The dentist is torture.

In a text that made the rounds through our leadership this past Sunday, one of our elders, I thought, summed up in three words my feelings exactly. He wrote, “Great Service Today!” It was indeed. The music was terrific. John Robertson presented a thought-provoking song he wrote, “The Last Line.” John has sung several songs he has written since he has been a part of New Life. Then, Tonya Krueger closed our service, reminding us of the power of the redemptive works of Jesus with the song, “The Power of the Cross.” Thank you, John and Tonya, for sharing your talents with us.

I had a dentist appointment this week and while I was waiting for the torture to begin I picked up a copy of the devotional book, “Our Daily Bread”. I think it was a couple of years old, (you know how the reading material in a doctror’s waiting room is) but I was pleased that it was among the reading material offered. I read a couple of the devotions that came from the Old Testament that focused on the arrival of Jesus, and I thought about how long the world had waited for the promise that God had given to Adam and Eve to be fulfilled.

All through the Old Testament, we find evidence of the anticipation of the coming of the Messiah, but no Messiah at that time. While I was thinking about that, my mind rushed to the account in Luke 2 of Jesus being presented in the Temple and the encounter with a man named Simeon. Luke reports that Simeon was a righteous and devout man who “was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come.” (NLT) When Joseph and Mary brought Jesus into the Temple, Simeon picked Him up and said to God, “I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” (Luke 2:30-32 - NLT)

I would imagine that all of us can remember when we were kids how it seemed that Christmas would never arrive. To be honest, that probably had more to do with presents than it did with the birth of Jesus. We have made it through all the focus and activity of our 20th anniversary, and now the focus has changed and is now on the celebration of the coming of Jesus, our Redeemer.

Two more quick things. Don’t forget to set your clocks back Saturday night as Daylight Savings Time ends. Service times stay the same the only difference is that you will get an extra hour of sleep this weekend. This will result in more people staying awake during the sermon! Just kidding!

I noticed an email that came through announcing that there are only 89 shoe boxes left for the Christmas Child activity. We should be able to wipe that out this Sunday. Thanks for all of you who are participating!