Advent 2016: Week Three

Growing up in Fayetteville, I had a wonderful childhood. I was fortunate enough to come from a family which held strong Christian values and always felt loved and cared for. So we often talked about God and I knew to be thankful for his blessings, but I am not sure how often I actually felt that I was in the immediate presence of God. However, two distinct memories come to mind as I think back on my youth. 

First, was an experience I had shortly after the death of my middle school band director. I was in the 7th grade at the time, and up until that time in my life did not know anyone close or family related that had passed away. Barger Frank was a beloved teacher and band director at the Fayetteville Academy. He truly loved his students and teaching them the gift of music; and his students loved him back. We all felt a personal connection with Mr. Frank. 

One day he went into the hospital because he was having pain in his abdomen and doctors quickly discovered that he had advanced terminal cancer. My brother and I visited him in the hospital just

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A collection of reflections from some of us intended to enrich the Advent season for many.

Presence: Seeking God in Advent During the season of Advent, we sing 'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel' as we await Christmas. Emmanuel means 'God with us’. Describe a time when you knew God was with you. 

Pure Process by Rose Masterpol

Advent 2016: Week Three

days after the diagnosis and he was already a shell of himself. He passed away the next day. 

As a 13 year old who hadn't had much experience with death, the sudden departure of a close and important figure in my life was hard to deal with. For weeks I had trouble coming to terms with his passing. During this time, I remember a vivid dream I had where Mr. Frank came into my room, sat in my bed and simply put his hand on my leg and said "John, I am in a better place now, you don't have to worry about me anymore." 

Literally from that point on, I had a sense of peace about the situation, and was able to move on. I truly believe that God was with me in that time, and that he instilled peace and understanding within me about the situation. It was almost God's way of saying "Don't worry, I've got you." Two scriptures come to mind:

From Thessalonians: "After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words."

And from John: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Another example, also (unfortunately) tied to someone's passing, occurred when I was a freshman in college. In 2001, a close family friend, Ryan Kishbaugh (17), was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. He battled the disease for over a year but passed away in January of 2003. He was beloved by many in the Fayetteville community. Because he was a young and accomplished athlete, one of the memorials to him was for all of his friends in the community to gather and hold a memorial soccer game in his honor the following summer. So many people that loved and cared for Ryan came out to remember him that summer day. I did not play in the game, but my wife Lacy and I both attended. It was a cloudy day, and had rained earlier, but during the game, the sky opened up and the most beautiful rainbow appeared over the field. It was truly like God had opened the skies to show us that Ryan was looking down, and if felt that we were connected to him in the heavens. It was as if God's promise to Noah with the rainbow was shining through. I viewed Ryan's death as a flood- a flood to our whole

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Advent 2016: Week Three

community- because someone great was plucked up from us seemingly LONG before his time. Many were angry, all were sad. But God's promise to show his love to us and let us know that Ryan was still with us came through the clouds that day. 

From Genesis: "The rainbow that I have put in the sky will be my sign to you and to every living creature on earth. It will remind you that I will keep this promise forever. When I send clouds over the earth, and a rainbow appears in the sky, I will remember my promise to you and to all other living creatures. Never again will I let floodwaters destroy all life. When I see the rainbow in the sky, I will always remember the promise that I have made to every living creature. The rainbow will be the sign of that solemn promise."

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written by John Kells.