Lunar Eclipses, Winter Solstice, and Christmas Eve...

Last night I was up at 2:30AM to look at and ponder the spectical of the Lunar Eclipses. After pulling on three layers of pants and shirts, a sweater, hat, gloves and winter coat, I walked out the front door and began to search the sky. The sky was clear, so clear I could see a great number of stars and planets even with strong street lights. Then I spotted her. I almost missed her draped in a burnt orange handkerchief.  The way the light hit the moon it looked more three dimensional than usual.

I sat down on the front steps and thought about the last time people of this continent looked up and saw the moon appear the way it looks tonight. I imagine those folks ran from home to home calling people out to witness the event. I imagine the people going to the leadership of the community looking for guidence. They might have even spent time praying together as a community concerned what this sign might mean.

Last night, the neighborhood was quite. The sound of traffic was diminished but still audible. What a difference 372 years make.

Today is the Winter Solstice (the longest night of the year), are you doing anything special to mark this night?

Come join me and the folks at DaySpring Christmas Eve, December 24th. We get together at 5PM to read the story together and sing songs of the season.

Are You really Free?

Today's chapter in the Westminster Confession is entitled Of Free Will. I grew up, I believing "Free Will" was my autonomous ability to make decisions on my own. I decided when to love, to hate, to obey the law, or to break the law. In other words I interpreted "Free Will" as life without the need for God.

This chapter reminds us that the only time we really had "Free Will" was before the first sin. When Adam and Eve where able to walk, run, and skip through the garden with no cares or concerns because God had provided everything they needed. That was when they, experienced true "Free Will".  That was the only time when they were able to make an intentional decision to do anything to please God.  "Free Will" was not living without God, "Free Will" was only found when they were totally dependence upon Him.

Amazing how that is still true for us today...