There is more common ground between Muslims and Christians then we think. In his helpful book, Muslims, Christians and Jesus , Carl Medearis, an expert on Islam who lived among Muslims for twelve years, explains just how much!
Advent is a time where we ready ourselves to celebrate Jesus coming into the world as a helpless baby and at the same time, prepare for His return as Triumphant King. We tell the Story of Jesus and His love. While that never gets old, each year we try to tell the Story in ways that make the Word-Made-Flesh more of a reality and in the telling, we find ourselves in this epic saga of Love winning all.
Until last week, I had never heard about the Advent Conspiracy. But when I received an e-mail about it from Yolanda about it on the same day that Pastor Brian Bell from Trulls Road Free Methodist Church asked me if I was acquainted with it, I knew that the Lord was trying to tell me something.
Last Sunday (Nov 15), during the 11 a.m. service, a woman entered the sanctuary and spoke out loud. She seemed to be praising God and the Praise Team gently thanked her for an apparent charismatic manifestation of the Holy Spirit. In actuality, something else was going on and it seems good to let everyone know what happened and that it was handled so well by everyone involved.
Indecision is a difficult place to be. You make lists of pros and cons. You pray for guidance and clarity and a clear sense of God’s call. You talk to wise people who know you and love you. On some days, you’re convinced that God wants you here. On other days, you believe that he wants you there