ness, when we meditate on these verses from Psalm 89, and listen to God's words establishing the royal line of David, know that ultimately, God has you in mind. You, with all your pain and preoccupations, all your worries and hidden fears, God is coming to your house tonight to invite you to a new life of peace, courage, freedom, and holiness. God will come to your house, the house of your soul and body, restoring its dignity and holiness, and then invite you to God's house.

God comes down that we may rise, lifted by him to the skies;
Christ is born for us that we born again in him may be.
(Christopher Wordsworth 1807-1885)
Hymn 88, Hymnal 1982 (Church Publishing)

-exerpt from a publication by the Higher Education Ministries Arena.
used with permission

WHEN A FRIEND DISAPEARS

WHERE HAVE YOU GONE? OH MY.... EVERYWHERE I LOOK GAVO IS NOT THERE....

I CHECKED UNDER THE BED, BUT THERE WAS ONLY A LITTLE MOUSE EATING A CRUMB FROM THE CRACKER I MUNCHED ON LAST EVENING.....

I RODE MY BICYCLE WITH THE LITTLE BELL ON IT AND A BRIGHT ORANGE FLAG WAVING IN THE BACK TO ALL OF GAVIN'S FAV-O-RITE PLACES BUT HE WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.....

I WENT TO THE CHURCH TO FIND GAVO, BUT THERE WAS ONLY A POOR LITTLE OLD LADY PICKING UP RICE WHERE A WEDDING HAD BEEN.... I THINK SHE WAITS BY THE WINDOW WEARING A FACE THAT SHE KEEPS IN A JAR BY THE DOOR.....

OH I WONDER.... WHO IS IT FOR? IF ONLY I COULD FIND GAVIN AND WE COULD DISCUSS THESE MAT-TERS OVER A CHICK-FIL-A SAND-WHICH....


update: he's been located. he's been on a hunt to find the perfect location for his and erin's wedding reception.... the myst-o-ry has been solved!!! SWEET!!

ADVENT CHRONICLES

IT'S A TENNESSEE CHRISTMAS...

Tis the Season straight up Tennessee Style!!! Pres. Bush decked the halls of East Tenn. two days ago when he pardoned two moonshiners....

Could it be Bush's version of Jubilee? hmmmm.....

MERRY CHRISTMAS SUFJAN

One of my favorite singer/songwriters is Sufjan Stevens. His music tends to be quirky and introspective narratives about life, biblical stories wrapped in a twisted perspective. His music has found its way into several tv soundtracks. I found out yesterday that he has a 3 volume set of Christmas music which as it turns out- IS GREAT!!!

Check it out for yourself!!!

Vol. 1

Vol. 2

Vol. 3

NO.... THERE IS ANOTHER....

.... and I thought I was "a little special" for being able to recite word for word the movie Star Wars as I watch it....

"no.... there is ANOTHER..." (you gotta watch this)

THE ADVENT CHRONICLES

Too alarming now to talk about
Take your pictures down and shake it out
Truth or consequence, say it aloud
Use that evidence, race it around
There goes my hero
Watch him as he goes
There goes my hero
He’s ordinary
Don’t the best of them bleed it out
While the rest of them peter out
Truth or consequence, say it aloud
Use that evidence, race it around
There goes my hero
Watch him as he goes
There goes my hero
He’s ordinary
Kudos my hero leaving all the best
You know my hero, the one that’s on
There goes my hero
Watch him as he goes
There goes my hero
He’s ordinary

"There Goes My Hero"- The Foo Fighters

Funny, how the Advent Gospel narratives have so much "hero" imagery in it. Mary receives the news of the miraculous birth that she is to have and she immediately heads to her "hero's" home- Elizabeth. A couple of weeks ago we hear of one of Jesus' "heroes"- John the Baptist, who is not only kinfolk but apparently thought by some to have been a mentor to Jesus. Who are the ordinary heroes/mentors that have come before us that have paved the way for our faith to grow?

wanna hear the song sung with special guest and one of my fav heroes (in a twisted me sort of way)? click here

THE ADVENT CHRONICLES

"TOMMY"

I had never met anyone quite like Tommy. I don't really know if I had comprehended that his career was actually simply being there for the pre-teens and teenagers at our methodist church. All I know is that Tommy was special. I knew that from the first day I met him.

He was a small man and was very gentle in his personality. In fact what I remember most was the playful abuse he received from the older guys in the youth group. Shanks, wedgies, followed by severe tickling and laughing. We were a rowdy group at times, but Tommy LOVED us all. Looking back he reminds me of what I envision Saint Francis to have been like. Maybe I felt like a leper as a quiet 13 year old. Maybe Tommy's love for me and his ability to express to me the potential he saw was exactly what I longed to hear from someone.

