CREATIVE MPLES. to add to the mix! Celebrate with others the fact that we are all

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1 S E ON IV I T T A A S E I E L R UN P M M M SA O

2 The Ah-hAs of AdvenT Blessed Advent, you AH-HA people of the Lord! REATIVE E OMMUNIA MU ATIONS SAMP MPLES This AH-HAs of Advent booklet is designed to enable and encourage you to live as AH-HA people of the Lord! The term AH-HA! is a joy-filled phrase that focuses on all of Advent a season in which we prepare for the celebration of the birth Oof the first AH-HA person, Jesus hrist himself! AH-HA means that atat e we are ambassadors of health, hope and Advent! We are AH-HA people, not because of what we do or think or feel, but because of what hrist has done for us: he has come to earth to be born, to live, to suffer, to die and to rise again for us! These devotions will help us celebrate the AH-HAs in our lives. They will also help enable us to deal with the worries, woes and wars the UH-OHs in our lives. The only way to see and share the AH-HAs in life is to realize that we, like hrist, need also go through the UH-OHs to experience the Good Fridays in order to celebrate e Easter s grand AH-HA! And we do this by knowing that hrist, the One whose Advent we celebrate, has already faced, fought and defeated our UH-OHs for us! So enjoy these AH-HA devotions. Sther Think of other A words to add to the mix! elebrate with others the fact that we are all AH-HA people of God! And keep celebrating along the way, from Advent through hristmas and all the way to the NSest best AH-HA day of them all Easter! Enjoy the journey, you ambassadors of health, hope and Advent! + Dr. Rich Bimler 2

3 elebra T i ng T h e A h - h A s in our lives! First sunday of advent AH-HA! Ambassadors of Health, Hope and ANTIIPATION! Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour. MATTHEw 24:44 EATIVE OMMU MUNIA ATIO ION ONS SAMP MPL LES We begin another Advent REAppropriately w season very appropriately we are waiting, waiting, waiting! We are waiting to see when gas prices will drop again waiting to see the economy turn around waiting to see what kind of weather December will bring waiting to see who sends us VE the first hristmas card (already?!) waiting waiting waiting Advent is about anticipation.. It is like waiting for the ketchup to ooze out of its bottle s long neck. We wait and wait and wait. And finally, it comes. The Gospel for this week reminds us that no one knows when the Lord will return to earth. And so we can anticipate his Second oming with great joy, not fear, because he has already prepared us for life as well as for death. Isn t it ironic that as we anticipate as S as we prepare for his coming in Bethlehem during this season the Lord has already prepared us for his Second oming through his own death and resurrection? So, ready or not, here he comes! Anticipate a joy-filled Advent season, as ambassadors of health, hope and anticipation! And anticipate the Lord at work in you today! Lord, we are preparing for your coming at hristmas. Thank you for preparing us for your return both today and on the Last Day. We celebrate your presence with great anticipation. In Jesus name. Amen and AH-HA! Read Matthew 24: pationples 3

4 The Ah-hAs of AdvenT First Monday AH-HA! Ambassadors of Health, Hope and ANEW! I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope. PSALM 130:5 ATIVE O UNIATIONS s ION NS SAMPLES OMMUNait for We may find it hard to wait for hristmas to come, especially since we have been hearing hristmas carols in the shopping malls since Labor Day and seeing smiling stuffed Santas on neighborhood lawns since Halloween! But in a way, that s okay, because it helps us to remind ourselves that the Lord comes to Aeach us anew each day, to renew us anew, in our Baptism! Psalm 130:5-6 says it so well: I wait for the Lord and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning! Seeing Advent anew occurs when we do more watching and waiting for God s presence and promise in ESaround and us and when we do less waiting and worrying about peripheral Shing things. Watch and wait to see how the weighty issues of worries, woes and wars fall into new and refreshing ways of looking at life in the Lord! Advent renews us to remember er that hrist came to us in the manger that hrist will come again and that hrist comes to us each day in water and Word, in words and wonders, Ser in wows and other winsome ways. Lord, thanks for calling us to be your AH-HA people. Thanks for refreshing us anew with your love, your forgiveness and your precious presence among us. It s a new day, Lord, in you. In Jesus name. Amen... and AH-HA! Read Psalm 130: REATo come,

5 S E ON IV I T T A A S E I E L R UN P M M M SA O ABOUT RIH BIMLER Dr. Rich Bimler lives in Bloomingdale, Illinois, and has served the hurch in various positions throughout his 47-year ministry. President/Eo of He repositioned in 2006 after serving for 15 years as President/E wheat eat Ridge Ministries. He continues to serve them part-time as Senior Staff Associate as well as serving as their Ambassador of Health, Hope and Aging! (AH-HA!). He continues to write, speak and consult with other agencies and organizations throughout the world. The author of 16 books, Rich celebrates life with his 7 grandkids (photos available upon request!), 3 grown children, and 1 wife, Hazel! He is a graduate of Valparaiso university university iiversity versity and the u un niversity iversity of Missouri-Kansas ity, has done post-graduate work at other institutions, and holds several honorary degrees. Recently, he was selected as one of the top 150 graduates of Valparaiso university iversity during Vu s 150th anniversary celebration. Dr. Bimler has served his church locally, nationally and throughout the world, providing him many exciting opportunities to celebrate life in the name of the healing hrist. Rich continues to enjoy his family, jogging, St. Arbucks, writing, laughing and, of course, the hicago ubs! By Rich Bimler by reative ommunications for the Parish, 1564 Fencorp Dr., Fenton, Mo All rights reserved. Printed in the usa. BM1 Illustration, layout & design provided by P.Berkbigler Design & Illustration.