The Seventh Month of Christmas

In Preparation for a recognition of the Twelve Days of Christmas in 2016, we list, each month, the elements of each of the twelve days.

And so on the 6th day of each month, which, in January is the day following the Tweflth Day, I'll provide some background with limited commentary. 

On the Seventh Day, we may focus on the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit:

1. wisdom
2. understanding
3. counsel
4. knowledge
5. fortitude
6. piety
7. fear of the Lord

It is also suggested that we receive instruction in the seven sacraments. Now granted, these are the sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church. But upon further reflection we may well consider how all Christians may elevate the role of each, in their daily walk:

1. Baptism
2. Confirmation
3. Communion
4. Penance
5. Anointing of the Sick
6. Holy Orders
7. Matrimony

Historically, also, January begins the Forefeast of the Theophany.

And so the 7th day of Christmas, New Year's Eve, gives us a chance for one more secular type of celebration. Of course, in our culture, there will be many opportunities to do this, from college bowl games to New Years Eve parties. I would suggest that, this year anyway, all readers of this blog avail themselves of a New Year's Eve party. And if you are not invited to one, have your own! Or visit some local watering hole that will be open.

Utmost Patience

"...with the utmost patience in teaching."

 - 2 Timothy 4

Paul urges his young disciple, Timothy to convince people, to preach, to exhort, without ceasing. Yes, "urges." And do we stop to think that, when you "urge" someone, there is a sense of "urgency"? 

The message is urgent. Not because Christ was fooling people by promising He'd return soon, and then taking at least two thousand years to do so, but because the day of salvation is today. The time for salvation is now.

The Kingdom of God is eternal. It's neverending now. It's this very moment, continuing.

And so we have to preach now. We need them to receive Christ now. We can't put it off, because now is always right now. You cannot put off this present moment. And that's the point. 

And Paul says to proceed in any manner that is practical, and practicable. 

But this part here was very impactful to me this afternoon: "with the utmost patience."

That's where we blow it. We take an urgent message, and then ruin it by sharing it in a way that is too pushy. If it's urgent, you need to take time to do it right. And so Paul says to be patient. We all know what "patient" is. We know what it looks like. We know when we're around a patient person, versus someone who is impatient. And we know which is more appealing.

So remember that we do have an urgent message to spread. But also remember that it will not spread if we are not patient.

Search. Seek.

Thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. 

 - Ezekiel 34

This idea of painstakingly seeking for the lost sheep of Israel;

This unending mission of God, actively looking for His own.

He will gather all of them. They will be placed in Zion, in Israel, and will be treated as people born there. Israel and Zion are the home of God's people . . . all of God's people, no matter where on earth they began their journey.

This seems like a practical lesson for us. When we are separated from someone else -  a family member, a friend, a neighbor - our response should be as one that searches. We seek them out. We don't give up.

What's God's will for your life? Search for His sheep.

Do walls divide you from others? Walls of denominationalism or of political party? Walls of family strife? Walls of geographical separation? Walls of hate?

Seek them out.

God doesn't berate His sheep when they are found. When they leave He doesn't say "Good riddance!"

He smiles, he laughs. He hollers with glee that His sheep has been found. And then He carefully cradles the sheep, once lost, and carries him or her home.

Today I'm thinking about two things:

1) Alienation on social media. When you're having a really rough time debating people on Facebook, stop thinking of them as a rival, or opponent. They are God's own, as are you, and some artificial wall is erected that keeps you apart. Seek them out. Welcome them. Do NOT judge or treat them harshly.

2) Family. Always family. The lost sheep narrative has special relevance in the family setting. Families are automatically connected through DNA. And when there is a separation it's like you've torn a rift into nature itself. You must go seek out your estranged family member . . . for your own good.

(Yes, I know . . . love lets go. And Christ came to divide father from daughter, etc. That's another lesson).

"Feed my sheep."

Extreme Measures

"...that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins."

- Isaiah 40

The setup for John the Baptist (this verse precedes the "A voice cried out" passage), was a reminder that Jerusalem has just paid heavily, for sinning against God. It says that she received the punishment from the Lord's own hand.

