<font color='black' size='4' face='Times New Roman, Times, serif'>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Jesus Is Coming!</span><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:
"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#666666"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">One of my dearest friends applied for a position that required him
to instruct and inspire younger people. His interviewer and evaluator asked
him, "Tell me about your walk with Jesus." My friend replied,
"You know, everywhere I go, no matter where or when, I find that Jesus has
arrived there first. Wherever I go, Jesus is already there." The evaluator
made no reply; he had no idea what to say, and my friend was never offered the
job. Was his response too theologically subtle? Jesus is not the Lord whom we
discover or define or claim. Jesus comes to us. We do not summon Him by any
action of our own. Jesus is God's gift. While we were yet sinners, he was
born, died, and raised again for us that we might inherit n ew life. <br>
<br>
Advent announces that Jesus is coming and not through any action of our own. We
do not deserve it. Advent happens. Advent means that Jesus comes again and for
all time, at Christmas, this Christmas.</span><span style="font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#666666"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Edward S. Gleason, In the Time of This Mortal Life</span><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:
Arial;color:#666666"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">________________________</span><span style="font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#666666"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The Return of the King</span><span style="font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#666666"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">John Phillips, in his book Exploring Revelation, tells about the
return of Richard I, the Lionhearted, to England. It was during the time of the
crusades. While Richard was away doing battle in the Mideast, his kingdom fell
on bad times. His brother, Prince John, justly vilified in the tales of Robin
Hood, usurped the kingdom and misruled the realm. The people of England
suffered under John’s rule and longed for the return of their rightful king.
They prayed that it might be soon. Then one day Richard returned. He landed in
England and marched straight for his throne. John’s castles tumbled before
Richard like ninepins. Richard the Lionhearted laid claim to his throne, and
none dared stand in his path. The people shouted their delight. They rang peal
after peal on the bells. The Lion was back! Long live the king! </span><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:
Arial;color:#666666"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">John Phillips adds these hopeful words: “One day a King greater
than Richard will lay claim to a realm greater than England. Those who have
abused the earth in His absence, seized His domains, and mismanaged His world
will all be swept aside.” </span><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:
"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#666666"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br>
That day’s coming, friends, and it will be a grand and glorious day. Get ready.
No one knows when it will be. But get ready. No one knows what shape it will
take, but we know this: God’s in charge and God can be trusted. What I say to
you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”<br>
<br>
King Duncan, Collected Sermons, </span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;
color:#666666"><a href="http://mail.churchmail.com/lists/lt.php?id=Kk8GBwYDDgFVCgJJAQcAC05QW1YECA%3D%3D" target="_blank" style="cursor:pointer"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:
"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">www.Sermons.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br>
____________________________</span><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:
"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#666666"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Second Coming – Readiness</span><span style="font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#666666"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">While on a South Pole expedition, British explorer Sir Ernest
Shackleton left a few men on Elephant Island, promising that he would return. Later,
when he tried to go back, huge icebergs blocked the way. But suddenly, as if by
a miracle, an avenue opened in the ice and Shackleton was able to get through.
His men, ready and waiting, quickly scrambled aboard. No sooner had the ship
cleared the island than the ice crashed together behind them. Contemplating
their narrow escape, the explorer said to his men, "It was fortunate you
were all packed and ready to go!" They replied, "We never gave up
hope. Whenever the sea was clear of ice, we rolled up our sleeping bags and
reminded each other, 'He may come today.'"</span><span style="font-size:
8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#666666"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Unknown</span><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#666666"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">____________________</span><span style="font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#666666"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Stay and Shine</span><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:
"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#666666"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Sue Monk Kidd tells about when her daughter was small and got the
dubious part of the Bethlehem star in a Christmas play. After her first
rehearsal, she burst through the door with her costume, a five-pointed star
lined in shiny gold tinsel designed to drape over her like a sandwich board.
"What exactly will you be doing in the play?" her mother asked her.</span><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:
Arial;color:#666666"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">"I just stand there and shine," her daughter answered.
Sue Monk Kidd says she has never forgotten that response…</span><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:
Arial;color:#666666"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Many additional illustrations, sermons, and commentary for this
week, the rest of Advent, Christmas, and the whole church year can be accessed
at <a href="http://www.sermons.com/" target="_blank" style="cursor:pointer"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#666666;
text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">www.Sermons.com</span></a>.</span><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:
Arial;color:#666666"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
</font>