Here Is Your Family

Members of a Church youth club decided to raise money by having an outdoor car wash. Unfortunately, when the day of the event arrived, disaster struck: it was pouring rain. The situation seemed hopeless, until one enterprising youngster posted this sign: “God’s Cooperative Car Laundry. We wash – He rinses.” The venture which at first seemed doomed to failure was a great success.

Advent is the season of hope, and we tend to identify hope with good times. But the great Biblical writers seem to deliver their message of hope most eloquently in disastrous times.

For example, the Prophet Isaiah cries out against the decadence of his time. He condemns “legislators of infamous laws.” He condemns rulers “who issue tyrannical decrees.” He condemns those “who refuse justice to the unfortunate.” He condemns those “who cheat the poor and deny them their rights.” He condemns those “who make widows their prey and rob orphans.” Clearly, Isaiah found much to condemn in his time. But,…