Welcome to an odd week. After Christmas but still a holiday…ish? As a teacher, I have the week off. But other people do not. I can’t imagine this week being too productive.

Anyway, that was just me saying hello.

If you read my last post you know that I missed something. Rather, I forgot something.

I never posted my thoughts on Advent. I even closed the last blog with a promise to write about Advent the next week.

Sorry about that. I completely forgot.

So, instead of waiting 11 1/2 months to post about Advent, I present to you Post-Christmas Advent!

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First off, I didn’t really understand what the word Advent meant. I have heard it all my life.

One could figure out that it was a Christmas thing. Was that all?

Dictionary.com gives us this definition of Advent:

1. a coming into place, view, or being; arrival:the advent of the holiday season.
2. Usually Advent . the coming of Christ into the world.
3. Advent, the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas, observed in commemoration of the coming of Christ into the world.
4. Usually Advent . Second Coming.

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Now, armed with this new knowledge, I have a clear picture of what Advent is all about.

My brain starts meditating on this delicious “food” and begins to process it.

This might not surprise some but I have a three-point outline that details my outlook on Advent.

Before you read the three points, let me offer an alternative title for this blog.

Advent from a Prophet, a Preacher, and Pilate.

Let me explain.

1. Isaiah (the Prophet) told us in his book that there would be a baby born. Here is verse 6 of chapter 9: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” This passage, in fact, the whole book, was written hundreds of years before Christ was born. That fits definition number 2 quite well.
2. Moving ahead to the New Testament. A Preacher named John came to talk about Jesus. Here are his words from the first chapter of John: “There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.” This also refers to the second definition of Advent.
3. John 19:14 demonstrates the first definition of Advent. This comes from Pilate who was the ruling Roman authority in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus. The verse states: ““Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.” Pilate tells the Jews (who were wanting to crucify someone) that their king has arrived. Advent.

There are multiple examples of biblical people proclaiming the coming of Jesus.

I am one of them. No, I am not in the Bible. But I most certainly think that Christ is returning. He is coming back!

Look again at the definition of Advent. See number 4? It says Second Coming.

The first coming of Jesus was when He was born of Mary, in Bethlehem, in a manger.

The second time he comes to earth, it will be quite different than the first time.

And all I have to say is that I am looking forward to that day!

I guess you could say that I have an Advent Attitude.

As always, thanks for reading this post. Enjoy your New Year!