Elliott's Muses

  What does one do in Advent?  I have spent a lot of time thinking about ways to celebrate and "enter" into the Advent season.   The prevailing themes of the Advent season, and the symbolism behind the activities which churches and families share, are varied among many traditions.  Europe’s churches celebrate Advent with festivals such as St. Lucia day and St. Nicholas day.  Ethnic celebrations add to the interesting ways others around the world embrace this season.   From the beginning, I tried to turn Advent into a season of reflection, meditation, slowing to embrace the mystery of the Incarnation. Words that I have learned to describe Advent are:  Preparation, Expectation, Anticipation, Fulfillment, Hope, Peace, Joy, Sharing, Faithfulness, Mystery, Love, and more. These themes are varied, but whatever the word/themes they became a means of reflection about the reason for Christ’s coming.   When we began as a family to celebrate Advent, we incorporated an Advent wreath

  What is the Advent Season? The word "Advent" means "arrival" or "coming" (in Latin from the word adventus ) .  Advent celebrates the mystery and the wonder of the first “coming” of Christ Jesus in his birth.  Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became a person – Incarnation.  Theologically, the Incarnation and the Trinity belong together.  Jesus is God in flesh, and yet truly human.  John 1:14 (NIV) 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.   1 Timothy 3:16 (NIV) 16 Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory .  Advent begins the Christmas season and as well, the Church year for many churches in the western world.  Advent is a seasonal celebration, a tradition that g

From the Preface of my Christmas Devotional book on Amazon:  "An Advent Sojourn"  Advent or Christmas? My Story   Advent celebrates that God entered into our world the first time as Immanuel – “God with us” in Jesus Christ (John 1:1-14).  Now, beyond that first coming, it reminds us that God will come back again, entering into our world in full redemption when Jesus returns a second time. Advent reminds me that to know God I must begin where God began – where the “eternal word became human and lived for a while among us” (John 1:14, The Message).  I do not celebrate Advent because I have nothing else to do around the Christmas season.  I celebrate Advent because I want to be immersed in the story that reminds me over and over again that God saw in us, his people, the beauty and wonder of His “image” - so much so that he entered into redemption through the act of the Incarnation – Jesus, the Word became flesh. Why I wanted Advent instead of just Christmas?   My own jou

  “Why celebrate Advent?” For many Evangelical and Charismatic churches, Advent remains a “distant”, if not unnecessary event of the church’s celebrations.  That is sad but true, and I know it to be true because I’ve lived the entirety of my adult years as a part of those churches.  In my experience, Christmas was warmly greeted, but the season of Advent that leads up to Christmas was not embraced at all.  Advent for most of my friends was a strange time that “others” got into, not them. I grew to love the season of Advent – slowly.   I did not start my Christian walk with it, but several years into my walk with Christ I embraced it.   Why?   Because I was leading a church and busy “in Christmas”, but did not see the beauty of Christ in the Incarnation – the reason why we even celebrate Christmas.   I put all of my attention on getting to the one day, Christmas, and missed the days of celebration that led up to it.   It was Helmut Thielicke who said, “ When I am asked why as a Chri

 I remember it well...the question was "when did you receive Christ as your Savior?"  The answer is not pinned on a day or time because there were several events that all seemed to fold together into a time period of recognition of both Christ and my needs.  The Holy Spirit began to tangibly work on me in my "mother's womb", and at age 8 in a church service, and at age 14 during a series of Lenten services, and at age 16 when people said things to me that I never forgot, and at age 18 when a man I worked with rebuked my behavior and I could not let it go.  There were many things that God did over the course of life that grabbed me by the collar and took my thoughts to a place where the events were put in a library of memory. But then, an event happened and Jesus became very much front and center in the place of my need - and in a lame, not very believing way, I asked for help.  It was the beginning not the end of my receiving.  It was the beginning of many "

All Saints Day is November 1 on the Church's Calendar.  It is also a day of reflection and commemoration as we remember that Martin Luther used this date to bring back to the Church the missing message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Luther had been a troubled monk who had battled in the interior of his soul with the need for God's righteousness - a righteousness that he knew he did not have despite all of the religious works that he had tried to do to earn it.  He was asked to teach - in order that he might know - and in teaching at the University of Wittenberg (Germany) he began to read the book of Romans.  Here, he immediately was confronted with the dilemma.  Paul had written inspired words from the Holy Spirit setting forth the Gospel of Jesus Christ.   Romans 1:16-17 16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from fa

