Advent 2008 devotions

JAN. 9 - THE MARK OF THE SPIRIT

8 Jan 2009 10:26 EST

By Tamara Shantz, assistant campus pastor SCRIPTURE: Mark 1:4-11 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. ---------- DEVOTIONAL: The Holy Spirit, whether in the form of a wind from God, the voice of God, a dove or spoken tongues, plays a prominent role in every one of our Scripture verses for this week. God's Spirit is present ...

JAN. 8 - IT WAS THE HOLY SPIRIT

7 Jan 2009 15:12 EST

By Doug Schirch, associate professor of chemistry SCRIPTURE: Acts 19:1-7 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. ---------- DEVOTIONAL: As a professor at another college, when I told my advisee (a new transfer student from a community college) that he had to take three required courses in philosophy as part of his new general ...

JAN. 7 - WHAT HAS CHANGED?

6 Jan 2009 18:01 EST

By Karen Graber, a senior elementary education major from Hurley, S.D. SCRIPTURE: Psalm 29 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. ---------- DEVOTIONAL: Listen to the powerful words of this Psalm: God of mighty waters breaks the cedars, flashes flames of fire, shakes the wilderness, whirls the solid oaks and is enthroned over...

JAN. 6 - 'THAT'S GOOD'

5 Jan 2009 16:19 EST

JAN. 5 - LET THERE BE LIGHT

4 Jan 2009 13:23 EST

By Jo-Ann Brant, professor of Bible, religion and philosophy THIS WEEK'S THEME: Let there be light ---------- DEVOTIONAL: The sky's vault is solid grey cloud. I am watching the life ebb from my parents' bodies. I hesitate to turn to my news source for fear of being confronted by a wall of grim headlines. "Let there be light!" on my lips, ...

JAN. 2 - THE PROMISE OF GREATER REWARDS

1 Jan 2009 13:31 EST

By Richard R. Aguirre, director of public relations SCRIPTURE: John 1:10-18 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. ---------- DEVOTIONAL: It's finally 2009, and people are hopeful -- filled with energy and a renewed sense of purpose. Days are getting longer and brighter, most people are (still) keeping their New Year's resolutions and...

JAN. 1 - GATHERING UP ALL THINGS

31 Dec 2008 17:12 EST

By Becky Horst, associate registrar and grants coordinator SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 1:3-14 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. ---------- DEVOTIONAL: Today's Scripture passage is a single very, very long sentence in the original Greek. It is a glorious tangle of clauses and phrases that defy the attempts of theologians to comb...

DEC. 31 - SUBTLE AND NOT SO SUBTLE MESSAGES

30 Dec 2008 11:10 EST

By Vicky Kirkton, professor of nursing SCRIPTURE: Psalm 147:12-20 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. ---------- DEVOTIONAL: Today's Scripture, Psalms 147:12-20, implies an ongoing relationship and involvement that God's people have with God. These nine verses seem to be a laundry list of God's activity here on earth and his special relationship...

DEC. 30 - LIKE A GARDEN IN WINTER

29 Dec 2008 10:55 EST

DEC. 29 - I WILL TURN THEIR MOURNING INTO JOY

28 Dec 2008 15:10 EST

By Jodi Beyeler, news bureau director/writer THIS WEEK'S THEME: I will turn their mourning into joy ---------- DEVOTIONAL: Elkhart County, where I live in Indiana, is experiencing some very hard economic times recently. To be sure, this is true for much of the country and the world right now, but with unemployment having suddenly jumped from...

DEC. 26 - WORTH THE WAIT

25 Dec 2008 10:34 EST

By Jeff Hochstetler, admission counselor SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:22-40 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. ---------- DEVOTIONAL: Most people hate waiting. Perhaps even worse than merely waiting is waiting for something promised to you. Your stomach churns, nerves tingle and heart jumps at the thought of its arrival. As a child, I remember waking...

