An Advent Devotional for Monday Nov. 29 2010

November 28th was the first Sunday of Advent 2010. The word "Advent" means "coming". It is season of expectation for the coming of the Lord. Here is a simple

ADVENT DEVOTIONAL

The Advent Season Is a Season of Waiting

Jesus stands at the door knocking (Rev. 3:20).

In total reality, he comes in the form of the beggar, of the dissolute human child in ragged clothes, asking for help. He confronts you in every person that you meet. As long as there are people, Christ will walk the earth as your neighbor, as the one through whom God calls you, speaks to you, makes demands on you. That is the great seriousness and great blessedness of the Advent message. Christ is standing at the door; he lives in the form of a human being among us. Do you want to close the door or open it?

It may strike us as strange to see Christ in such a near face, but he said it, and those who withdraw from the serious reality of the Advent message cannot talk of the coming of Christ in their heart, either....

Christ is knocking. It's still not Christmas, but it's also still not the great last Advent, the last coming of Christ. Through all the Advents of our life that we celebrate runs the longing for the last Advent, when the word will be: "See, I am making all things new" (Rev. 21:5).

The Advent season is a season of waiting, but our whole life is an Advent season, that is, a season of waiting for the last Advent, for the time when there will be a new heaven and a new earth.

"We can, and should also, celebrate Christmas despite the ruins around us.... I think of you as you now sit together with the children and with all the Advent decorations—as in earlier years you did with us. We must do all this, even more intensively because we do not know how much longer we have."


These words were written in a letter to the parents of Dietrich Bonhoeffer November 29, 1943, written from Tegel prison camp.

Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me. Revelation 3:20

This devotional for taken from:

God Is in the Manger: Reflections on Advent and Christmas

Thanksgiving Memories 2010

Thanksgiving Day 2010 is now a memory. This day was very special for Sharron and I as Danielle and her family and Stephanie and her family arrived on Wednesday evening. Here are a few of my memories already tucked away in my mind:

Danielle's baby son Jordan is a hand full. It was so special to me to hold my grand son in my arms. He was a little tired after the trip from Concord, NC.


Soon after Danielle arrived Stephanie and her family arrived. It was so much fun to watch Jordan and Breeley sitting beside each other. They did not sit for long - waiting arms were there to hold them.



A delicious meal took place on Wednesday evening followed by a good night's sleep.
In the morning the Thanksgiving Day celebration began. With the sounds of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade coming from the TV -- Sharron and Stephanie prepared breakfast for the kids. Of course the featured item was the "turkey" shaped pancakes.



Jordan sat in the high chair ready for breakfast....

Following breakfast - the Thanksgiving Day Games began. Stephanie and Sharron had planned and prepared for some fun activities to help pass the morning with the children. We began by making a turkey from a potato. They were truly a sight to behold. Jayden was happy about her project:

Alyse was not quite sure about hers:

Then came a game of Thanksgiving Day "Bingo". Jayden was the first to fill in the six blocks on her page and cry out "TURKEY!"

We said good bye to Danielle's family in the early afternoon as they travelled back to Concord to enjoy a Thanksgiving Day meal with Jessie's family. It was awesome to have them visit. Josh and I settled into a day of watching football as Stephanie and Sharron were preparing for a great meal in the kitchen.

Soon it was time to get ready to receive guest and sit down for the family Thanksgiving meal. I was able to sneak a picture as Stephanie was taking her family pictures of Alyse and Breeley. It brought back other memories of our girls from many years ago. Breeley is wearing a dress that Stephanie once wore - hand made by Sharron's mom.

We then sat around the table for a delicious Thanksgiving meal. We are thankful for family and friends.

God is blessing us with abundance.

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing everyone a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

This coming Sunday - November 28th - is the first Sunday of Advent 2010. We will light the first candle of the Advent wreath at NRN at the very beginning of our worship experience. The songs of Christmas will fill the air.

Preparing for worship on Nov. 14 2010

As I prepare for worship tomorrow at NRN I am listening to some of the songs for the worship experience. Here is a sample of what is speaking to my heart - may it speak to your:












And a new song we introduced last week at NRN:

I will continue in the teaching series on the Prayer of Jesus.

Have you prayed this prayer to prepare for worship on Sunday?

Here is the version we are using:

I've got a good feeling about this

I must admit - I am not a great fan of the T.V. game show Wheel of Fortune,
however I am really amazed by what happened last Friday evening on the show.
Here is how it was described on a local news service:

November 08, 2010 — Friday night saw one contestant achieve an unlikely win on "Wheel of Fortune." With nothing more than a single consonant on the board, Caitlin Burke solved a seven-word, 27-letter puzzle. After asking for and receiving one "L," the New Jersey resident asked, "Can I solve?" Veteran host Pat Sajak seemed taken aback by the early request but didn't deny it. Burke then announced the answer, "I've Got a Good Feeling About This," which couldn't have been more appropriate.

Enjoy this clip as you see it for yourself:

A favorite play

Happy Monday!

Here is a short clip featuring one of my favorite football plays.

Enjoy!

Note - this clip has been "disabled" by you tube. You can view an extended version of this great play by clicking HERE Please excuse the pre clip "commercial" Remember - keep your eyes on the ball......

Cast your vote for your favorite trunk - no Trick

Today at NRN was an awesome day. In the early morning people gathered in the Fireside Room for a "taste from the mountains." We enjoyed a breakfast featuring buckwheat pancakes, fresh eggs and sausage. The first two people in line were the official 'taste testers." After comparing notes - they agreed - the breakfast was delicious! The event was also well attended as several people decided to join some of our adult Connection Classes.


At 10:45 our morning worship experience began. It featured a great time of worship. At the time of the offering an offertory was presented by Tanya and Sarah.

Later in the day people from the community began to arrive for this year's Trunk N Treat.

It was a great time had by all......

Filled with good fellowship and great snacks...

People dressed in their favorite attire for the event:

AND - THE CARS OF TRUNK N TREAT:

There was the Chevy ...

And the "pumpkin man"

The Peanuts Gang

The Jaws of Death

The Harvest Home

Clark Kent and the Super Family

Candy Land

And finally...

A day at the Beach

Now - as the last day of October is known by many as a day of trick or treat - I promise you there is no trick here. Here's a simple contest. I have a special "treat" for the winner of our favorite trunk featured in this blog. Simply comment on this post on or before November 5th and you may be selected to win a treat as well as the winner designated by your "votes" as the favorite trunk this year at Trunk N Treat.