{ADVENT}URE and Christmas Party Photos

We finished our {ADVENT}URE  study last night at the Christmas Party. Scripture says, "God's spirit beckons there are things to do and places to go! This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid grave-tending life. It's ADVENTUROUSLY EXPECTANT  greeting God with a childlike "What's Next Papa?"

The Christian life should be one of adventure. Adventure is defined as an "exciting and unusual experience, typically hazardous experience." Adventure is what makes good stories great.

The stories we read of Mary and Joseph is an adventurous and scandalous one. The idea of "Jesus' birth" wasn't a very welcomed one at first for Mary and Joseph. Mary when she first heard of this unusual idea that God was up to was "troubled". And Joseph when he heard wanted to get rid of Mary by divorcing her. How would it look for Mary to be pregnant, unmarried, and a virgin? Her image is at stake. And even more Mary seeing to be with child out of wedlock could be a death sentence. This story has hazard written all over it.

But the story we read in scripture doesn't end with scandal but instead in a glorious resurrection. Christ came in the midst of their messy world. Folks often times believe that they have to get their "act together" before they come to Jesus. Jesus meets us best in the midst of our messy life.

The challenge for many of us is how we choose to handle our messiness. Joseph's original plan with the whole birth situation was giving up and absolving himself of the situation. A friend hurts you so you disown that friend. You make a bad play in a sport so you never play again. Giving up is probably our number one go to with how to deal with problems.

Yet giving up doesn't tell a very warming story. we choose to pray instead of giving up when life gets messy. We choose to dive deeper into scripture and the community of faith. And I know this might seem like the Christian thing to say. But if we read scripture and begin to do what it says a great story arises. And character develops.

I see this story of Adventure playing out with our youth. They wanted to serve more locally so they took on the leadership of helping those in need. It is recognizing that our world is a mess but I am going to be apart of Christ' work coming in to the world. That is a better story. That is the story Christians are to tell. And that is the story we usher in expectation each Advent season. Christ is coming.

So... Merry Christmas! And here are the pictures...  from the party. Enjoy.

Youth serving this past Saturday!