So, a couple of things. As we go about considering the terrible acts of a "loving God," ("Why would a loving God permit evil?"), we have it right here that, not only does He permit evil to happen, but His punishments may very well be twice as bad as we deserve.

We say "why do bad things happen to good people?" But the point is, they're not good people, or the bad things would not happen. John the Baptist preached repentance, and we all need to repent. Yes, it is true that within Jerusalem, there were charitable people. There were kindly grandparents that loved their grandkids. There were artists and philanthropists. There were people that worked hard and saved. There were people that did not lie, or cheat others. There were faithful husbands and wives. There were very friendly and respectful teenagers that got all A's and called adults "sir" and "ma'am."

But still those people died, eventually. And really . . . what's worse than death, itself?

God hates sin so much (it is a blot on His creation), that the penalty for it is twice the worth of the sin, (except that you can't be "twice" as dead.). God's judgment is horrible.

And when it says that the penalty comes "from the Lord's hand," it means that even if it's the Assyrians coming in and terrorizing everybody . . . it's still the Lord's doing.

This is heavy material. The Isaiah passage is all good. It has a beautiful ending. It points to John the Baptist and Christ. It leads to life and liberty. But it starts out with this reminder.

And so it's not for us to question God and His wise judgment (why would He want selfish people to go on, unimpeded, for all eternity? And we're all selfish). But rather to realize how excessively, and even lovingly, He wants us not to sin.

He wants us to get the point. And this requires extreme measures.

The Angry Wicked

"The wicked will see it and be angry . . . "

Did the writer of Psalm 112 have some magic mirror that saw into the future? Could he or she summon images of the year 2016 AD, and look upon the mess that is the modern world?

How is it that the "wicked" of our times, can be so stirred up in rage against God's people, that they would want churches taxed and Christians punished simply for expressing their faith?

Consider the phenomenal charitable work that is done by the Roman Catholics, the Mormons, the Methodists, and hundreds of other associations of local churches, in disaster relief, food for the poor, home-building, doctors without borders, World Vision, Operation Christmas Child, etc., etc., etc.

Are the wicked really so agitated about the proclaimed moral code of pure Christianity, that they would be willing to shut down such organizations that, frankly, run circles around what governments are able to do, to help the world's needy?

That's hate. And the Psalmist of 112 (it was not David) understood that, it didn't matter what the people of God did; even if they did "good" deeds, the wicked would still hate them. Indeed, they hate them the MORE they express the love of Christ, if that can be believed.

So let's look back earlier into this Psalm. It says that the righteous are "merciful and full of compassion."

They are "generous in lending." They manage their affairs with "justice." Justice? Isn't that everything to the Left?

They give "freely to the poor."

And all of these are done today, by God's people, both through their churches, and many times over, in private, via their own personal donations.

Is it true that the wicked are angry at this? Yes it is, indeed. Look about you!

And if you want a biblical definition of a "wicked" person, perhaps you need look no further than at a person that is angry about something being done by churches.

Now . . . if we come across believers that are not merciful, or generous, or just in their dealings . . . well, that's another matter entirely!

Child: Get Up

"He turned to the body and said, "Tabitha, get up." Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up...."

 - Acts 9

Why did Jesus raise Lazarus, and the child of the Centurion, up from the dead?

Why did people jump out of their graves when Jesus died on the Cross?

Why did Jesus Himself come back to life?

Why did Peter raise up the woman, Dorcas, also called "Tabitha" which means, "Child"?

And having raised them up, why did they all (except Jesus) have to die again?

And why hasn't He continued to raise people from the dead? What makes earlier generations better than ours?

Doesn't it all seem a little cruel? This is what we all long for: to live again, or to live forever.

How could God just give us the greatest gift, and then snatch it away?

Well, maybe there's a little pop psychology going on here. If you take it away, they'll want it even more. 