I didn't grow up going to church. I didn't know church lingo, rituals or the church "way of life". I did know that when I showed up to that youth group- there I would encounter security, friendship, and Tommy.

A couple of years earlier storms had set in- set in my life. My parents separated. I spent more time staying with my grandparents, an aunt and uncle, and my grades began to severely drop. Grown ups who were concerned for me would have "serious talks" to discover what was going on. I withdrew... further and further into the exclusive and hidden places within. I can't recall now if I ever showed how I felt on the outside but chaos reigned on the inside.

But in the midst of the craziness I found my way to Dalewood UMC and its youth group. It was the youth group that became my anchor for a life that was at the mercy of strong winds and currents. There were nights that I ended up at Tommy's house for a "Guys Night Out" to hang out, eat and late night chats. Like I said before- the guys in our group were pretty rowdy. When we stayed over at Tommy's house- no doubt that he'd have to get up several times in the night and lay the law down while we all rolled our eyes, laughed at how crazy and pissed he looked and trying to look like we were too cool to care that he was frustrated. But then we all fell asleep spread out all over his house. There was a comfort and peace at that house, in those nights.

After a couple of years Tommy left our youth group for a time of discernment. He felt that he was being called to the Catholic priesthood. It was terribly hard to see him go but I remember being happy for him. I even helped him move out of the parsonage into his new place. As when all youth leaders leave- time did not stop, our youth group survived and even grew closer and stronger. As time went on I talked to Tommy less frequently, and that was ok.

I suppose it was a fall night, I was hanging out at Jen's parent's home, probably working on homework or maybe watching Beverly Hills 90210. These were common practices my jr. year in high school. The phone rang and Jen's mom answered. I don't recall how long she was on the phone I just remember that she came over to me and Jen afterward. With tears in her eyes and not quite knowing how to share it- she told us that Tommy had taken his life. I must have shut a lot out because I can't recall what I felt, what went through my mind, or even how long it was between that night and the funeral. I remember wondering if maybe something would have been different if I had called him, or checked up on him more.

Those of us in the youth group who had been close to Tommy found out that he had been dealing with depression for a long time but had told no one. Finally he had lost hope and gave up.

With the death of Tommy it felt like the end of a part of my life. That man who had given so much of himself to us was gone, and the possibility of having him around was gone.

Again, time continued to pass and I thought about Tommy's death less frequently until at some point I only thought about it occasionally. I was in college, into my second year when the God of Israel and Jesus, who had been absent for at least a year and half, began to make God's presence known to me again. I began volunteering with my old youth group back home and my passion to learn and discuss issues around faith began to grow stronger. As I worked with our youth group I felt the same kind of love for the teenagers that I had felt as a youth toward Tommy. In the midst of this, God seemed to be speaking quite loudly to me that I was being called to ministry.

I felt like a very unlikely person for this, but isnt that the way it usually goes? I had a million reasons to not be a youth pastor- I'm introverted, I'm not the least bit athletic, I'm unorganized, I have a tendancy to create awkward silence in conversations with people, I have a wierd taste in music, I read boring books, blah blah blah and the list goes on.

But God reminded me of those who came before me... God reminded me of Tommy- a very unlikely person to be a youth pastor- who's youth all were taller and bigger than he (except maybe the 7th grade girls), a quiet and soft spoken person with a very gentle nature. But look what he had done for me...

In every end there is a beginning. In every relationship where there is the love of Christ shown- Christ Incarnate dwells. Even when we think that we've come to the end of one experience in life- New Life is birthed out of it. That is the way and spirituality of Advent.

shalom,
jonathon

ARE YOU A LION OR A WITCH?

Take the Narnia Quiz and find out....

Actually, I scored as Lucy.... "You have a strong sense of responsibility toward others and a deep respect for other people, even strangers, though you are not always sure what the best course of action is. You are Lucy, the brave child who who is wise beyond her years and kind to all she meets."

according to Wikopedia: "Lucy can be said to symbolise the natural virtues of humankind, whether manifested as "childhood innocence" or in its more mature forms as depicted in the later stories. In many instances, especially in a scene in Prince Caspian where she follows Aslan even though her siblings are unable to see him and believe Lucy is lying about seeing him, she seems to represent faith."

RAISING "UNDER"AWARENESS

FIGHT POVERTY, RAISE AWARENESS, AND LOOK HAWT ALL AT THE SAME TIME!!!

I'M SURE THE WORLD WILL CHANGE FOR THE BETTER ONCE I GET MY PAIR.

What might you do to make poverty history?

