This afternoon I thought I would pass along some links that might be of help to you or to someone you care about during this Advent and Christmas season. I am not going to suggest every possible resource out there, just a few good quality sites. Some provide daily readings, prayers, and other personal devotionalContinue reading “Resources for the Season”
Category Archives: Advent
Another Look: Living in the In-Between
NOTE: Advent started Sunday, and the sky has been falling here ever since. Rain, rain, and more rain; followed by falling temperatures and snow. It has been all haze and fog and spray coming up off the road on my windshield. Perpetual gray. Gloom. Each day has been a “I want to crawl under theContinue reading “Another Look: Living in the In-Between”
The Anguished Seriousness of Advent
Monday Merton Musings, November 28, 2011 The Anguished Seriousness of Advent Today, we hear some of Thomas Merton’s thoughts on the Advent season. The certainty of Christian hope lies beyond passion and beyond knowledge. Therefore we must sometimes expect our hope to come in conflict with darkness, desperation and ignorance. Therefore, too, we must rememberContinue reading “The Anguished Seriousness of Advent”
Advent I: What Fruit Remains
First Sunday of Advent November 27, 2011 Isaiah 64:1-9 Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Mark 13:24-37 Prayer of the Day Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. By your merciful protection waken us to the threatening dangers of our sins, and keep us blameless until the coming of your new day, for youContinue reading “Advent I: What Fruit Remains”
iMonk Classic: Michael Spencer Helps Us Prepare for Advent
Classic iMonk Post by Michael Spencer From November, 2008 Original Title: “Riffs: Joseph Bottum on the End of Advent (and the horror of our version of Christmas)” Many years ago, we made a decision to, as much as possible, speak of Advent and not of Christmas, until Christmas. I’ve never been able to hold offContinue reading “iMonk Classic: Michael Spencer Helps Us Prepare for Advent”
Advent IV: The Honor and Humility of Mary
By Chaplain Mike Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. • Isaiah 7:14, NIV It’s time again for the annual “Mary” discussion. This is the one time of year when Protestants are forced to consider her as theyContinue reading “Advent IV: The Honor and Humility of Mary”
iMonk Classic: The Unlikely Outrage of the Gospel of Light
Classic iMonk Post by Michael Spencer From December 20, 2006 Note from CM: This was a sermon Michael wrote for the Advent season. It was expanded from a talk he gave at soli deo on 1/19/06. “There is, in fact, no worldview more reprehensible in its arrogance than that of a religious believer: the creatorContinue reading “iMonk Classic: The Unlikely Outrage of the Gospel of Light”
Losers Who Win
8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!†he said. “I bring you good news that will bringContinue reading “Losers Who Win”
The Contexts of Faith
Much Christian piety and spirituality is romantic and unreal in its positiveness. As children of the Enlightenment, we have censored and selected around the voice of darkness and disorientation, seeking to go from strength to strength, from victory to victory. But such a way not only ignores the Psalms; it is a lie in termsContinue reading “The Contexts of Faith”
Nouwen on Waiting
By Chaplain Mike For your contemplation today during this season of Advent, here are some words of profound insight from Henri Nouwen. Advent is the time when we practice the discipline of waiting. We focus our attention on the hope to come. We set our hearts on God’s not-yet-seen promises rather than our unfulfilling circumstancesContinue reading “Nouwen on Waiting”
The Internet Monk Archives 