Advent is one of my favourite seasons of the Christian calendar.

Why?

This year I am finding myself quite off-kilter as I anticipate Advent and Christmas.  Walter and I have experienced so many changes in our "normal" in the past year that I am having to re-examine why for a lot of things.

Why am I in the ministry?  Why do I find change difficult?  Why do I like people and hate computers?  Why do I like church?  Why do I enjoy music, writing, baking, birds, flowers?  Why do we live where we live and do what we do?

So as I see some snow on the ground and hear Christmas carols playing in the grocery store, I am feeling out of sorts from the usual excitement of the holidays.  Because what we used to do in the Advent season is now a thing of our past.  Our familiar traditions are being replaced by new ones.  Embracing the new means stripping away the former and prioritizing what was important about the old.  What do I keep from my traditional Christmas habits and rituals?  What can I remove, let fall by the wayside as I experience a new church body and our new additions to our family?

Why has Advent been a treasured tradition to me?

I love decorating our home and the Christmas tree.  The dining room we built on our house is transformed from the Thanksgiving fall theme to a twinkling, green and red extravaganza!  We play familiar Christmas CD's or albums on my phone through a Bluetooth speaker.  We reminisce of Christmases past when children were little and sometimes repair ornaments that have been well-loved over the years!  The memories we have made stir up joy and love.

I love when our family is together.  Our Christmas plans are different every year, but at some point our kids will congregate here.  We will add a daughter-in-law on New Year's Day so that is something new and beautiful to anticipate!  Extended family usually join us for some festivities and it is a blessing to use our home for the ministry of hospitality.  The food, the laughter, the movies and the games we play are annual traditions that are especially part of our family celebrations.

But of course, my favourite part of Christmas is the reason we celebrate:  JESUS.

When my mom and sister and I lived in Kisbey, we started a tradition that I have continued.  We made a series of letters that spell "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" out of old Christmas cards and strung them on yarn or string.  We hung it in the living room of our mobile home.  I think since our first or second Christmas, Walter and I have hung our own birthday sign in a prominent place.  Occasionally people will come into our home and ask "Who's birthday is it?"  Then when it dawns on them that it is Jesus' birthday, they go, "Oh, right!"  It is a wonderful reminder of why we celebrate this holiday.

"I'm coming back to the heart of worship, and it's all about You, all about You, Jesus..." (Matt Redman)

"Jesus, be the center; be my source, be my life, Jesus.  Jesus, be the center, be my hope, be my song, Jesus.  Be the fire in my heart, be the wind in these sails, be the reason that I live - Jesus, Jesus.    Jesus, be my vision, be my path, be my guide, Jesus."  (Michael Frye)

Yes, I am holding on to Jesus in the midst of the changes and new traditions flooding my life.  I am holding on to the blessing of my husband and family as we continue to build new memories.  And I am going to give and serve and sing and rejoice with the church family God has given us because it is all about JESUS!

 I ran into someone Walter and I have known for over twenty-five years, just as I was going about my errands and appointments today.  He asked how we were doing and what we were up to now.  This guy used to be a bus driver and now is working for Canada Post.  Over the years, we have done many funerals for his relatives.  He and some of his family are Christians and many of them are musical.   Our conversation got me thinking... 

As I filled him in on our lives and our new ministry responsibilities with NCEM, he asked us where we go to church now.  When I asked him where he was involved, he shrugged and told me "No where."

He told me how disillusioned he was with churches and with religion.  He felt that many preachers were over-emphasizing hell and using fear to drive people.  What about God's love and mercy?

As we talked, I got the distinct impression that this man was looking for excuses to not attend church or not use his gift of music to serve the Lord.  I agreed with some of his points, but wondered if he was adjusting his beliefs because he found the spiritual walk with Christ too hard.  Was he watering down the Gospel message to suit himself and those around him?

So here's what I was thinking after I drove away from northcentral Regina: "...the love of many will grow cold."  (Matthew 24:12b)

Following Jesus is not an easy thing.  If it was, everybody would be doing it!  For those in First Nations culture, the Christian way means giving up spiritual practices of their culture.  It means being ridiculed for accepting "Whiteman's religion".  It means turning away from lifestyles that may have included gang life, addictions, abuse, criminal activity and broken relationships that hold back from healthy choices.

Following Jesus for ANYBODY involves these things.  If anyone wants to be a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, they must "deny themselves "(Matthew 16:24), and give up their old way of life.  The fact is, our "old ways" do not bring us peace, do not relieve us of our guilt for sins and do not fix broken relationships.  So leaving behind useless and futile methods of coping with stress and struggle should actually be appealing!

The promise is that if we deny ourselves - in other words repent - we leave behind our heavy burden.  Sin is a burden.  Guilt, pain, regret, sorrow are all consequences of our sin.  We can't get rid of them no matter what psychological tricks we play on ourselves.  We can try to hide, mask our pain, sedate and medicate our guilt but we can never get rid of the burden.

Jesus said He can.  He promises to forgive us our sins when we confess them and repent of them.  "If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  (1 John 1:9)  

In the course of believing in Christ and accepting His offer of forgiveness and salvation, many people find the "following" part too hard.  Loving everyone, going to church, reading the Bible, avoiding temptation and giving up old friends and ways...many find it to be a bunch of rules...which becomes religion.

Too bad this guy who had once been a vibrant and dedicated member of a church, has now given up on  fellowship and chosen to be on the outside.  He may have been right in pointing out the faults and weaknesses of certain people who become harsh in their faith and presentation of the Gospel.  But if we give up on our church family and draw away, we become vulnerable to the enemy's attack.

"And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.  And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.  And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold."  (Matthew 24:10-12)

If we don't stay close to the Shepherd and hang out with the sheep, we do become easy prey for the wolf!  There will be wolves, false prophets, who teach things that aren't from the Bible.  They will water down the message of the Gospel by de-emphasizing hell, sin, the devil and many other very critical points of truth.  

"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth..." (II Timothy 4:3 & 4)

And if we think we can continue to grow spiritually by having church at home, by learning online and doing our own research, we can surround ourselves with teachers who preach what suits us.  That's a dangerous place to be!  God gave us the church and pastors and each other so we can grow and be accountable.  We are protected by the Shepherd best when we stay in the fold!  And our faith will not grow cold but we will be warmed by others' faith, as well.

I am praying for our friend who I encountered today.  I hope he remembers our conversation and is motivated to get back into fellowship with God and His people.