Thank you to everyone who has read, lurked, commented and suggested over the past year.  It is a pleasure to share this journey with you all.

I hope you all have a joyful Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

My Christmas letter to Santa always has much more hope than expectation.  I start at a Aston Martin DB9 and work down.  Always have, always will.  In reality I’m much happier giving than getting.  I have all I need and I love to see the boys and Avril opening their gifts.  That’s much more fun.

Imagine my surprise when on Christmas morning I found one of these under the tree…

Nano

Thanks to my fabulous wife and all our boys for the fantastic gift!

I’m also looking forward to reading Barak Obama’s book The Audacity of Hope, listening to the Killers’ cd Day and Age and the Radio 1 Live Lounge 3, wearing my new tie and cuff links and eating lots of chocolate!

The song of the angels to raise your sights,
The smell of the shepherds to keep you well earthed,
The journeying of the Magi to keep you on your pilgrim way,
And fresh-born Christ-life to amaze you always.

(URC Christmas Card 2008)

Merry Christmas to you all.  Remember, give your presence this Christmas.

Sometimes it’s hard to focus on Christmas.

It’s almost Christmas.  For many churches that means nativity plays and carol services.  For Dunfermline URC those will come later so this morning presented a bit of a challenge.  How to preach on Christmas… before it’s Christmas.

This is what I came up with.  Your thoughts and comments are very welcome.

Sermon Text (for those who like to read)

When the world was dark
And the city was quiet,
You came.

Christmas is coming.  The end of the exile is near.

Rob Bell says that:

Exile is when you forget your story.

Exile isn’t just about location; exile is about the state of your soul.

Exile is when you fail to convert your blessings into blessings for others.

Exile is when you find yourself a stranger to the purposes of God.

Tomorrow, the 4th Sunday in Advent, I’m going to talk about exile and how God found a most unexpected way to end our separation from him.

no angels
no stars
no shepherds
no wise men

Just God, here, with us
Always

The Something Beautiful Podcast crew have produced a pretty cool crowd-sourced advent episode.  Listeners and regular contributers were invited to read one of the 9 Christmas Bible passages and send in Christmas wishes.  It’s turned out pretty good!  Avril and I read one and all the family read another.  I think our three boys do a particularly good job of shepherds and angels!  Have a listen at something beautiful.