leaves 2My blogs are congeries.  I just figured it out.  They are like the leaves that are piled up in the back yard before the snow flies.  If you go back and look that is a fact.  Yet if you pay attention somewhere in there is a statement about mercy.  These blogs were to show mercy in action and then keep us updated and thinking about the connections in the North Dakota and Minnesota North Districts.   We share much more than a common border and our mission emphasis together in Kenya has taken off.

Advent has a mission emphasis that tells us that the King is coming and there should be a people available to meet the King.  Sometimes our mission emphasis are congeries too.  We might try and figure out ways to focus our attention and offerings where they can be multiplied and that is a reason that we write this blog too.

Advent is time to think about congeries as well.  The Bible says that in the last days people will “pile up” for themselves teachers that will supply what their itching ears want to hear.  That is certainly happening.  It seems that less and less will listen to the Gospel, but they will listen to anything else.  Those congeries can be destructive.

Also at the end of the age the angels will “pile up” for the four corners of the earth all those ready for judgment.  The judge will say those haunting words – Come O blessed of my Father to the inheritance prepared for you before the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’

God will take that initial congeries and organize it by dividing the “sheep from the goats”.  Advent is the time of preparation and repentance.  Looking at our life in light of the Gospel and the mercy given to us so that we can prepare for that great day of the Lord. Rather than piling up for ourselves stuff for this life we should be investing in the life to come.