December 21st, 2019

Welcome to my Advent Blog, this is the 12th of 13 blogs and I encourage you to read them in order. We are exploring ways to rediscover the child-like faith we once had.

Yesterday, I went with my family to see Star Wars Rise of Skywalker (the ninth in and conclusion of the saga).  They began the first of the three trilogies in 1977 when I was this thirteen and they are concluding them in 2019 when my daughter is thirteen. Don't worry, I am not here today to talk about how great Star wars is, or even how bad it is. I am here to talk about good and evil, right and wrong.

Children have always been fascinated by fairy tales. They love a good story; a story where evil looks like it will win the day but the heroes overcome impossible odds and, at the last possible moment, win the day.

We live in a gray world, I won’t deny that. In fact, I believe that many things are a combination of right and wrong or good and evil. No person today is truly good and no one human being is truly evil. But there is evil and there is good. There is right and wrong. I don’t believe society determines all these issues. God has laid them down for us in His Word and the Word became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ.

Whether the latest Star Wars movie is enjoyable, regardless of how entertaining it is, I will watch as the 13 year old boy in me comes alive. I will see good and evil fight. I believe good will win. I will be reminded of the timeless themes. I will remind myself that they are true. We are in a battle. There is a good side and a bad side. As strong as evil looks at times, good will win the day. I believe this with all my heart because I believe in Christmas.  I believe the baby was both God and human. He was and is the hero that we have all longed for. The fairy tale is no myth. In fact, it is our only hope.

May the Joy of Christmas be with you, always.  

​The next blog will be posted Tuesday, Dec 24. Please feel free to comment below.
Pastor Dan