It doesn’t matter what the Catholics teach, or the Baptists, or the Methodists, and it doesn’t matter what the Church of Christ teaches…

I can remember a time from my youth when it was common for someone to go down front during the invitation, to confess something that was going on in their life, and ask for prayer in front of the congregation. I am not saying that is the “best” way, but at least confession was happening at some level. Today we tuck things away, if we don’t attempt to hide our wrongdoing we purposefully don’t acknowledge it. I think the Church has lost the art of confession. It isn’t until wrongdoing is brought into the light that people can move forward.

The image of the two Lecterns is important for the article this week. For anyone who is a current student or an Alumni of the Bible Chair, you will likely recognize the lectern on the left. In the 9 years that I have known the Bible Chair, both as a student, and now as the Director every Monday night devotional has been taught off of this lectern, every guest speaker has used it, and it has collected many Bibles after a lengthy study.

Every Wednesday students from Buffs for Christ have a table set up in the middle of Campus and we advertise for our Wednesday night meal and Bible Class. At this table, we also ask people for the prayer request. Each week I am blown away by some of the requests that are dropped in the box. Everything from Mental Health struggles, Unexpected pregnancies, miscarriages, and more. With each request, my heart aches for our young people who are struggling to understand what is good and right. This week was the same, we had students who were struggling in significant ways and we prayed for them, but there was something different. They seemed to be seeking the Lord.

However our world changes, and no matter how bad things get for Christians there is one thing that never changes God. His standards never change, even if the world’s standards do. God expects us to stand up for what is right, despite the consequences and He gives us the strength to do just that.

The messenger needs to reflect the messenger or things can get lost in translation. What is the Christian message? How do you share it? Think about these things!

I have heard some say recently “I don’t believe in a God who sends people to hell. I think people are forgetting the reality of the coming punishment for the lost. The reality of Hell isn’t meant to make Christians tremble in fear wondering whether they have been “good enough” we must also remember “For now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”. We should have confidence in our redemption and salvation through the blood of Christ, it is also healthy to remember why we needed the blood of Christ in the first place.

“I mean, if I believe, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that a truck was coming at you and you didn’t believe it, that a truck was bearing down on you, there’s a certain point where I tackle you — and this is more important than that.” - Penn Jillette

My father and I are building a workshop in his backyard. With every piece of lumber, we have been laughing and talking about days of old. I was reminded of how Joseph was a carpenter and I feel like I finally started to understand Jesus’ raising.

John’s question is the same question we must all ask ourselves. Is Jesus who we want him to be, or is He who He came to be?

The Oxford dictionary defines it as “the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event.” Typically, the Advent season includes the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. It began this year on Sunday, November 27. It’s a time of expectancy and preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,

For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods,

For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,

For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

4 To Him who alone does great [a]wonders,

For His lovingkindness is everlasting;

“Communal idolatry is one of the most fundamental ways the Bible speaks of human rebellion and sin. Our failure to recognize this has had a crippling effect on the mission of the church in a world rife with idolatry.” - Michael W. Goheen

May I like you in God delight,

Have all day long my God in sight,

Perform like you my Maker’s will,

O may I never more do ill.

Slowing down doesn’t mean that we stop, it means we take the time we need to rest or “recharge” and then we keep moving. Several times as Jesus attempted to go off to a quiet place and rest, he was followed, at these times Jesus didn’t get upset with those seeking him, he met their needs. No matter how much he was interrupted he still found the time to be alone with God and pray.

“In one sense, it’s quite simple: As Christians, our mission is to make disciples. The mandate of Matthew 28:19-20 is as clear now as it was two thousand years ago. Jesus’ followers are commanded, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”. Over the years the church has called this command “the Great Commission.” Some have commented though that, in reality, it has become “the Great Omission”! “

- Duffy Robbins

Let us never let what we believe about Jesus, trump our belief in Jesus. Let us never trust our beliefs more than was trust the Lord. The truth is that we may be wrong in our beliefs, but we will never be wrong about Jesus.

We shouldn’t let rejection turn us away, instead, we should follow the instruction of Jesus to the disciples, and if someone rejects us, we need to shake the dust off and move on. But also, we need to keep in mind that rest and prayer are important parts of our spiritual lives. Don’t let rest get in the way of serving and loving others, but also don’t forget to rest and pray so that you can serve and love others. It can be an interesting balance.

“…In the sophisticated air of a modern university ofttimes spiritual truths have little place. Our young people have more information than any generation before them, but without a knowledge of God the knowledge they have becomes a power to enslave and destroy them.” – Roy Osborne

5 So now and till we die

sound we your praises high

and joyful sing:

infants and all the throng

who to your Church belong,

unite to swell the song

to Christ, our King!