THE ADVENT CHRONICLES

"A Prayer Practice for Youth Pastors During Advent"

I came across this rendition of the Lord's Prayer for Youth Workers and thought it was pretty cool. So I thought I would post it and invite those youth leaders who are looking for a simple prayer practice during Advent to consider using this rendition of The Lord's Prayer for Youth Workers for the next few weeks and journal your response to these words:
1. Pray it for you.
2. Pray it in light of your family,
3. Pray it in light of your ministry, your neighbors, your friends.
4. Use it as a way to grow in intimacy with your God our loving Parent.

The Lord's Prayer for Youth Workers:

Heavenly Father…
Father… Abba… Daddy. I take comfort in knowing you are my Father…a Father who is intimately concerned and connected to his children—to me, to my closest friends, to my students. Heavenly Father… I look at the world from my small, limited vantage point. But your vantage point is Heaven…a place of complete knowledge and infinite power. A place where nothing escapes your site, your scope, your attention, your reach…yesterday, tomorrow, today.

Hallowed be your name…
I praise your name—the I AM. It’s sacred, holy, unique, and glorious. May my thoughts and
words reflect your Name, your character, your purposes and your person so that people see you
clearly in my life and in my community—the church. When I think of you, may I pause in wonder.

Your Kingdom Come…
May it come today and may I believe that it is coming more today than yesterday. Jesus, you
said, “The kingdom of God is near”. I believe that, because you, the King, came near. May you
draw near in my life today. Change me as you have promised to do. May my gathering with other believers be a tangible expression of your body. And may we, your body, come to the hurting, the needy, and the desperate places on earth—to the poor, the broken, the hurting, and the powerless. May it come to the students I so desperately love—to their homes, schools,
workplaces, and hangouts. May it come to their single parents. May it come to our
neighborhoods.

Your Will Be Done…
Bend my will toward yours. May I seek to know your will and your timing. May I trust you to do your work in my life, my world, and the world that you so passionately love. May we not see your world as a lost cause, but seek to bring heaven back to earth, through the assurance of
redemption and the hope in the cross.

Please provide…
My prayer is a declaration of dependence. I need you today, tomorrow, and every day for the
things that seem impossible and even for the things I feel I have under control. May I discover
your continual provision and realize personally, that in you, Jesus, all things are held together. I
may never measure up to the standards and expectations of church members, so-called friends,
and co-workers. But you sustain me.

Forgive and Make Me Forgiving…
Heavenly Father. Forgive me for my sin. I hate that word–Sin. I would rather call it a mistake or lack of judgment. But it’s sin—rebellion, treason, and hatred toward you. Have mercy on me,
based on Your righteousness Jesus. Thank you for speaking in my defense (I John 2.1). And as I
experience Your mercy and grace, may I pass the same on to others who have wronged me.

Lead Me, Deliver Me…
…away from the things that tempt me… money, sex, power, acceptance, approval, success.
Keep me from spiritualizing my life, rather than dealing with the realities of life and the pitfalls that await me apart from your leading. May my “quiet times” be times of clinging to you, declaring that I need to be lead, lest I perish.

Ultimately, I Have Hope…
For Yours is the Kingdom
Yours is the power
Yours is the glory
Forever and ever

And may I never take the prayer you gave me, Jesus–the follower’s prayer, lightly.

Argue/Livermore
The Follower’s Prayer
Group Mag—Mar/Feb 04
Amen. So be it. May it be true. Right on.

WE NEVER KNOW... DO WE?

We never know what the friends and readers of our blogs are going through in their lives when they happen upon our pages and thoughts. A word may spark a memory or thought and send someone to a place that they remember... or a place that they weren't ready to go to.... or maybe you have the opportunity to say exactly what someone needs to hear....

Whatever the situation, let's you and I, bloggers of faith, remember those who visit our sites and ask God to be active, healing, loving, merciful and compassionate in tender moments of pain and celebration in their lives.

J., my thoughts are with you and family...

peace,
jonathon

3 DAYS, 54 MINUTES....

SEE THE 9 MINUTE TRAILER HERE (don't watch unless you really want to see an overview of the ENTIRE movie)

I've been waiting for this since I was 7 years old!!!

Hopefully I'm going with some friends next week!!

THE ADVENT CHRONICLES

PT. 3- "OUR FIRST SUNDAY"



Today was my first Sunday at Hermitage. Jen, Abby, Jonas and I were introduced at the 8:30 contemporary service and then again at the 11:00 traditional service. Then tonight we had youth group and it was really good. I am simply overwhelmed at how welcoming this group has been to me. Tonight was no different.

I found myself thinking about my kids at Blakemore and West Nashville tonight. I hope they are doing well. But I feel very confident that this venture at Hermitage is God filled. Yes, this is a good Advent.

