The Hope of Advent

Acts 1:1–11 NIV

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Acts 1:1-11

Anticipation of Commercial Christmas

Christmas is celebrated in the United States on the 25th of December. Christmas is a civil holiday and is celebrated by an increasing number of non-Christians, and is an integral part of the holiday season. According to a Statista survey carried out in 2016, the vast majority of respondents stated their intention to celebrate the holiday, with only 5 percent declaring that they would not be joining in with the festivities. Christmas is typically the largest economic stimulus for many nations around the world as sales increase dramatically in almost all retail areas. The United States' retail industry generated over three trillion U.S. dollars during the holidays in 2013. These holiday sales reflected about 19.2 percent of the retail industries total sales that year. As a result, just over 768 thousand employees were hired throughout the United States to compensate for the holiday rush. The Christmas shopping season can start as early as September and some consumers begin even earlier.

The Christmas tree is considered to be the main symbol of this pagan tradition, and is an integral part of the holiday shopping season. About 26 million real Christmas trees were purchased in the United States and cost, on average, about 50.82 U.S. dollars in 2015. However, a survey in 2016 revealed that only 34 percent of 45 to 64 year olds were planning to buy a Christmas tree for the 2016 holiday season.

The economic impact of Christmas is a factor that has grown steadily throughout the United States and the world and will continue to be a significant event and key sales period for retailers and businesses. This can be evidenced in the fact that 29 percent of respondents in a 2016 survey stated that they expect to spend over 500 U.S. dollars on gifts for the holiday season.

As we look all across the world we will fine that his greatest source of expectation and hope lies in the hearts of our children. There's the really young group of children that are caught up in 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

As you know the young ones don't stay young very long they soon become hip to the fact that there is no Santa. their hopes turn into a different form.

As we look all across the world we will fine that his greatest source of expectation and hope lies in the hearts of our children. There's the really young group of children that are caught up in 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

As you know the young one don't stay young very long they soon become hip to the fact that there is no Santa. their hopes turn into a different form. let take my twelve year old granddaughter: now it's the middle of the summer she's asking me about her Christmas present more specifically she's telling me what Christmas present should be. (Because pop-up don't do the Christmas shopping scene anymore I find it easier to give out gift cards) I want you to do what you did last Christmas. Give me money. Commercially businesses start Christmas season as early as September. My granddaughter got to be about two months.

Let’s take my twelve year old granddaughter: now it's the middle of the summer she's asking me about her Christmas present more specifically she's telling me what Christmas present I should get her. (Because pop-up don't do the Christmas shopping scene anymore I find it easier to give out gift cards) I want you to do what you did last Christmas. Give me money. Commercially businesses start Christmas season as early as September. My granddaughter got them beat by about two months.

Hopes and expectations of Christmas doesn't stop there even though Thanksgiving is the number one holiday when families get together and celebrate and enjoy each other's company. We often engage in Christmas parties which are quite festive. Catching up on family news, seeing the newest family members born into the family. Aah nothing like being in the midst of a loving family away from all the hostilities of the world.

Families planned get together

Yet, there is another side of Christmas that is not commercial. It's the part that I like to call the reason for the season. The birth of the Savior Jesus the Christ, after all the anticipation of the birth of Christ goes as far back as the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve’s disobedience set the wheels in motion to all kinds of evil and chaos in this world. Envy leads to murder between to brothers right from the beginning when God accepted one sacrifice over the other.

far

Company parties

Misery and tragedy only magnified itself as life on earth continued. More and more the longing for the Redeemer intensified to the point people's imagination began to run while. Some thought that Jesus would overthrow governments, right the wrongs of the wealthy. Others thought, he was going to restore life to the time of the garden of Eden. Even his disciples thought they were going to be a part of this new kingdom on earth.

Negative side of Christmass

Person who are all alone with no family

unemployed worker who enjoyed Christmas parties of years past

Hope of the second coming