Advent: It doesn’t just happen!

In our high speed world you can have anything almost instantly. We would like the easy road to be best; but it isn’t always.  The best things in life take a little preparation.

Take Christmas for instance.  We all want to give the best gifts, which until the age of cyber shopping required multiple trips to the stores, and a never ending search for the “perfect” gift.  Now we can sit at home and shop (Some places would say in three easy clicks); but it is not that easy.  We still have to find the “perfect” gift, and to satisfy ourselves we look for the “best” price.  The experience requires visiting multiple sites in order for the gift to match the likes of each person for whom we are shopping.

We would like to have the best decorated home on the block in just three easy steps.  But anyone who has decorated their home will tell you even the simplest design requires more than three steps.  To place pre-strung icicles on the eaves of a one story home takes at least six steps on the ladder … in multiple locations!

Ask anyone, simple is a lot harder than it looks.

We all desire the perfect Christmas filled with closeness to Christ and filled with Christian love.  But the Christmas experience we really desire does not just happen.  A spirit filled Christmas requires preparation.

For my children I wrote an Advent guide.  Then I placed each activity on an Advent Calendar to make sure it got done.  Over time I produced pamphlets to share with others.  (This year my daughter and I printed a book.)  As we diligently followed through on our plans for each day, when Christmas Day arrived we found it was more than the presents: Christmas was Christ. it was more than just a day: December 25th became the high point of a season.  Our preparation made a great difference.

And not only did the preparation make a great difference each year … now that my children have grown and I hear them talk about their Christmas this year: the effort and preparation I put into each year as they were growing up paid dividends.  For they carry with them the memories and the desire to keep the real Christmas alive for themselves, and share with others.

What will your Christmas look like?  Rather than just letting Christmas “happen,”  I would recommend a plan.  And one plan (if you want it as simple as it could be) I would recommend is to buy our book Advent Journeys and use it for personal and dinner table devotions this year.

Book Ideas

   I talk to many people who ask, "where do you get your ideas for books?"
   The answer is fairly simple, from two sources: ideas come out of my heritage and also out of my curiosity.  There could be some other areas from which I have drawn ideas, but those are the starting point thus far for my books (which I have written including Advent Journeys, Spring; Connecting with God, and A Christian Passover in the Jewish Tradition.
     My most recent book began with a family tradition: Advent.  When my children were young, in order to teach them the faith (in a rather Jewish way) I came up with weekly themes, daily scripture readings and connected activities (soon to be listed at our website) which would be fun and hold interest from day to day.  Such as on Shepherds week we read Luke 2 and send Christmas cards announcing the birth of Jesus ... just as the angels announced Christ's birth long ago.
   My family followed this tradition (changing as my daughters grew older) for more than twenty-five years.  I put this tradition in writing as pamphlets for others, but when I decided to put it in book form, it did not seem to be interesting enough.   So I asked myself, what would make it interesting enough: And Advent Journeys was born.
   With this idea I could have written the standard Biblical exegesis book and described the Bible passages in my own words, related how the birth of Jesus tied into Old Testament prophecy, or told about theology or tradition ... but my curiosity led me another way.  I thought "I wonder what the trip was like from Nazareth to Bethlehem."  Simple question, or so I thought!
   There are three or four roads from Nazareth to Bethlehem.  People most often describe the road from Nazareth trough Jezreel Valley down the Jordan River and up the wadi of the Good Samaritan to Jerusalem and Bethlehem.  Many travelers took that road, especially Pharisees who wanted to avoid contact with the Samaritans.  But this road is longer and more difficult than the other two.
   An easier route is south through Megeddo Pass to the via maris then up the Beit Horon pass to Jerusalem and Bethlehem.  This route is much easier than the road through the Jordan Valley, also avoids contact with the Samaritans, and is almost never in consideration as the road Joseph and Mary traveled.  This road is also longer than the third option:
   I feel Joseph and Mary traveled almost due south, between the two other routes on the shortest route possible.  I found this route on the internet listed today as Israel route 60, in one place listed as the Joseph and Mary Highway.  I feel this route is most likely because as an adult Jesus still traveled this road on the way home (as evidenced in John 4).  So I followed this highway.
   The first problem of the route today is that it journeys through the West Bank, an area which is described as risky.  The second problem is some parts of route 60 are worse than risky and have been bulldozed in order to contain violent areas.  In spite of difficulties my curiosity told me to travel the route and see what the road was like.
   Fortunately I was able to travel the route without getting shot at or putting my life in danger through the internet. Google Maps, Facebook pages, Wikipedia information and other sources were consulted, along with books and 19th century journals (when the land was safer) to learn about the route.  And it was interesting.  Thus came into being week 2 of my latest book Advent Journeys.