 Having turned 72 this past month, and my body's arthritis, aches, pains giving ample confirmation of that fact, I realize that the vast majority of my life is past.  Now, I am not sick from any disease - that I know of - except my Sin Nature that will not go away in this lifetime.  Yet, I can understand more and more this man I met years ago who said to me, "I can't wait to die and enter into Heaven's glory".  It's not that I didn't want heaven's glories, but I was younger and, if honest, didn't want to die yet.   Over the course of these last three years, I've said goodbye to five close friends - all pretty much my age.  There were different reasons for their death - an accident, cancers, even covid - but each of them affected me in both sad and encouraging ways.  I know all of them as brothers in Christ and therefore celebrate their entrance to life eternal before our Savior.  Yet each of them left behind spouses, family, and friends - like

 One of the great passages of the Scriptures appears in Peter's second epistle and in a recent reading from Charles Spurgeon's writings, he speaks of how we are partakers in God's Divine nature - as he points out, not by being divine in our own nature, but by our relationship "in Christ".  2 Peter 1:3-4 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. To be a partaker of the divine nature is not, of course, to become God. That cannot be. The essence of Deity is not to be participated in by the creature. Between the creature and the Creator there will always be a fixed gulf in terms of essence; but as the first man Adam was made in the

  This next Sunday I will speak at New Life Fellowship - my home church in Randolph.  I am teaching a couple of times a month while the Pastoral search continues.  I told my friends there that I'm going to teach through the book of 1st Peter for as long as I have the opportunity to do so. The first part of Peter's letter is a grand doxology of Praise to God who has called us to himself, saved us by His grace through the work of His Son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross and was resurrected from the grave, and who has given to us life.  We are "born again to a living hope," Peter writes in these first five verses.  1 Peter 1:1-5  Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,  according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.  Blessed

 I have been teaching Scripture for almost 50 years now, and probably the two most difficult theological issues to understand - correctly - is what I posted last time concerning the Trinity, and today the doctrine of Election.  When Christians begin to realize that Salvation is a work of God's grace and mercy apart from any works on their part, they often become confused about what this means both personally and others.  One of the chief concerns is "if Election is completely God's will or choice, how do I know if I am elected by God?"  The question itself gives me insight into their heart - to want to know with assurance that they are saved!  I will allow Pastor Charles Spurgeon to fill in the details: Know Your Election For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you .  (I Thessalonians 1:4) Many persons want to know their election before they look to Christ, but that is not possible; it is only to be discovered by “looking to Jesus.”1 If you desire t

  One of the more difficult theological issues is understanding the Godhead of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?  They are not three God, but the persons of the Trinity.  How do we understand their relationship?  The early church spent years trying to sort through this issue and finally came to a resolution that still stands today.  The trinity of the Godhead is One in Essence (substance, from the Greek word " hypostasis "), but three in Persons.   Besides the theological orthodox understanding of the Trinity, there is also the personal implications for us as believers in Jesus Christ.  Here's a short Charles S Spurgeon note that will help us keep it straight in our head. " Beloved in God the Father... Sanctified in Christ Jesus... In the sanctification of the Spirit ."  (Jude 1:1) Consider the union of the Three Divine Persons in all their gracious acts. How unwisely do those believers talk who make preferences in the Persons of the Trinity, who think of Jesus

  1 Timothy 1:14-17   The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.  Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.  But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.  Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 12:1-2  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer, and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. In the 5

 I love reading Charles Haddon Spurgeon.  From my early days as a young believer, I came across Spurgeon - who pastored in London, England, in the mid to late 19th century.  His spiritual reflections were a significant part of my own young growth in Christ, and I have read his writings for these fifty years of my walk with Christ.  Here's an example of why I love him so much. Look at the Positives The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad. Psalm 126:3 Some Christians are sadly prone to look on the dark side of everything, and to dwell more upon what they have gone through than upon what God has done for them. Ask for their impression of the Christian life, and they will describe their continual conflicts, their deep afflictions, their sad adversities, and the sinfulness of their hearts, but with scarcely any reference to the mercy and help that God has provided them. But a Christian whose soul is in a healthy state will come forward joyously and say, “I will not spea

