Something’s happening in our world. Can you feel it? This past week, there were three stories that really grabbed me in different countries, different people, different headlines, but they’re all telling the same story. One of them unfolded on a beach during a sacred religious celebration that suddenly turned into unspeakable terror.
Another happened inside of a beautiful home in California right as Christmas plans were being made. And then the third looks sweet and harmless until you hear what it’s teaching children. And this is what I want you to think about. Think about what these three stories tell us about our cultural moment and what it reveals about the darkness surrounding us and why that makes Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany absolutely essential.
I hope you’ll stay with me. Stick around to the end because we’re going to lift our eyes above what’s happening in the headlines and remember why God sent light into a world like ours and why the family of faith should have far more hope than fear. Before we get into it, I just want to remind you guys about my new favorite coffee. It’s called Reformed Roasters.
Coffee that chooses you. My mom just told me it is her very favorite coffee and this is a new Bethlehem blend Christmas coffee. It’s so great. Just check them out at reformedroers.com. Put in the promo code kirk for 10% off. All right, let’s take a look. >> A deadly act of terror in Australia. Authorities say a father and son opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration at Bondai Beach in Sydney, killing 15 people.
Tragically, that included children. Sydney is still mourning after a mass killing. Authorities say that a father and son planned the attack motivated by Islamic State ideology. And the police are investigating a recent trip that these two guys made to the Philippines to an area that is known for Islamist insurgent groups.
