Author: Greg Hildenbrand

I am a contemplative spiritual director, author, and a leader of contemporary and blended worship at First United Methodist Church in Lawrence, Kansas. I am a happily married father of two awesome, adult children. I write a blog, Life Notes, every week and have published numerous books and music CDs, all of which are available on my website and other typical outlets. I enjoy writing, both music and text, and exploring and experiencing where spirit meets matter, in both seen and unseen ways.

Contemplative Christmas

December 15, 2024December 14, 2024 by Greg Hildenbrand, posted in devotion, meditation

Sunday, December 15, 2024 Advent: Love, Day 1 Reading: “If I give away all my possessions…but do not have love, I gain nothing.” [1] Reflection: The third theme of Advent is Love, a term which so has many meanings and applications in English as to almost be meaningless. With respect to the birth of the … Continue reading Contemplative Christmas

Contemplative Christmas

December 14, 2024December 5, 2024 by Greg Hildenbrand, posted in devotion, meditation

Advent: Peace, Day 7 Reading: “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.” [1] Reflection: For lasting peace to prevail between two people or nations, there must first exist a foundation of mutual respect, some degree of understanding of the other, and an acknowledgement that all points of view have … Continue reading Contemplative Christmas

Contemplative Christmas

December 13, 2024December 5, 2024 by Greg Hildenbrand, posted in devotion, meditation

Advent: Peace, Day 6 Reading: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” [1] Reflection: How has Christmas, the celebration, strayed so far from its origins? Did not the angels sing of “Peace on Earth” in Bethlehem 2000 years ago? Was that peace intended to apply to … Continue reading Contemplative Christmas

Contemplative Christmas

December 12, 2024December 5, 2024 by Greg Hildenbrand, posted in devotion, Life Notes

Advent: Peace, Day 5 Reading: “The day the power of love overrules the love of power, the world will know peace.” [1] Reflection: In its common usage, peace is not a singular concept but has many applications, several of which are relevant in preparing for the birth of the Christ-child. One common understanding of peace … Continue reading Contemplative Christmas

Contemplative Christmas

December 11, 2024December 5, 2024 by Greg Hildenbrand, posted in devotion, meditation

Advent: Peace, Day 4 Reading: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” [1] Reflection: In war, peace comes when one side surrenders to the other. In business, peace may come through consensus where competing sides find a resolution that … Continue reading Contemplative Christmas

Contemplative Christmas

December 11, 2024December 5, 2024 by Greg Hildenbrand, posted in devotion, meditation

Contemplative Christmas

December 10, 2024December 5, 2024 by Greg Hildenbrand, posted in devotion, meditation

Advent: Peace, Day 3 Reading: “Christmas comes with many assumptions – some helpful, some not so much. Spirituality also comes with many assumptions, and the ones that fail us are the ones we make about what it’s supposed to look like, who is worthy for it to happen to, and what kind of outcome it’s … Continue reading Contemplative Christmas

Contemplative Christmas

December 9, 2024December 5, 2024 by Greg Hildenbrand, posted in devotion, meditation

Advent: Peace, Day 2 Reading: “He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in the place of the two, thus making peace.” [1] Reflection: The more than 600 laws set out in the Torah (the first five books of the Bible) to guide Jewish … Continue reading Contemplative Christmas

Contemplative Christmas

December 8, 2024December 5, 2024 by Greg Hildenbrand, posted in devotion, meditation

Advent: Peace, Day 1 Reading: “For a child has been born for us…and he is named…Prince of Peace” [1] Reflection: Peace, the third theme of Advent, springs from the Hope we find as we experience Emmanuel – God with us. Peace comes as we learn to trust that God’s presence within us is real, even … Continue reading Contemplative Christmas

Contemplative Christmas

December 7, 2024November 29, 2024 by Greg Hildenbrand, posted in devotion, meditation

Saturday, December 7, 2024 Advent: Hope, Day 7 Reading: “I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ…may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation…so that with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know the hope to which he has called you…” [1] Reflection: Entering Advent with the intention of allowing … Continue reading Contemplative Christmas