Dear loved ones,
With online shopping getting more and more popular, it’s very common these days to see mail carriers coming to the door with multiple packages. As the doorbell rings, we are filled with two questions. First, “Is it for ME?” and, if so, second, “What IS it?” Unless you have zero impulse control and simply rip the package open, most of us embark on a highly scientific process to discover its contents. Our speculation is informed by several factors, including the size and weight of the box, any markings on the box such as “fragile”, and if we can remember any “clues” we may have dropped to loved ones as to something we might want or need for the holidays.
The Baby Jesus was laid in a box (manger) when he was born in a dusty outpost of the Roman Empire 2,000 years ago. For many people, that’s as far as their concept of Jesus goes. They’ve never considered much past the nativity scene when thinking about Christ. They’ve confined Jesus to the limits of their own understanding of what they can see, hear, feel, or experience.
Our purpose this advent season is to get you to begin thinking outside of the “box”. However big or small your understanding of Jesus is… it’s too small. Most scholars agree that Colossians 1:15-20 was part of an early Christian hymn, most likely read or sung as part of an early church worship gathering. It is poetic and rhythmic, soaring above everyday prose and mind boggling in theological depth and breadth of insight and inspiration. I hope you’ll experience Christ in a new and deeper way because of this amazing passage of the Bible. Read over it and let it sink deep into your heart and mind.
Two of our long-time worshippers and choir members are seeing Jesus in all of His fullness–Jack Trageser and Frank Messersmith went to be with the Lord this week. Jack’s memorial service will be Tuesday, December 10th at 4pm at Valley Church.
In Christ,
Kurt
P.S. Thank you for your prayers for our team while we were in Turkey. I’ll be sharing a bit about that in our services this weekend.