If anyone else is, let me know and I’ll add you. It’s not too late for anyone to join us.
Thanks everyone for the contributions on blogs, Twitter and the Facebook page. It would be a lonely journey by myself, I’m loving the different angles that others are seeing.
Join us readingWalking Backwards to Christmasby Stephen Cottrell from SPCK Publishing this advent. Be part of #adventbookclub, share your thoughts here, on your own blog (and let us know we’ll link to it), on Twitter using #adventbookclub or on the Adventbookclub Facebookpage
2 When Jesus was born in the village of Bethlehem in Judea, Herod was king. During this time some wise men from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and said, “Where is the child born to be king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
10 They were thrilled and excited to see the star.
11 When the men went into the house and saw the child with Mary, his mother, they knelt down and worshiped him. They took out their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh and gave them to him. 12 Later they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, and they went back home by another road.
We saw the signs, we had to come. A new King. We want to be here, we want to worship, we have brought our offerings.
Stephen Cottrell introduces us to Casper.
One who knows the value of the darkness, because in that he can see the guiding, pulling light. In the daylight all is bright, the power of the light cannot be seen. One who dreams, and follows those dreams. One whose focus is not on the space in front of him, but wide and big. An interpreter, helping others to see and understand. A man who looks, and sees. And then does.
Lord,
in this journey through Advent,
may I look,
see
and act.
May I seek you out,
worship you
and offer my gifts before you.
As I come,
seeking a king,
may I not be distracted,
or swayed by the obvious,
but seek the truth,
the reality,
the light
of you.
Join us readingWalking Backwards to Christmasby Stephen Cottrell from SPCK Publishing this advent. Be part of #adventbookclub, share your thoughts here, on your own blog (and let us know we’ll link to it), on Twitter using #adventbookclub or on the Adventbookclub Facebookpage
3 When King Herod heard about this, he was worried, and so was everyone else in Jerusalem. 4 Herod brought together the chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses and asked them, “Where will the Messiah be born?”
5 They told him, “He will be born in Bethlehem, just as the prophet wrote,
6 ’Bethlehem in the land
of Judea,
you are very important
among the towns of Judea.
From your town
will come a leader,
who will be like a shepherd
for my people Israel.’”
7 Herod secretly called in the wise men and asked them when they had first seen the star. 8 He told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, let me know. I want to go and worship him too.”
A threat to my power? By someone who might actually know something? A real king? With God on his side? Now I am worried.
I’ve always worried that I’d be found out. That this precarious little kingdom I’ve built for myself would be brought down. This cannot happen. I’ve got to get on to this – now, before it gets out of hand. He will have to go. I don’t care what pain or distress I cause – after all, the end will justify the means.
This passage always reminds me of this scene from The Lion King, where Scar is adamant the king will be killed – so that he can be king, rising entirely from his jealousy.
This King must go – Herod’s thoughts entirely!
When we feel frightened or threatened we can make some really stupid choices. Sometimes those choices have huge repercussions – for ourselves and for those innocently caught up.
I try so hard,
to do the right thing,
for the best;
but sometimes
I am coming from the wrong place,
looking after me,
acting from fear,
not love.
Sometimes I get things spectacularly wrong,
even with the best of intentions,
and others get caught up
in the results of my decisions.
Forgive me Lord
my wrong decisions,
my stupid choices,
my misguided actions.
I pray for wisdom
and a clear sense of your way forward.
Help me to deal with my emotions,
so that I am not responding from the wrong place;
to live in confidence of you.
Join us readingWalking Backwards to Christmasby Stephen Cottrell from SPCK Publishing this advent. Be part of #adventbookclub, share your thoughts here, on your own blog (and let us know we’ll link to it), on Twitter using #adventbookclub or on the Adventbookclub Facebookpage
Pam's Perambulation 