   OY! no matter how much you try to get it right ... a totally correct manuscript is only an illusion or a pipe dream.  An error free book is an impossibility.  But it is a goal worth attempting.
   In it's first creation Advent Journeys was submitted as a book.  But when the proof arrived, there were several problems.  The cover was too busy, the font was too small, and of course there were a few things forgotten.  We took the option to re-submit.
   And the book was better.  With the increase of font each section extended a partial extra page.  At first I worried about too much blank space.  Then I decided to insert photographs.  And I think the photographs add to the final project.  The pictures taken in Israel add to each section giving more substance through the image.  And a picture is worth a thousand words... so they say.
   I resubmitted the book, which was much better.  The book is now available for purchase:  http://www.amazon.com/Advent-Journeys-David-Levine-Simon/dp/1516841735/
   In it's second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh creation the book became electronic.  And yes, there were multiple submissions because no matter how many times I submitted the manuscript I always found an error.  First there were the pictures I added.  Two of the pictures displayed a big red error message.  I took them out and re-inserted them.  Results were the same.  Big red error messages.  Then I re-created them.  It did not help.
   I contacted Kindle, and they told me what to do, and it worked.  The picture size was too big.  When I formatted the picture according to instructions, the file worked.
   But in the suggestion, Kindle also told me how to get a couple other images to look better.  With the broken images corrected, I went in to improve the existing images (maps).  It worked.
   The good thing about pictures is they contain no spelling or grammar errors.  I long ago gave up on those.  I thank the proof-readers of the book.  There were at least four of them.  One of them says the book is perfect.  But I know it is not.  Even books distributed by big name publishing houses with highly paid proof readers contain spelling, grammar and formatting errors.  I took an extra look, and the kindle preview looked good.
   I thought everything was fine, and submitted the book.  Two days later I proudly looked inside on the Kindle display page: OY! Horrors!  In setting up the table of contents (linked) I wrote Advent One, Advent Two, Advent Three, Advent 4, Advent 5.  It was right there glaring at me.  I said Oh no!  And then I think I heard it laugh.  "gotch ya!"
   I put up the "final" document, but then again I saw some things out of place.  I worked to improve the book.  And with only a few quirks, it did look better.  One more attempt.  The book is up.  http://www.amazon.com/Advent-Journeys-David-Simon-ebook/dp/B0178KO7FS/
   Please, take a look at the book.  Let me know what you see.  Self-published, I can still correct it.  But I hope all I hear is how much you enjoyed the book.  You can order the print format now ... but you might wait until Saturday for the Kindle version: a surprise is coming!

A New Book: almost done!

A finished project is always a good feeling, and my latest book is almost done.  Today it has been uploaded for proofing … and if successful, I hope will be available the first week of November.

What is it you ask?  The title of the book is Advent Journeys.  The book is what the title indicates, it is an advent reader which will take you on journeys.  The book is a collection of journals from Zachariah (father of John the Baptist), Joseph (husband of Mary and father of Jesus), a shepherd, a magi, and a Maccabee.  The reader will travel with these individuals as they intersect with the Christmas story.

Each journal is short (for easy reading, 400 words) and seven days long, which gives each week a theme. Week 1 we will visit the Temple as Zechariah serves and is told by the Angel his wife will have a son.  At the start of week two Joseph receives a tax notice, and we will walk with Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem.  Week three will be spent watching sheep outside Bethlehem.  During week four we will cover a huge distance from Mount Alvand, Iran to Bethlehem.   With added scripture and thought provoking questions I hope the reading will add a fuller dimension and more joy to the Christmas.  During the fifth week we will travel with Joseph and Mary to Egypt.  The readings during the fifth week will help the reader look forward to the new year.  A sixth week of eight days is added to the book for interfaith families, or for those who desire to know more about how Chanukah was viewed in the time of Jesus.

Why did I write a book?  For several reasons: First: Advent has a lot of meaning for our family.  We read scripture and books, planned activities, ate special foods, and went on trips to enhance the meaning of Christmas.  Second: After going to Israel I wondered what the road from Nazareth to Bethlehem was like, so I followed Israel Route 60 on Google Earth, and then visited the places on facebook and other sites, and discovered a road rich in Bible history.  I was hooked, and followed others in the Christmas story.  Third: as I shared what I had written with Scribblers (a Mooresville writing group), they liked it so much, I put it in a book.

The book will be out in early November (I hope), and I hope you will order a copy and join the people in the Christmas story as they journey on that first Christmas.

