Advent Devotional | 3rd Monday in Advent | Year C | December 14th, 2015

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Hebrews 13:7-17

 Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; for it is well for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by regulations about food, which have not benefited those who observe them. We have an altar from which those who officiate in the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood. Let us then go to him outside the camp and bear the abuse he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls and will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with sighing—for that would be harmful to you.

We all have those persons that we look up to for spiritual guidance.  This passage from Hebrews speaks of these people.  "Remember your leaders," it says, "consider the outcome of their way of life."  Leaders are those people who we wish to imitate.  To hold them up as spiritual mentors is not to pretend that they are "saints without sin."  Rather, to hold them up as spiritual leaders is to hold with value their struggles, their hopes, their dreams, and their concrete acts of discipleship.

Growing up, I had many spiritual leaders.  One in particular was a saint by the name of Elbert Shaw.  He exuded kindness and gentleness.  One of his concrete acts of kindness was in a brown paper bag that he carried around with him most Sundays.  If you went up to him, he would reach into his bag and pull out a 5-piece packet of yellow Juicy Fruit gum.  He would hand it to you, give you a hug, look you in the eye and say with all truth, "know that you are loved!"  

In addition to his ministry of Juicy Fruit gum, Elbert volunteered several times a week at the local youth detention center, spending time with the young inmates and reminding them that there was someone who cared for them, who valued them as human beings.

Who are the spiritual leaders that have led you on this wild and precious journey we call discipleship?  Today's text invites us to remember our leaders and to give thanks for their ministries among us.  Also, perhaps now is a good time to ponder the ways that God might be calling you to be a spiritual leader for others in this Advent season of preparation and giving.

Prayer of the Day:
Gracious God,
thank you for those whom you have called to lead me in my life.
May I be continually inspired by their faithfulness to be the best disciple I can be.
Help me in my journey this day that I might be an example of your Kingdom in this world.  Amen.

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Stephen Fearing

Stephen was born in 1988 in Cookeville, TN, where his parents met whilst attending Tennessee Tech. Shortly after, they moved to Dalton, Georgia where they put down roots and joined First Presbyterian Church, the faith family that taught Stephen that he was first and foremost a beloved child of God. It was this community that taught Stephen that it was OK to have questions and doubts and that nothing he could do could every possibly separate him from the love of God. In 1995, his sister, Sarah Kate, joined the family and Stephen began his journey as a life-long musician. Since then, he has found a love of music and has found this gift particularly fitting for his call to ministry. Among the instruments that he enjoys are piano, trumpet, guitar, and handbells. Stephen has always had a love of singing and congregation song. An avid member of the marching band, Stephen was the drum major of his high school's marching band. In 2006, Stephen began his tenure at Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC where he majored in Religion and minored in History. While attending PC, Stephen continued to explore his love of music by participating in the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, Jazz Trio, as well as playing in the PC Handbell ensemble and playing mandolin and banjo PC's very own bluegrass/rock group, Hosegrass, of which Stephen was a founding member (Hosegrass even released their own CD!). In 2010, Stephen moved from Clinton to Atlanta to attend Columbia Theological Seminary to pursue God's call on his life to be a pastor in the PC(USA). During this time, Stephen worked at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Silver Creek Presbyterian Church, Central Presbyterian Church, and Westminster Presbyterian Church. For three years, Stephen served as the Choir Director of Columbia Theological Seminary's choir and also served as the Interim Music Director at Westminster Presbyterian Church. In 2014, Stephen graduated from Columbia with a Masters of Divinity and a Masters of Arts in Practical Theology with an emphasis in liturgy, music, and worship. In July of 2014, Stephen was installed an ordained as Teaching Elder at Shelter Island Presbyterian Church in Shelter Island, NY. Later that year, Stephen married the love of his life, Tricia, and they share their home on Shelter Island with their Golden Doodle, Elsie, and their calico cat, Audrey. In addition to his work with the people who are Shelter Island Presbyterian Church, Stephen currently serves as a commission from Long Island Presbytery to the Synod of the Northeast and, beginning in January of 2016, will moderate the Synod's missions team.