DEC. 25 - THE BEST GIFT

25 Dec 2008 10:32 EST

By Sam Gordon, a senior American Sign Language Interpreting major from Sugarcreek, Ohio SCRIPTURE: Galatians 4:4-7 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. ---------- DEVOTIONAL: Merry Christmas everyone! As I sat here thinking about this holiday season, I came to think about the tradition of gift giving. Where did this tradition start and why...

DEC. 24 - SO MANY VOICES OF PRAISE

24 Dec 2008 08:49 EST

By Ben Bouwman, a junior social work major from Woodridge, Ill. SCRIPTURE: Psalm 148 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. ---------- DEVOTIONAL: This Psalm speaks for itself; only having read the first four verses, the message is very clear: Praise the Lord! The Psalmist goes on to explain everything that praises God, from the people to animals...

DEC. 23 - THE CHECK IS IN THE MAIL

23 Dec 2008 00:32 EST

By Paul Keim, professor of Bible, religion and philosophy SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 61:10-62:3 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. ---------- DEVOTIONAL: The check is in the mail. That's good news. Soon it will arrive, be cashed and rest securely (I hope) in the bank, powering up my debit card. In the meantime, itÃ¢Â€Â™s in the ...

DEC. 22 - A LIGHT FOR REVELATION

21 Dec 2008 18:58 EST

By Michael Sherer, director of Information Technology Services THIS WEEKâ€™S THEME: A light for revelation ---------- DEVOTIONAL: There is a mystical quality in language, particularly metaphorical language. We know what light is in concrete terms, but when John says that Jesus is the light, his purpose in choosing those words was not...

DEC. 19 - WHEN GOD MAKES A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

18 Dec 2008 17:34 EST

By Tina Peters, a junior physics major from Yellow Springs, Ohio SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:26-38 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. ---------- DEVOTIONAL: The main character in the annunciation to Mary is of course Mary, but she is not who the story is about. This is the story of the identity of Jesus. The Angel Gabriel says to Mary, "...

DEC. 18 - NAME A MYSTERY

17 Dec 2008 14:20 EST

DEC. 17 - GOD'S FAVORED FAMILY LINE

17 Dec 2008 02:01 EST

By Ann Hostetler, professor of English SCRIPTURE: Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. ---------- DEVOTIONAL: As I watch my blue-eyed, olive-skinned granddaughter play with her blocks, I marvel at how she is very much herself, yet bears the genetic codes of multiple family "lines" in her DNA. Her descendants on...

DEC. 16 - GOD'S GOOD AND GROANING WORLD

15 Dec 2008 19:50 EST

By Keith Graber Miller, professor of Bible, religion and philosophy SCRIPTURE: II Samuel 7:1-11, 16 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. ---------- DEVOTIONAL: Over the last decade our family has had many opportunities for global travel and extended sojourns -- to the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Costa Rica, China and Cambodia with ...

DEC. 15 - NAME HIM JESUS

14 Dec 2008 21:18 EST

By Bethany Swope, church relations coordinator THIS WEEK'S THEME: Name him Jesus ---------- DEVOTIONAL: Between bites of a glazed donut, my nephew recently asked what I would name a baby boy. He likes the name David. I donâ€™t know why he asked the question, but I do know that names matter to us. Iâ€™ve always disliked being called...

DEC. 12 - FINDING OUR VOICE AGAIN

11 Dec 2008 22:53 EST

DEC. 11 - A LETTER FROM THE GLOBAL CHURCH

10 Dec 2008 23:00 EST

By Greg Yoder, a senior music major from Perkasie, Pa. SCRIPTURE: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. ---------- DEVOTIONAL: This passage from Paul's first letter to the church of the Thessalonians is nothing if not encouraging. Paul writes to this new and developing church, encouraging them in their faith...

DEC. 10 - FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION

9 Dec 2008 14:35 EST

By Betty Schrag, assistant to the president SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:46-55 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. ---------- DEVOTIONAL: Maryâ€™s Magnificat is a beautiful illustration of her simple faith in a God she learned about from stories passed down through her family line and from others in her faith community. Every October...

