Advent is a Latin word for “Arrival” or “Coming.” To ADVENT is to prepare for an arrival. The current culture barks at us to be busy going, doing, buying, and maximizing our time. ADVENTING implies a deliberate Stopping, Looking, Listening. ADVENTING is cultivating a hopeful sense of anticipation for what is to come. ADVENTING is spending our time w-a-i-t-i-n-g.
Preparing for who? Waiting for what? Who is coming?
Jesus – The Christ, The Way, The Truth, The Life. Messiah. Immanuel – God-with-us.
Jesus came 2000ish years ago, taking on the very nature of humanity. He was a babe, born with flesh and blood. Jesus came and dwelt among us.
Jesus entered this world to invite all of Creation to follow him in a cosmic dance of Love, Joy, Justice, Abundance. Jesus came to reset the world order and install a New Way of Being in the world: A New Way of breathing, eating, purchasing, schooling, wife-ing, huband-ing, parenting, friending, neighboring, working, living. The coming of the Kingdom of God is the Way of Peace in a world of war. The coming of the Kingdom of Heaven is the Way of Hope in the fog of despair. The coming of the Kingdom is the Way of Child-like Joy in a world of adult pessimism. Repent/Rearrange, for the Kingdom is at hand in the person of Jesus.
In 2012, the Spirit of Jesus knocks on the door of our hearts. In 2012, Jesus is up to SOMETHING profound right here and now, in you and me, and our next door neighbor, as well as our global neighbor in Thailand.
And yet…Jesus is still coming to further activate Good News throughout the world. Advent is a season of Already-but-not-Yet. The horizon is about to burst forth with an unfathomable Light.
The most pertinent question: Are we paying attention?
Other questions arise too: Are we waiting for a daring rescue? Are we on the edge of our seats anticipating a game-altering drive more dynamic than your favorite quarterback's fourth quarter comeback? Are we planning for the arrival of Jesus like we plan our shopping lists? Do we have eyes to see and ears to hear? Are we Stopping! Looking! Listening! for the voice of Jesus in the midst of all the other voices? Are we chasing after the Light on the horizon? Are we hoping for Tomorrow to bring about a brand, spakin’ new world? In other words, are we ADVENTING?
We hope this blogsite along with a variety of community practices, events and festivities ignites a discovery or rediscovery of the Advent, and more importantly, an transformational encounter with the Way that is Jesus. We will not claim participation in Advent as being an end-all, cure-all to our numerous ills, but we believe the practice of Adventing can birth a healthy rhythm to stabilize and infuse an otherwise frail view of Christmas.
This blog begins an attempt by the Coastal Community Church leadership to facilitate dialogue, interaction, and a further provoking of the Gospel of Jesus.
Each morning from Sunday, December 2nd -Thursday, December 24th, we will unwrap a fresh post meant to orient our view toward the Way of Jesus. Some posts will be inspirational, others may convict or spur some sort of change, while others are simple meditations to STOP, LOOK, LISTEN, TASTE, SEE the GOD-WITH-US. Many posts will invite you into a practical response of Love.
Enjoy & Happy Adventing…
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