In my wallet I carry a gold card that I never leave home without and as I pull out of our driveway to go wherever the Lord leads me that day I always feel safe and secure. Safe and secure for not only do I belong to AAA, the American Automobile Association, but my gold card states that I am a Plus RV member which means I can get up to 100 miles of free towing on top of the other benefits of being a AAA member. Needless to say when I pull out our driveway I’m locked and loaded, for I don’t have to worry about being stuck wherever I am. 


In this morning’s scripture lesson God introduces us not to a AAA agent or a member but to Jesus’ cousin John the Baptist. Who offered those about him another type of road service, that would assure them if they decided to take God upon his offer, a safe journey on their road of life forever.

Luke 3:1-6,

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilenem in the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness; and John the Baptist went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

In John the Baptist’s time under Jewish law there was only one high priest who was appointed for life based on his heritage as the religious system had become supposedly corrupted and the Roman government was appointing its own religious leaders to maintain control over the Roman citizens.

In the year 2006, those who live in Russia, China and Vietnam face the same situations in their faith, as their respective governments see having a church and faith as a threat to the overall running of the government. For one is not to think for them self, to receive money from sources out of the country as their bank accounts are monitored by the government and having a religious leader/pastor is seen as a threat to the power and status of the president of their homeland.


Fortunately as the desires of the government did not stop John the Baptist and at this very second the same desires do not stop those from practicing their faith in underground churches under Communism. For in their faith many no longer feel like an outsider or a misfit but that they belong and in belonging they have found hope and peace through Jesus. Yet we live in a world today where many will trust their gold AAA card in their wallet or Santa Claus before they will trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. A world that is so caught up in seeking a high that they miss out on the message of living in a land of opportunity to be educated, to worship freely, to have so many choices but yet so many do not appear to have hope let alone an internal peace.


Thursday December 7, 2006 Springfield News-Sun the headline on the front page reads, 15-year-old girl held for allegedly trying to sell drugs at Shawnee High School. The headlines can be so sad but when one turns to God’s word they will find the Apostle Paul who has a message not just to the Christians in Philippi, but also to all the world. A message Paul experienced within himself while locked up in prison. Instead of being bitter, angry at the system and you whose fault it is because my life has turned out this way. Paul gives a Christmas message of hope, peace and happiness for all. 

Philippians 1:3-7

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, thankful for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel thus about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 

This morning we lit the candle of peace, peace that comes only when one has hope, Happiness, Optimism, Perseverance, and Endurance through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. And from that internal hope one may be at peace irrelevant of where they may be living in this world.

On this second Sunday of Advent where are you living in your life at this moment? Behind self-imposed prison bars, mad at the world, mad at circumstances in your life? What is so happy about Advent to you? Are you a person someone could pick a tune on like a guitar string, because you are so uptight and negative toward yourself, let alone everyone else? Or do you have hope in your life and an inner peace to guide you through daily struggles? 

If God calls you to be there to serve Him, would you be there out of a feeling of obligation and be negative the whole time, or rejoice in joy? Is your witness AAA or Philippians 1:8-11?

For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruits of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

The reality of Advent is very simple, we, you and I, are called not by that of this world, an American Automobile Association card in your wallet, Master Card, American Express, Visa, Game boy, etc. We, you and I, are called as one in God’s name to bear fruit and as John the Baptist, to prepare the way for all to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For the fruit we are called to bear as John the Baptist did is not worldly fruit but eternal fruit that will last forever and ever. For the story of Jesus Christ does not end with Jesus.

The story of Jesus Christ is so impressive for God the Father is right here with each and everyone of us at this very moment as he has always been and shall forever be which is a better deal than what the Eveready Rabbit can ever offer any of us. The story of Advent lives on within each and every one of us for through our flesh others may see the salvation of God, through His only Son Jesus Christ. 

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, Jesus is calling for you and for me; see, on the portals he’s waiting and watching, watching for you and for me.

If God calls you to be there as John the Baptist was called to be there and spread the Good News, “THE KING IS COMING” and prepare the way while remembering and sharing Jesus’ birth… Would you answer yes and lead others on the road to salvation? After all, God’s road plan is a plan for eternity. The American Automobile Association, AAA, road plan only offers 100 miles of towing for free.

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling to you and to me; see on the portals he’s waiting and watching, watching for you and for me. Come home, come home; you who are weary come home; earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home.

Let us pray,

Father God, John the Baptist proclaimed “Prepare the way of the Lord.” On this Advent of 2006 may each of us also proclaim the same message of John with the love of Jesus Christ in our hearts as Paul the Apostle by being free on the inside. For only when we are free on the inside with hope and peace may we be able to serve you and to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ unto those whom we meet on the pathways of life.  Amen