Heaven

     Have you ever wondered what Heaven will be like? In real life sometimes we can catch glimpses of Heaven through the words of the dying, who see through the valley of the shadow of death, and tell us the things they have seen. A few people have come back from near death experiences and describe the things they have seen. More profound, Jesus tells us about heaven, and shares his credentials as the one who came down from heaven. (John 3:13; 6:38; 8:58)
     Throughout the Bible details are shared of what Heaven will be like. Some of these are simple, and show the real life going on in Heaven (Zech 8:3-6). Other scenes are more lofty and tell of the beauty of heaven (Revelation 21). The Bible says those who believe will go to heaven, while the ones who choose to fight God will suffer punishment.
     I have heard many who describe heaven as a place where we receive our angel wings and spend the day playing harps. But through this statement, people miss the things the Bible teaches about heaven. When we get to heaven and lie down in green pastures, life does not stop. Our life continues. God will show us things we could not understand on earth. We will enjoy great times of worship before the throne of God in heaven. And we will get to hang out with friends, new and old. Life will go on, but life will be much better than what is experienced here on earth.
     When I studied for and wrote chapter 9 of Spring: Connecting with God (Kindle), I found a unique picture of heaven in Psalm 23. I invite you to order and read this book. And through the book, I hope you will see how much God loves us and calls us to enjoy the life He has offered both here and in heaven.

The Real Topic "Connecting with God" (A Great Study!)

     Many years ago, while I was still in Seminary, I was asked to help put together a Passover Hagaddah for the Messianic Jewish Community in Louisville, KY. Across the years I have enjoyed sharing the Passover, and recently I have put this Seder into print: A Christian Passover in the Jewish Tradition. And in the process of producing this Hagaddah, God did something wonderful.
     As I tried to put the Hagaddah into presentable form, God spoke to me. This occurred while I was on a trip to see my father. As I drove, the Lord brought ideas and chapters to my mind which I had studied in the past. These realizations came from the time I assembled the first Passover Hagaddah for our group in Louisville.
     In my book Spring: Connecting with God I follow the development of the Seder, from the Garden of Eden (when Adam used to walk with God in the cool of the day); to the Communion of Abram and Melchezedek (Genesis 14:18); to the instructions of the first Passover in Exodus 12 (and its observance in Exodus 13); all the way to it’s history during time of the Kings of Judea. I teach on how the Passover has ties to the Peace offering of Leviticus 3-4 (and 7). I also examine four Passover Seders observed by Jesus in the New Testament (at 12 years of age, and each year of his ministry). I show how the agape feast of the early church is tied to the Passover, and how we will enjoy fellowship meals in heaven.
     I thought I wrote a good book, until God showed me something else. I was asked to share an outline of Spring: Connecting with God in a local Senior Adult group, and put the outline into presentation format. As I shared, I realized the book is more about our relationship with God than it is about the Passover.
     Spring: Connecting with God shows how our love for God goes from passionate to cool; and from churchy to forgotten. The book is a call for us to fan to flame the love which is in our hearts for God, and shows us how to avoid the things which cool us off. I would encourage people to take the book, and use it as a 10 week study (but then as the author I am biased). But I know study groups could be enriched through this study.

Whispers

A Whisper
Coming softly to my ears
Murmuring something
That I cannot understand
Unless I listen
With my whole being

What is it saying?
I wonder
Is it telling me
Something important
That will change
My entire life ...

(Poem © Chelsea Simon) ...
It’s completion & more poems can be found in the book.

The First Day of Spring!

     Spring is the time of year when new growth abounds. I was inspired to write in my book Spring: Connecting with God: I am constantly amazed whenever I drive through town or walk down the street and see new life, witnessing first-hand the beautiful creation God has given us to enjoy.”
     Spring is my favorite time of year, so it’s not surprising that I have a garden. I turned my garden, but still need to turn over the soil at my mother-in-law’s home. I already have kale and spinach planted. I will also plant lettuce, tomatoes, green beans, beets, cucumbers, okra, watermelons, pumpkin, and squash.
     I plant flowers in my yard. Some of my favorites such as daffodils, crocus, hyacinths, apricot and forsythia are already out. Redbuds are appearing; tulips, Daisies, roses, crape myrtles and black-eyed susans will come later. I enjoy the brilliant yellow early in the spring. Later spring brings shades of blue, purple and lavender. Late spring produces white daises and several colors of roses. I love the variety of colors I observe in this season.
     As I drive down the roads I have always enjoyed the fresh green leaves of spring as they appear on the trees. Recently I have observed and enjoy the different colors in the buds which make trees look like they are flowering, or showing off autumn leaf colors.
     I could allow the distractions of life to deflect the beauty of creation (many do, as they are obsessed with their busyness); I could take all this for granted (yep, every year the same … it is programmed in like clockwork); I could attribute it to a simple function of biology (or botany); or I could, as they say, take time to smell the roses. It is the last that I choose to do.
     And as I take time to smell the roses, and see the colors, and stand in amazement of life springing forth before me, I also take time to thank The Creator: for all this did not happen by evolution or by accident, but by intention.
     Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest. Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps. (Psalm 85:11-13)
     He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work. He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate-- bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart. The trees of the LORD are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. There the birds make their nests; the stork has its home in the pine trees. (Psalm 104:13-17)
     I will sing of the LORD's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself. (Psalm 89:1-2)