But I think that in the end, in every case, it's because we have hard hearts. And even though we crave a sign of God's power, when He finally gives us one, we still doubt. We say "Oh the person wasn't really dead - they faked it." We say "There must be a rational, scientific explanation for it" (there probably is; what difference does that make?)

The early Church needed such a sign of God's power. Even an Apostle, a human, full of faith, can raise the dead. God's plan basically needs an occasional demonstration, that He is God, and that He is in charge.

It's easy to see why, ever since the Nicene Council and all of the cynical evil that followed it, in the name of Jesus, there simply is not enough faith on earth to merit something as earth-shattering as a resurrection. All it takes is faith the size of a mustard seed. But we don't even have that. Our minds are warped by generations of science, schooling, philosophy, stoics, mammon, greed, materialism, sensuality, and self-love. 

But God predicted that. There won't be much faith left by the time Christ returns. We can't even tilt the scales of public debates, on morality, a few critical percentage points. What makes us think we can manage even the simplest card trick in the name of Christ?

Peter's faith was pure and strong, and the time was right. Tabitha got up.

The Son of God

"He is the Son of God."

 - Acts 9

Finally, about a third of the way through the Acts of the Apostles, Saul the Persecutor is transformed. He takes on his gentile name, "Paul," and begins to minister and evangelize.

Why didn't God just let the Holy Spirit continue to spread the Gospel? Why was Paul needed? 

And why haven't others, since Paul, been similarly touched by a miracle, likewise to build the Kingdom?

Occasionally in God's time, it is required for Him to step in and guide events more directly. Sometimes He has to nudge things a long. Is it because He has planned it so? Or does He respond to human events as needed? Would the Church have died out without Paul? Would it have sustained too many roots in the Hebrew traditions?

We'll find out some day. For now we just accept that God knew what He was doing, and that He did what had to be done. Saul was chosen. Chosen.

And when the time came to begin preaching, Paul focused on this, and this alone: "He is the Son of God."

When we are at a loss for words in our witnessing, or even in our preaching, do what Paul would do. Just open with these words:

"Jesus is the Son of God."

And go from there . . . 

Hope for the Entire Year

"Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel."

 - Isaiah 7

If we took the Christmas story accurately, we would read about the conception of Christ, about now. And indeed, in the liturgical calendar, we do!

Just as Easter concludes, comes the Anunciation of Mary, when the Angel appears and tells her she is to give birth to the Son of God. Yes, about nine months prior to Christmas.

Whether Christ'a actual birth took place in December, or more likely in the summer; and whether or not we should actually celebrate it as a special day; still it is good to keep in mind that the openings chapters of the New Testament did not all occur in a compact four weeks called "Advent." Rather, they take up at last a nine month period. That's three quarters of the year.

This leaves a quarter of the year to contemplate the final months, and then week, of the Life of Christ, that time when He began to look, with resolve, to the Cross, and make His progress towards it.

We can spend an entire year on three topics: the birth, the death, and the resurrection of Christ, and be doing our Christian walk a good service.

Today we recognize the announcement to Mary . . . and then the waiting really begins.

Uneducated

When the rulers and elders and scribes saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men . . . 

 - Acts 4

Of all the harm that social media has done to society, none are much greater than the assertion that a person without a college education doesn't measure up. "Study shows Fox News Viewers are Less Educated than MSNBC Viewers." Such is rubbish, offensive, and possibly dangerous to society.

The Believer should not be at all persuaded by someone with an education, just because of the education. As a young adult I learned to shudder in theological discussions, when it was expected that you back off from disagreements with pastors and other ministers, since they had "studied the Greek," etc. 

Why even have a Reformation? Why not just keep it all in Latin?

If it is learned that someone does not have a college degree, our response should be: "Good - what can we learn from this person?"

I went to college to get some professional credentials. I did not go so that I would be smarter than others.

Can't Stay Away

"Sir, we wish to see Jesus."

 - John 12

In the last year of Jesus' life, before He suddenly lost favor and began the final trek to the Cross, a group of Greeks sought Him out. The Greeks were probably considered quite learned, quite logical, rational men of note. They would want proof. They would want to see for themselves.