  My daughter, Lindsay, is mother to four children - two sets of twins!  They are now ages 11 and 8.  She and her husband Peter are wonderful parents and yet we can all imagine what life would be like with two sets of twins still not yet teenage in years - for that matter, we can all wonder what it will be like when the two sets of twins are teenagers! Yikes.   As a grandparent, I'm incredibly proud of her, Pete, and my four grandchildren.  They are growing up and even though they live a long ways away, we get to see and participate in their lives in a very satisfying way... but, we don't have to raise them.   This is a blog Lindsay recently wrote for the National Parenting Initiative in the U.K.  I hope it encourages you, especially moms with young kids. Faith, Hope, and Motherhood Becoming a mum brings so many changes to your life: your time, priorities, expenses, energy, maybe even your work life, will change. My own children arrived in pairs: first one set of twins followed

  There are times when life's assaults seem relentless.  Perhaps this last year, now plus three months, has shown that things can go from bad to worse to bad to worse, and somehow it never seems to end. I've had a bit of that this last year in multiple, and I mean multiple assaults in difficult, painful circumstances, emotions, and faith.  Yes, faith always gets connected to our circumstances.  It is easy to find ourselves in a place of "why Lord?" over and over again, and after a while, it becomes hard to even ask "why Lord?"  Some of you know what I mean. The end result is that we come to many places in our days and nights where a sense of despair can become the commonplace of rest.  Then, self-pity can replace real faith as the first object of our living.  It isn't a good place to be in, but honestly, I've been there...several times in the recent past.  When we cry out for mercy and feel nothing is answering, what do we do.  The words of Elijah in

 We often try to do the work of God in the energy of our own strength, mind, heart, even soul.  Yet, that is sure to leave us tired and frustrated.  It is not our own flesh that gives us the grace to do what God wants us to do.  I've learned over time that all the learning, practicing, and doing fall short when the Spirit of God is not driving me onward.  Think about this in this essay on: The Role of the Holy Spirit Do not grieve the Holy Spirit.   Ephesians 4:30 All that the believer has must come from Christ, but it comes solely through the channel of the Spirit of grace. Just as all blessings flow to you through the Holy Spirit, so also no good thing can come out of you in holy thought, devout worship, or gracious act apart from the sanctifying operation of the same Spirit. Even if the good seed is sown in you, it still lies dormant until He works in you to will and to do of His own good pleasure. Do you desire to speak for Jesus--how can you unless the Holy Spirit touc

  Just 10 days remain in Lent, and I am thinking about Jesus’ willingness to come for us. The Psalmist say in Psalm 40:   Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.” The writer of the book of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus came to change our lives from the slavery and penalty of our Sin, to one of love and faithfulness.   Today my prayers are going out to Tim and Kathy Keller.  Tim has been a faithful servant of Christ for many years and now he battles late-stage cancer. He reminded me this morning that David wrote this Psalm expressing his changed life where he no longer did things from duty, but for the pleasure of Joy to serve his Lord and Savior.   That’s how I want to live each day - grateful and joyfully giving thanks for all God has done and therefore acting from love, not duty.  The Puritan, John Bunyan (Pilgrim’s Progress) said this way: “Our pleasure and our duty,  though opposite be

  The Second Sunday in Lent and as you probably know Sundays are days of celebrating the Resurrection of Christ. During the forty days of Lent, Sundays are excluded from those days. We gather - whether in person or online - to worship our Savior - our resurrected Jesus Christ. This morning I'm thinking - afresh - of dear friends who have gone home to be with Lord. I have three close friends just in the last eighteen months. Wayne Pferdehirt was a man who knew how to be loving and kind while enjoying the company of whoever he was in. He took his relationships seriously, and yet kept everyone at ease around him. I miss him much. Milo Bishop's friendship goes all the way back to the early '70's in Chattanooga, Tennessee. A Seminary friend, we moved to different parts of the country. Thought about starting a church together, but lived at a distance. Still, over the years whenever we got together - whether in person or by phone - we picked up our conversations as i