Today we enter the season of Advent. The countdown has begun as we once more anticipate the celebration of the birth of Christ. Advent is a time to prepare, not just our homes but our hearts. What joy floods our hearts as we sing "Joy to the world, the Lord has come!" The Son of God entered our world so quietly — no one, except those searching the heavens, saw the star that announced his birth. However, today's gospel tells us that when Christ comes again, it will be a like a hurricane or a tornado. The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shine. Stars will fall from the sky. The seas will roar and toss with violence. People will faint in terror.

It's been over 2,000 years since Christ promised to return with power and glory. "Let ev'ry heart prepare him room" we are told in our Christmas carol. Are we prepared? Look around. You'll find complacent hearts, worldly hearts, hearts striving for popularity and success. Hearts that are anticipating a return on their invest­ment of time and money, not anticipating the return of the CEO of the universe.

Christian believers also anticipate. They anticipate the return of Christ. Don't despair, but rejoice. That's what Advent is all about — looking forward to Christ's second coming when he will estab­lish a reign of justice and peace.

* Anticipation — seeing a heavy snow fall and hoping school is closed tomorrow.

* Anticipation — seeing beautifully wrapped gifts under a tree and hoping they are for you.

* Anticipation — hoping that Tom will bring his tasty cheese and mushroom bread to the office party.

* Anticipation — smelling Christmas goodies and hoping to get the first cookie out of the batch.

In the weeks ahead we will be treated to goodies we wouldn't normally eat at other times of the year: Great-grandma's cut-out sugar cookies, iced and sprinkled; buttery Swedish spritz; delicate Norwegian krumkake and rosettes; Danish kringles; Italian maca­roons or pizzelles with anise flavoring. Then there are those Ger­man Christmas braids, English plum pudding, and powdery Mexi­can wedding cakes. The list of the various ethnic delicacies goes on and on. Sweets prepared for us to feast on. And so it is with Advent as we anticipate a "foretaste of the feast" to come.

A lot of thought and time goes into the preparation of seasonal treats. Ingredients need to be purchased. Taking inventory of the pantry, we begin to make out a grocery list: powdered sugar, nuts, candied fruit, flavoring (almond extract for icing, rum flavoring for Grandpa's favorite rum balls), red and green food coloring, chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and coconut. Oh, oh! The baking soda has expired — better not risk it. Don't be cheap, buy another. Time has to be set aside to bake — sometimes a whole day just for one item like sugar cookies. Anticipating using the Christmas cookie cutters, youngsters can't wait for dough to be rolled out, cut out, and baked. Ears are alert to the ring of the timer ... "brrrring."

"Mommy, Mommy ... they're done. Can we frost them now?"

"Not yet ... they have to cool."

Three minutes later, "Mommy, Mommy ... I touched one. It wasn't hot."

In anticipation of decorating snowmen, Santas, bells, and stars, little hands reach for the cookie toppings. As multicolored sprinkles roll across the floor, a voice cries out, "Oops! I'm sorry, Mom. The cap wasn't on tight." Mom smiles as she already anticipated this "oops" event. "Wash floor" was on her "to do" list.

One of the most important things in baking is timing. The oven has to be preheated, cookie sheets placed inside, and time calculated. My niece is one who is not very successful at baking cookies, but she tries. Setting the timer, she becomes sidetracked. Switching her focus from baking to laundry, she'll find herself in the basement, not hearing the "brrrrring" of the timer over the "chug, chug, chug" of the washer. Eventually her nose becomes aware of the aroma of burning cookies. "Drat," she mumbles as she races up the stairs to dump the first dozen into the garbage can instead of into the cookie can.

Preparing and baking Christmas goodies might be related to our Advent preparation. As we anticipate Jesus' arrival, we take stock of our pantry. Do we have all the necessary ingredients to enable us, as followers of Christ, to make a difference in our fam­ily, our community, and our world this season? Is our focus cen­tered on a spiritual walk or on the hustle and bustle of the commer­cial world? Are we praying for a parking spot or praying for a tired check-out clerk? Do we pick up the Bible with as much anticipa­tion as we do the sales flyers, hunting for "bargains"? Are we in worship as much as we are in retail stores?

The good news is that attention to our spiritual walk through­out the year will enable us to reap extra blessings during Advent. For instance, giving an understanding look and a smile to a frazzled mom with a very tired child in a shopping cart, instead of flashing a disapproving scowl. "Been there; done that." You remember hav­ing raised your own children.

Other things we can do as an Advent witness to others: drop­ping more than a dollar into the Salvation Army bucket, buying mittens for the Mitten Tree, making a special meal for a widower, caroling at a nursing home ... or even baking cookies for your pas­tor! I had to add a little humor to the list ... but I won't refuse them. Christ is coming again, so we need to be spiritually fit, taking ad­vantage of the opportunities presented. As we set our eyes on oth­ers, we become the presence of Christ in our world. "Keep watch! Be careful!" Jesus reminds us.

We are entering a season of countdown the newspaper reminds us: 25 days to shop! We have our "list" and feel relief in checking off each item: Christmas cards, buying and wrapping gifts, decorating the house, inviting friends over for dessert, attending company dinners, dashing through the snow! But remember, "Keep watch! Be careful! Be prepared, stay focused ... don't let those cookies burn!" In other words, "Don't burn yourself out rushing around like a reindeer with his head cut off!"

The countdown to Christ's return began the day of his birth. An infant born in a Bethlehem stable grew up. Jesus walked this earth preparing its people for the greatest gift ever given. Salvation — a free gift to us but a costly gift from God. Following the givingof the gift, he returned to his Father with the promise to come again. When will that happen? No one knows the time, not the angels nor Jesus himself. Only the Father knows the time. The hour is not recorded anywhere in scripture when Jesus will arrive to take those who have prepared themselves home. However, the Bible does tell us that people will be buying and selling, eating and drinking, play­ing and working, marrying and having children, living and dying. The good news is that God has given us a "No-Fail Recipe" for a wonderful life here and now. Jesus purchased the key ingredient for you — his death on a cross for the forgiveness of your sin. Then he added the Holy Spirit enabling us to rise to life in power. Next he mixed in love for God and love for others. Stirring in fel­lowship, prayer, study, and worship, we bake until done, watching carefully, preparing ourselves for his coming once more. How many more Christmases will we celebrate? We don't know, but celebrate we will until that time when Jesus returns.

* Anticipate — Jesus' return through your Advent preparation.

* Anticipate — new life in Christ as you prepare yourself.

* Anticipate — his birth and celebrate his death.

* Anticipate — and enjoy his promises and his salvation now.

Don't wait until Jesus comes again. If you fail to add baking soda, your sticky buns won't rise. If you fail to add Jesus to your life, you will find that this "ill-preparedness" will be costly. If you forget to set your timer, your cookies will burn. It's guaran­teed! If you put off following Jesus, you will live a life separated from the joy of your salvation and face a burning. "Be on watch. Be prepared."

As we anticipate the result from the oven, we anticipate eter­nal life with Christ. Set your dial correctly as you look forward to the final outcome. Expect his return at any moment. Experience him now. Anticipate as you enjoy this blessed Advent season. And remember, "Don't burn the cookies!" Amen.