Acknowledgments

The exquisite art work found throughout the 2008 University of the Cumberlands Advent Devotional Booklet was created by sophomore art major Luke Davidson from Richmond, Kentucky. Luke’s parents and several other relatives are alumni of University of the Cumberlands. Luke’s images juxtapose the familiar Christmas story with modern life creating the sense of longing we feel after the holidays are over. Just over their shoulders is a reminder that we are not alone in this. What we see through a glass darkly now is the presence of Christ bursting with hope, love, and salvation in the midst of our ordinary day-to-day lives if only we take the time to look. Luke’s work was a special blessing of this year’s Advent Booklet.

This is the fifteenth publication of the University of the Cumberlands Advent Booklet. Many thanks go to the writers who have expressed their faith through the years and specifically to the alumni who wrote of the babe in the manger during the balmy days of September and October of this year. Their words spoke to me and I hope they speak to you.

Special thanks go to those who did early proofing of the Advent Booklet: Bob Dunston, Julie Deyrup, Sue Wake and Sue’s office staff. Kathy Fish, Professor of English, proofed and made corrections to the final draft of the publication. Her efforts are the reason the booklet is as grammatically correct and as clearly written as it is. Any errors remaining are entirely the responsibility of the editor. A very special thanks goes to Bob Dunston who placed the booklet online for all to read. Thanks also to David Bergman and Jessica Shearer for their parts notifying the online community of the presence of the Advent Booklet. Published copies are the result of the work of Shanda Perkins and the Campus Supply Center staff.

May this booklet provide you and your family an opportunity for reflection and kindle the fire of service to Him who came, is come, and will come again.

Rejoice; He is come.
-- Norma Dunston, editor