THE ADVENT CHRONICLES

Pt. 2 "MY FIRST WEDNESDAY NIGHT"

Tonight was my first night with the youth group at Hermitage UMC. It actually went really well. On Monday I met with our Christian Ed. Director, Linda, who told me that she was planning on doing an Advent program for tonight that was going to be intergenerational. She wanted it to be based around the music of Advent. So I told her that I would be in charge of shaping it into a more experiential alt. style worship time. Linda was excited because she said that many of the people at Hermitage had not experienced something like this before and that it would be really new for them.

Well that may have made her excited, but I was nervous. We called the experience THE WALK OF THE MAGI based around the idea that the magi must have travelled a really long time following the star before they made it to the house of the Christ child. They really had no idea where they were going, they just simply followed the star.

We had A LOT of youth there and a great mix of adults, as well. So we began with Linda talking about what Advent is.

Then I invited them to the first prayer room: EXPERIENCE 1: “THE TIME IS NEAR”
1. First two stanzas of “People, Look East” UMH 202 is sung
2. Reading: Isaiah 40: 1-11
3. Experiental Meditation
4. Last 2 stanzas of “The Time is Near” is sung
5. As people exit they take a glow in the dark star

EXPERIENCE 1: “THE TIME IS NEAR” PRAYER STATION

Items needed: roll of newsprint, markers, plastic glow in the dark stars

Invite participants to make a list of all the things they have to “get done” between now and Christmas… they should write directly onto the newsprint anywhere they want.

Once they have finished that list they should then make a new list- one that lists things that they might do to prepare for Christ’s arrival- prayer, fasting, serving the poor, etc… etc…

As they leave the experience invite them to take a plastic glow in the dark star as a symbol throughout Advent that God has called them to follow the star.

NEXT WE MOVED TO THE SECOND PRAYER ROOM: EXPERIENCE 2: “SEND YOUR WORD, O LORD”
1. First two stanzas of “Send Your Word” UMH 195 is sung
2. Reading: Psalm 85: 1-2, 8-13
3. Experiential Meditation
4. Last 2 stanzas of Send Your Word sung.
5. Magi leads everyone out of experience and to continue following the star

EXPERIENCE 2: “SEND YOUR WORD, O LORD” PRAYER STATION


Items needed: sharpy markers and plastic glow in the dark stars from first station.

At this station the practice of Lectio Divina will the central activity. Allow the participants a few minutes to center in, and then 1. read the scripture passage slowly once and invite the participants to listen for a word or phrase that jumps out at them. Ask them to then simply to “hang out with that word or phrase”. 2. Read the passage again and this time ask them to imagine a life experience where that word or phrase is involved- what do they see, hear, feel, taste, smell? 3. Read the passage again and ask them to simply ask God to give them insight on how they might live out this word or phrase during Advent. 4. Invite them to write their word or phrase on their star and to take it with them.

THEN WE MOVED BACK INTO THE YOUTH AREA FOR OUR FINAL PRAYER EXPERIENCE: EXPERIENCE 3: “O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL
1. First two verses of “O come, O come, Emmanuel” UMH 211 sung
2. Reading: 2 Peter 3: 8- 15
3. Experiential Meditation
4. Sharing of experience along with joys and concerns
5. Closing Benediction

EXPERIENCE 3: “O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL PRAYER STATION


Items needed: playdough

Invite participants to imagine what they hope the world to be like one day. Using clay invite them to create a symbol of their hope for the world.



It ended up going very well and I was really impressed at how receptive the youth were to the contemplative aspect of what we did. I ended by relating the magi journey to our journey together- that none of us knows quite where God is going to lead us but that we're all on this journey together and that's part of the fun (and anxiety) of being where we are in this.

I'm really looking foward to Sunday night and getting to know them all a bit more.

shalom

jonathon

WORLD AIDS DAY

Newly released U.N.AIDS figures revealed that there were 3 millionAIDS deaths during 2005:

570,000 of which were children. 5 million people have been newly-infected with HIV, sending the total number of people infected worldwide up from 37.5 million in 2004 to 40.3 million -- the highest ever figure.Those living in Africa and young people continue to be worst affected by the pandemic. Two-thirds of all new infections tookplace in sub-Saharan Africa and over half of all new infections worldwide were amongst those aged 15-24.

The report estimates that 350,000 lives have been saved thanksto anti-retrovirals. But increasing the availability of drugsin developing countries remains difficult due to a lack of funding; inadequate healthcare systems; and unfair trade rules that put the profits of pharmaceuticals ahead of public healthneeds.It is clear that world leaders need to act now and turn their promises into action and get AIDS treatment to all who need itby 2010.

read more about this here