THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA . . . again!

(We were without power last weekend from midnight on Friday through 10 AM Monday morning.)

This morning I went to First UMC in Marietta, Ga where I used to sing in the choir before spending more than half my time with Dad during the last five years since Mom passed made it too difficult to keep up with what the choir was preparing to sing. I wish I had still been a part of the choir this morning, though, because the beautiful Service of Lessons and Carols was celebrated and the choirs for each age group -- the children; the teens; and the adults all performed, as well as the Bell Choir and an orchestra. It was very wonderful and I thank God I felt led to worship there this morning.

I went to the second service and was hurrying from the farthest part of the parking lot in order to get to the sanctuary in time for the service when I notices that there was a power company truck with a worker int he cherry basket at one of the electrical poles near the church building. As I saw it, a woman coming from the church came toward me and I asked, "How was it?" I meant the early service.

I was surprised when she answered, "Right in the middle of the service, a transformer blew and made loud noises, and the lights went out!"

And then when I got to the sanctuary, Rev Dr Sam Matthews, the Senior Pastor, had just started to explain that the electricity had gone off int he middle of the earlier service and the choir had to use the flashlights on their cell phones to see the music . . . he said it was the only time that he was glad that people had their cell phones, but otherwise he still wouldn't encourage people to have them during the service.

So no human-made power was available on the very dark and cloudy morning in Marietta today. But the good power company workers came to the rescue quickly and by the beginning of the 11:15 Am service just about the time I got there, the lights were back on!

It reminded me of my ordination to ministry in the middle of Hurricane Irene in early October of 1999. Right in the middle of the time of laying hands on me to pray for me and dedicate me to the Lord's service. I felt like when that happened, the Lord was saying to me, "You don't need any man-made power -- only mine."

And the memory has helped me many times as I have served Him in the church and overseas in mission.

And what happened today encouraged me, too, because it is still a dark day, overcast and now raining this afternoon. But in as Advent we observe the time of waiting for the Light and the Life of the World to be born on Earth, we remember that there is still the darkness of evil and immorality, greed, avarice, the thirst for power over other human beings, wars, poverty, homelessness, destitution and neglect, even on the part of people who claim to believe in God in Christ Jesus.

As long as we are still here on Earth people will still have the choice to choose to serve God and do good, or choose to reject God and succumb to evil.

Every Advent and Christmastime, those of us who believe have a chance to share the love of God we know in Christ Jesus in special ways.

We can donate money or food or time to those in need. We can invite people to our churches to share the Good News with them and bring them into the loving fellowship that we share together with the Lord. We can decorate our houses to witness to the world that we celebrate the Light and Life of the world as John wrote in the beginning of his Gospel about Jesus: "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered it."

No darkness, even that of evil being manifest, as in the case of the way this administration is taking away benefits for people in need and serving only the wealthiest people, can be overcome by the Light and Life of God in Jesus Christ when there are people who will work against evil in His Name.

As Christmas Approaches, my prayer for you, Beloved, is that you will ever more know in deeper ways how much God loves you, and that you will be able to rest in Him and trust Him.

If you do not already know the Lord, Beloved, my prayer for you, as ever, is that you will open your heart to the possibility of His love and ability to show you Who He is . . . and that the Holy Spirit will reveal Him to you in ways that you cannot mistake as He answers every question you may ever have for Him.