Elliott's Muses

Who we are is not nearly as important as Who We will become. We are not living today without a sense of our past, but it is not the past that "must" frame our lives - as if to say that we have "always been such and such" therefore we will always continue to be that. One of the beautiful things about being a Christian is that I believe God is present in my world, and that he "manifests" that presence from time to time, just to make it clear that I am not alone. In Advent, we see that very clearly. Take the story at the beginning in Luke's gospel: Luke 1:1-7 (NIV) 1:1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that ...

Matthew 1:1-16 (NLT) 1:1 This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham: 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers. 3 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar). Perez was the father of Hezron. Hezron was the father of Ram. 4 Ram was the father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon. 5 Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse. 6 Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah). 7 Solomon was the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam was the father of Abijah. Abijah was the father of Asa. 8 Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat was the father of Jehoram. Jehoram was the father of Uzziah. 9 Uzziah was the father of Jotham. Jotham was the father ...

As a Christian, I am a follower of Jesus. Technically, the word for a follower is a "disciple". A disciple is a learner, one who is committed to allowing Jesus to be more than Savior, but also a teacher. What does he teach? Simply the scripture says that Jesus told his disciples to make disciples by "teaching them all things whatsoever I have commanded you". What have we done in the name of Christ these days? We have raised up a generation of "church people"...people who have become members and affiliated with a denomination; but we have misplaced the real purpose of raising up followers of Jesus - disciples. Perhaps Advent can call us back to his purpose for our lives, for the church as a whole. Perhaps we can prepare our hearts over the next four weeks to "receive our King". Advent comes from the Latin, "Adventus", which in Greek was "parousia" and means "coming or arrival". The church has celebrated Ad...

It's just a few days left before we start Advent 2010. I look forward to this celebration every year. But, before that we come to Thanksgiving...and yes we need that as much as anything in life. I ran across this poem in an article and thought it worth passing along. It's not so much thanksgiving as it embraces the spirit of a man who wants to take life on and live it positively, and wholly! A Psalm of Life, By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow What the heart of the young man said to the psalmist Tell me not, in mournful numbers, Life is but an empty dream! — For the soul is dead that slumbers, And things are not what they seem. Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; Dust thou art, to dust returnest, Was not spoken of the soul. Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, Is our destined end or way; But to act, that each to-morrow Find us farther than to-day. Art is long, and Time is fleeting, And our hearts, though stout and brave, Still, like muffled drums, are beating...