Would I could be eating....

Food around the office is not unusual. It's free and full of sugar. Normally, I would join in and enjoy, but since I am going on a 90 days blitz against sugar, cholesterol, and saturated fats the sweet food is hard to walk past.  This morning alone, I have toignore seven Krispy Kreme boxes of doughnuts, a tray of cupcakes, jars of candy, and tonight at a Christmas party I will have to forgo...a lot. 

Here's what I  probably would have eaten too much of two weeks ago.

The Outsiders of Advent

This weekend several things worked together to remind me of a critical point about Advent. From the teaching of Josh Graves at Otter Creek to Phil the truck driver at Dave Ramsey's Christmas Party, I was reminded about the importance of those who receive.

The Advent story "brings those who are on the outside, to center stage." From his birth to his death, because of Christ, those who are "last, become first." Jewish women, Shepherds, and Gentiles (Magi), are all included in a new narrative of Salvation. A resurrection of sorts occurs in so many lives because of God entering into humanity. Advent is the moment we remember when God, in humanity began to restore order and bring about Shalom throughout the entire cosmos.

As we give, particularly during the season of Advent, we remember the birth of Christ and testify to it's significance when we remember to give to the outsider.