Light in the Darkness: A Series for Advent Part Two – Shadows
Read Part 1.
As the darkness gives way to the daylight, we notice long shadows—perhaps moving directly upon us.
Shadows have the capacity to unnerve—even frighten us. Sometimes the shadows may be mistaken for something real. At other times, something real may be hiding in the shadows.
Shadows make us uncomfortable. They represent incompleteness and uncertainty—”variation or shadow of turning” (Js. 1:17).
Discussion
Why does Hanukkah start on Christmas this year?
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“Typically, the miracle of Hanukkah is celebrated in early to mid-December, though the date varies each year depending on how the Hebrew calendar aligns with the solar calendar.” - Religion Unplugged
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When Christmas Expectations Are Ruined
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“As I read the Christmas story that year, I saw I was in good company as a mom when my festive expectations were dashed. Mary was the first mother to experience Christmas, and I doubt it was what she expected” - TGC
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Light in the Darkness: A Series for Advent Part One – Darkness
Darkness, to our sight, corresponds to silence, in our hearing. It is the absence of any stimulus to inform, direct or encourage us.
But darkness also entails a moral component. Darkness, by its very nature, spreads a covering over sin (see John 3:19-21; 8:12; 12:35, 46; Eph. 5:11-14).
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Not the Halloween You Remember
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“On the calendar, Halloween always falls on October 31. But we Christians are often confused about which cultural moment we’re currently in: Are we back in the era where we condemn the day as an evil, pagan practice? Or are we in the stage where it’s seen as (mostly) harmless fun?” - TGC
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‘Been So Long Praying’: 4 Reasons Why I Observe Juneteenth
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“’My mother,’ Washington wrote, ‘…explained to us what it all meant, that this was the day for which she had been so long praying but fearing that she would never live to see.’” - TGC
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What If the Church Had a “Looking Forward Day”?
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“Wouldn’t it be great if children growing up in Christian homes looked forward to additional God-centered holidays…. I like Richard’s idea of a ‘Looking Forward Day,’ as in “looking forward to a new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home” (2 Peter 3:13).” - Randy Alcorn
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‘From the Beginning of the Year’
The holidays are over once again. And, for all that I did to try to hold on to it, the last week of the year has escaped me, as well.
I love the holidays, and I’ve written much about them in the past. I’ve especially shared my thoughts in previous columns about the importance of using the closing days of the year to plan for the months ahead. I have also described my intention to spend the first eight months of the year, in essence, preparing for the last four.
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Uncomfortable Christmases: Witnessing to Family at the Holidays
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“How do we navigate this terrain? ….framing the topic through before, during, and after scenarios might ease the burden of our endeavor.” - Desiring God
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