DEC. 9 - HOW WILL WE TESTIFY TO THE LIGHT?

8 Dec 2008 22:51 EST

By Bill Born, vice president for student life SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. ---------- DEVOTIONAL: "I donâ€™t think I can celebrate Advent if this is God's idea of being loving and just." These were the words of my brother just five days ago as he looked ahead to the Advent season in the midst...

DEC. 8 - TESTIFY TO THE LIGHT

7 Dec 2008 21:31 EST

By Rachel Lapp, assistant professor of communication THIS WEEKâ€™S THEME: Testify to the light ---------- DEVOTIONAL: Light: it made possible the beginning of our existence, illuminates our everyday lives, and, in many forms and across faith traditions, is evoked in metaphor and often manifest in powerful physical signs of a divine...

DEC. 5 - PREPARATION, PURPOSE AND PEACE

4 Dec 2008 19:01 EST

DEC. 4 - ANTICIPATING RENEWAL

3 Dec 2008 17:19 EST

By Hannah D. Miller, a junior peace, justice and conflict studies major from Scottdale, Pa. SCRIPTURE: 2 Peter 3:8-15a (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. ---------- DEVOTIONAL: Advent is a time of anticipation. I look forward to the coming season with the beauty of the winter, of family gatherings and a break from the every...

DEC. 3 - CREATED FOR CONNECTION

2 Dec 2008 16:00 EST

By Phil Schmidt, a senior Bible and religion major from Berne, Ind. SCRIPTURE: Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. ---------- DEVOTIONAL: Surely salvation and deliverance is at hand for those who fear God! Surely God's peace will rest on those who are faithful. Surely these qualities of God -- steadfast love, faithfulness...

DEC. 2 - CALL TO THE PROPHET

1 Dec 2008 12:08 EST

By Carl Helrich, professor of physics SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 40:1-11 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. ---------- DEVOTIONAL: This chapter begins a second part of the book of Isaiah. The people had fallen short of what they may have been and pain, sorrow and exile have been their lot. But now the time of atonement for sin is over. The...

DEC. 1 - PREPARE THE WAY

30 Nov 2008 13:21 EST

By Luke Gascho, executive director of Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College THIS WEEK'S THEME: Prepare the way ---------- DEVOTIONAL: I delight in a clearly marked trail. As I walk down a trail close to my office, I recall that the trail hasn't always been there. Yet now it is so familiar and welcoming. I donâ€™t tire...

NOV. 28 - WATCH!

27 Nov 2008 09:27 EST

By Jake Shipe, resident director SCRIPTURE: Mark 13:24-37 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. ---------- DEVOTIONAL: Watch! Watch for what, the coming of Christ. These are the words of Jesus to his disciples about the coming of the end of ages, but this message wasnâ€™t just for them. As Christians weâ€™re assured of Christ...

NOV. 27 - LIVING IN HOPEFUL EXPECTATION

26 Nov 2008 16:54 EST

By Amy Showalter, a senior Bible and religion major from Harrisonburg, Va. SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. ---------- DEVOTIONAL: As I read today's text, Iâ€™m struck by the promise of God's faithfulness to accompany us as we wait. We of course are waiting for Jesus, and the world that...

NOV. 26 - HOW LAMENTATIONS END

25 Nov 2008 18:40 EST

By Lisa Guedea CarreÃ±o, library director SCRIPTURE: Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. ---------- DEVOTIONAL: In the midst of an economic crisis that has hit my community, church, friends and family, reading Psalm 80 stirs up real-time, real-life insecurity. In these verses I hear abandonment, bewilderment, ...

NOV. 25 - WAITING ON ADVENT

24 Nov 2008 17:23 EST

By Jim Brenneman, president SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 64:1-9 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. ---------- DEVOTIONAL: "Tear open the heavens and come down!" With these blunt and fierce words, the prophet Isaiah literally begs God to make Advent come to pass, now. God's people had waited for years in exile without sensing God's presence...

NOV. 24 - LET YOUR FACE SHINE!

23 Nov 2008 21:29 EST