They had heard about this Man of magic, or of wisdom, or of vision. They followed the news of His comings and goings, and by-and-by it became convenient for them to find Him in Jerusalem.

They approached the Disciples.

"Sir, we would see Jesus."

And so became the first people in history, to mouth and have recorded, the words of true seekers throughout the ages.

"Let me see Him."

The longing, the urgency: If I could just see Him.

Yes, when people see the Church, they should see the Body of Christ. They should see the Lord Himself. But we all know that's all kind of figurative. I want to see HIM. "I really want to see you Lord but it takes so long!"

In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was God, and the Word was with, or toward God. Creation itself longs to be put back together. The Son of God, among Men, is the created Being that leads that reunion of all, with our creator. The Word of God, Christ, moves toward God, in language that evokes lovers running towards others from a great distance, not mindful of snares and potholes along the way. They cannot stay apart. Even the most learned among us, the most skeptical, when having the chance to see the Prince of Peace, cannot stay away.

Sir, we would see Jesus.

When the Left is Right, we Say So

He will look with favor on the prayer of the homeless; he will not despise their plea.

 - Psalm 102:17

Today, the Political Left (which does not seem terribly convicted that the Word of God is true, and essential to life), likes to use Scripture in the face of believers. Like Satan, when tempting Christ, they are always saying "Isn't it written . . . ", but only to shame God's people.

This passage from the Psalms is a good one. If God looks with favor on the homeless, then what's the Christian Right's problem? Why are they always cutting federal support for housing programs?

Why do we care how the homeless get their help, as long as they get help?

God does direct us to care for the homeless. In the Old Testament, it is right up their with sexual morality. So we do have to care for the homeless. Shame on us if we don't

But it does not have to be through taxes and government programs. That is not what the Lord meant. We are supposed to personally and directly help the homeless.

But we are supposed to help them.

The Three Young Men

"For we, O Lord, have become fewer than any other nation,and are brought low this day in all the world because of our sins."

 - Song of the Three Young Men

Israel, for a brief period of a couple of generations, shone like no other kingdom in earth's history. What was it like to have been an Israeli citizen, during the reign of David, or of Solomon?

The impact was so great, as to have become the stuff of legend. Hundreds of generations later, the world still recalls the golden age of Israel.

But it goes out as a warning to all great nations that followed, especially those that presumed to be God's people: You can lose it all.

In the time of Daniel, and the "Three Young Men," Israel had dwindled down to near extinction. A handful of the faithful are scattered throughout the ancient world, being carried forward by their faith alone, under the protection of the occasional worldly leader in whom they found favor.

The lesson is worth reflecting upon, by every generation.

We too may be called upon to stand firm, against impossible odds.

Understanding Envy

Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom.

 - Matthew 21:43


People that act upright, that live morally, that have purity of heart, that serve others, that live according to the highest ideals: they are always going to be hated by the have-nots.  And I say "have-nots," not in the financial sense, but in the favor-of-God sense. These people have peace in their hearts, and that's worth all the gold in the world. 

Those on the outside, hate this. They want to bring other down to their level. Poor people would rather make others poor, than attain to wealth themselves. Yes, these are generalizations.

Joseph was sold into slavery, because of envy. Jesus likewise was seized by authorities and found guilty of a capital crime. Why did good men get punished?

I think it's a type of lesson, having to do with what will happen to us if we don't take things seriously. If we start compromising on sin and purity. Slavery and torture could be meted out to good men like Joseph and Jesus, who had done no wrong, imagine what is in store for America, if we lose our stewardship of being the Light of the World!

We're losing our grip. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Yes we have growing churches. We are planting churches and temples in new places that advance our reach. But here at home, we seem to have given up the fight to advance the cause of Christ, which is: Feed the hungry, house the homeless, visit those in prison, welcome the aliens, and refrain from immorality!

It's not either-or.  It's all-of-the-above.

The part where the kingdom is taken from us is a brutal, violent one . . . it's quite like Joseph's treatment by his brothers. It starts with a mob of envious people, and we won't always have a brother, Reuben, stepping in to spare our lives. 

