Advent-ure

Each morning, there is a conscious, perhaps subconscious, decision to make the day another day, or to make it an adventure. The mundane rituals of the day are not to be the day, but rather a part of the day, a part of the adventure.

This is the first week of the ecclesiastical period of Advent, the time of anticipatory hope for the coming Messiah as the Church liturgically recognizes Christmastime. Society has a 'countdown' until Christmas, anticipating gifts, family time, and holiday worship. This period of time is an adventure, each day one day closer and with greater anticipation.

Every day needs to be a day living during Advent. Life would be more advent-urous and with anticipation for the coming of the Messiah. The mundane would become celebratory joy and the rituals would become praise with eager longing for the revealing of glory.

The advent(ure) of life continues to and through the revelation of eternity. The advent must be observed each morning consciously deciding to live with great adventure each day.

Canker Sores

: a painful shallow ulcer of the mouth that has a grayish-white base surrounded by a reddish inflamed area and is of uncertain cause but is not due to the virus causing herpes, circa 1596

Canker sores are unpleasant.

Baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, excessive brushing, and other remedies are tried and only partially tested true. Our human knowledge and understanding is limited, even when it comes to what appears to be the simplicity of an aggravating mouth sore.

The humility of accepting the unknown seems to be more esteemed than advocating the known. Canker sores exist, but it is with humility that we submit to something greater than ourselves to understand their cause, purpose and demise.

Canker sores are unpleasant, but they can teach us something valuable, nagging us to remember: we are limited and there is One greater desiring our humble submission.

The Persecuted

Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.

The daily assaults on the Church will not destroy the Church, but strengthen the Church. The recent attack in Iraq that left more than fifty Christian worshippers dead, the daily attack on Christian ethics and practices throughout the world and the harmful words spoken daily against the Gospel demand our prayers.

The Voice of the Martyrs lists these nations as Restricted Nations (''government policy or practice prevents Christians from obtaining Bibles...anti-Christian laws lead to Christians being harassed, imprisoned, killed or deprived of possessions or liberties"):

Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Brunei, China, Comoros, Cuba, Egypt, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Yemen.

The VOM lists these nations as Hostile Areas ("governments consistently attempt to provide protection for the Christian population, but Christians are persecuted by family, friends, neighbors or political groups"):

Chiapas (Mexico), Colombia, Ethiopia, Gaza and the West Bank, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Mindanao (Philippines), Nepal, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, and Turkey.

"For I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Romans 8:18

I am excited about the challenges and means by which the Church can support and encourage the persecuted. Through business venues and missions opportunities, the Church truly can exemplify the name of Christ as we allow the brokenness of persecution to more fully display the love and grace of the Lord.