Comments on: Advent Blog 22: What do we hope for? http://christchurchfw.org/2009/12/advent-blog-22-what-do-we-hope-for/ a network of Missional Communities seeking to join with God in the renewal of all things Fri, 24 Feb 2012 23:59:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Ben http://christchurchfw.org/2009/12/advent-blog-22-what-do-we-hope-for/comment-page-1/#comment-202 Ben Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:52:37 +0000 http://christchurchfw.org/?p=710#comment-202 The fact that God is hard to recognize when he shows up has haunted me for years. One thing I find interesting is later in the story, one of the gospel writers says that the tax collectors and prostitutes recognized Jesus as the Messiah because they had been baptized by John. But because the Pharisees refused to be baptized by John, they did not recognize him. If we can maintain that "baptized by John" posture (repentance), I think we'll be able to recognize Jesus when he shows up, even if he does surprise us (like the disciples). The fact that God is hard to recognize when he shows up has haunted me for years. One thing I find interesting is later in the story, one of the gospel writers says that the tax collectors and prostitutes recognized Jesus as the Messiah because they had been baptized by John. But because the Pharisees refused to be baptized by John, they did not recognize him.

If we can maintain that “baptized by John” posture (repentance), I think we’ll be able to recognize Jesus when he shows up, even if he does surprise us (like the disciples).

]]> By: Dan http://christchurchfw.org/2009/12/advent-blog-22-what-do-we-hope-for/comment-page-1/#comment-201 Dan Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:45:03 +0000 http://christchurchfw.org/?p=710#comment-201 Wow. This idea has enormous ramifications. So if Jesus showed up and didn't speak like Sean Hannity, or Jim Wallis, or Billy Graham, or...(you get the idea), would I crucify him? (likely not, we're too tolerant today..I would simply mock and make fun of him on a religious blog) I think I need to incorporate this into my prayer life in a much more intentional way. Thanks for the reminder, Joshua. Wow. This idea has enormous ramifications. So if Jesus showed up and didn’t speak like Sean Hannity, or Jim Wallis, or Billy Graham, or…(you get the idea), would I crucify him? (likely not, we’re too tolerant today..I would simply mock and make fun of him on a religious blog) I think I need to incorporate this into my prayer life in a much more intentional way. Thanks for the reminder, Joshua.

]]> By: joshua http://christchurchfw.org/2009/12/advent-blog-22-what-do-we-hope-for/comment-page-1/#comment-200 joshua Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:40:27 +0000 http://christchurchfw.org/?p=710#comment-200 Thanks Carol. Your follow up comment resonated with something I was thinking after I read your first comment. It is a little cheesy, but a friend once said, the Bible is a scalpel not a sword. It was meant to be used to help us go through that refining, and instead we like to grab it and wield it as a weapon to cut others down. Thanks Carol. Your follow up comment resonated with something I was thinking after I read your first comment. It is a little cheesy, but a friend once said, the Bible is a scalpel not a sword. It was meant to be used to help us go through that refining, and instead we like to grab it and wield it as a weapon to cut others down.

]]> By: carolss http://christchurchfw.org/2009/12/advent-blog-22-what-do-we-hope-for/comment-page-1/#comment-199 carolss Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:32:33 +0000 http://christchurchfw.org/?p=710#comment-199 epiphany addendum: Speaking of knowing who is the enemy, I think back to our first Advent reading (advent Blog 8), about Jesus coming to refine us, purify us. Sometimes the Jews were kicked around due to their own disobedience. Many times, I want Jesus to come and even the score, but what I'm often blind to is that my situation is a result of my own disobedience...log in my own eye, if you know what I mean. I'm glad that Jesus chose me where I was at, instead of waiting for me to first clean up my act...a good thing for me to remember during this time of being with friends and extended family. epiphany addendum: Speaking of knowing who is the enemy, I think back to our first Advent reading (advent Blog 8), about Jesus coming to refine us, purify us. Sometimes the Jews were kicked around due to their own disobedience. Many times, I want Jesus to come and even the score, but what I’m often blind to is that my situation is a result of my own disobedience…log in my own eye, if you know what I mean. I’m glad that Jesus chose me where I was at, instead of waiting for me to first clean up my act…a good thing for me to remember during this time of being with friends and extended family.

]]> By: carolss http://christchurchfw.org/2009/12/advent-blog-22-what-do-we-hope-for/comment-page-1/#comment-198 carolss Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:07:33 +0000 http://christchurchfw.org/?p=710#comment-198 Josh-very good thoughts. Maybe one of the reasons the Jews missed it was because who they perceived to be their enemy wasn't really the primary enemy, just as Bethlehem wasn’t perceived as the right size for the tribe from which the Messiah would come? In this season of Jesus as 'baby child, meek and mild,' I know I forget that Jesus came to defeat an enemy...the primary enemy. Sometimes, the people I see as the enemy of my plans are only pawns of the primary enemy. I WANT Jesus to come with justice and exact revenge on an enemy, and I want to be part of the action, but I want it to be the true enemy. I know I need Jesus to bring an epiphany in my own life to be able to see the primary enemy, so I’m not just wildly swinging the (s)word of truth, slashing and wounding randomly. May God grant us more light for better sight to see the real enemy of his advancing kingdom. Josh-very good thoughts.

Maybe one of the reasons the Jews missed it was because who they perceived to be their enemy wasn’t really the primary enemy, just as Bethlehem wasn’t perceived as the right size for the tribe from which the Messiah would come? In this season of Jesus as ‘baby child, meek and mild,’ I know I forget that Jesus came to defeat an enemy…the primary enemy. Sometimes, the people I see as the enemy of my plans are only pawns of the primary enemy. I WANT Jesus to come with justice and exact revenge on an enemy, and I want to be part of the action, but I want it to be the true enemy. I know I need Jesus to bring an epiphany in my own life to be able to see the primary enemy, so I’m not just wildly swinging the (s)word of truth, slashing and wounding randomly. May God grant us more light for better sight to see the real enemy of his advancing kingdom.

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