The Marinade

Waiting is the theme for today.

I feel a great unrest in these days - maybe you do too. Christmas is soon. The smells of pine in the lounge, the mince pies and the fragrant curries ( my christmas' may vary from yours) speak to me of family and love.

But it is also the time to that we turn our focus onto Christ. His first coming as a child reminds us he is coming again. And he's coming to liberate us.

The world is messed up - suffering and pain is all around us. Our limitations and inadequacies threaten to overtake us. Romans 8.22 reminds us of this.

And perhaps the madness of the pre-christmas build-up helps us appreciate the dec 25 that much more because it is such a contrast.

But as Christmas is coming and as the day Jesus returning comes closer - we must realise Jesus is also waiting for us.

He's waiting for us to see him because he's so close.

As he sits in a dark corner of the street in his dirty clothes and unkept beard.

As he sits in a foster home with five other sad faces.

As he sits in a prison - alone, rejected, hurting, and waiting for us to see him.

THe clip of Al Green is rather strange - he looks like he may be on acid but i do know he became a pastor a few years after this video was shot. But the beauty of his voice and his passion invoke the cry of our messiah to me.

And i'll end with this clip of Ben Harper - he trully has a amazing gift to take his listeners to heaven. The angel he speaks of - could be us. We can be angels on this earth - bringing heavenly things to the ordinary meanderings. We can bring rest and peace for those who are hassled and bring refreshment to thse who are burnt up.

And let us carry those too tired to go on - so they may see Jesus when he comes.