Peace: Then and There and Now and Here (Advent Devotional, Part 4)

Why is it so difficult to achieve peace? Because life in a fallen world creates sin and dividing walls of hostility. This makes us rightfully call for justice and yet stubbornly withhold forgiveness. Consequently, a world not only of evil, strife, and pain, but of sorrow emerges. Yet there is one place on earth where […]

The Paradox of Christmas | Advent Devotional 3

New Advent Imange

Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place […]

Still the One? | Advent Devotional 2

New Advent Imange

Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” Matthew 11:2-3 On this Sunday of Advent, churches around the world will read John the Baptist’s plaintive question: “Are […]

Don’t Say Patience! | Advent Devotional 1

New Advent Imange

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; From his roots a Branch will bear fruit. Isaiah 11:1 “Don’t say patience. I hate it when people say patience. Everyone says patience!” A wily Lutheran pastor spoke these cheeky-yet-dead-serious words to me in a 2015 job interview. He asked me what the Lord had […]