Cain, Esau, Joseph's brothers, Pharaoh, King Saul, the Scribes and Pharisees. It always starts with envy,

A Little More About Extended Family

"And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others?"

 - Matthew 5

The Lord continues on urging us to get out of our box and serve others. Just acknowledging someone else is perhaps the most fundamental act of kindness available to us. It also creates a constant supply of opportunities to do way more than others: "Greet more than just your brothers or sisters."

I am in the middle of a project to learn the names of every one of the 300 5th and 6th graders in my building. As the word got out that I was doing this, more and more of the kids will walk up to me and say "What's my name?" When I remember, it makes their day. When I forget, it obviously disappoints them a little. But I keep working at it and that shows that I am committed to them. It's a very basic, fundamental way to show kids that I care.

I am reminded of the classic response when it is suggested you should get to know extended family, or to remember departed loved ones:

"Why would I care about people I don't know?

and

"Oh that's just a bunch of dead people."

But the Lord says: "You greet your brothers and sisters. Good for you. Now do the same for people you don't know."

Our family and extended families are automatic training grounds for serving others. Unlike friends, you may not have any automatic shared interests. There is nothing that binds you together in a way that motivates you. But you are bound together more fundamentally than that: by nature, by DNA. The Old Testament shows a God that really cares about the organization of family groups. 

When someone is introduced as your Fourth Cousin: rejoice! You have an excellent opportunity to show instant, unconditional love for them, by being thrilled to meet them! I believe that that is why they are there.

Hate for Kin

"You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin."

 - Leviticus 19

So I'll continue to focus on the topic of family. Yes it's true that Jesus says that He came to divide father from son, brother from brother, etc. But that is only because the righteous use Love as their weapon. You can love your family deeply, and care for them . . . but that doesn't mean that they will reciprocate. It also does not mean you should stop loving them.

The pattern is set in the Old Testament. Families are critical to God's plan. He kept track of genealogies because it is important. There is a logic, and a sense of order, to growing families. You belong, automatically. You can do anything, from the harshest evil to the most benign charity. Your brother is still your brother. Your cousin, your cousin. And you will always be linked to thousands of others, through your great-great-great grandparents.

Imagine families taking this seriously: 

"Do all of us have health insurance?" 

"Can all of us afford college?" 

"How are all the fatherless children in the family doing?" 

"Is there a widow that needs dental work, or a new roof?"

It's inspiring just writing about it. You're looking at the simple solution to every social problem in the US today. And if that can be mastered, we may turn our eyes on other priorities that are not subject to partisan politics: like public safety and international trade.

Your "kin". Who are they? Would you draw the line at your immediate family? Your extended family? Do you love your great-grandparents, if you knew them? Do you love them enough to care about every one of their children, if you can? And what if your great-grandparents died with concern for their cousins that they knew as children, that they loved, but that they knew came into some misfortune? Would you do something about it, knowing it was something your beloved grandmother was concerned about?

The broader we make our definition of "kin," the more people we can help, the more good we can do . . . and the more good that will come back to our own grandchildren and great-grandchildren, if any of them ever need it!!

Turning away from your kin could be devastating to them, and to you. The Lord easily defines this as "hate."

Step to Purity

"Purge me from my sin, and I shall be pure;  wash me, and I shall be clean indeed."

 - Isaiah 51:8

I remember the days of my youthful spiritual excitement.

I would long for this, would pray with fervor that God would make me pure, holy, righteous, as Christ is.

I begged for God's cleansing. I wanted to be so pure and faithful that I could move mountains.

But it turns out the purification process is accomplished by way of a thing call "life." And then you don't fully arrive until you wake up from death and do a sort-of debriefing of how it went.

Holiness comes from two steps forward, one step back. My youthful desire and exhilaration was so me-focused, that even though I kept myself sexually pure, even though I made selfless career choices, even though I never swore, and tithed regularly . . . I was still pretty rotten, because it was all about me.

Little kids do not like taking baths. And we don't like having to endure the cradle-to-grave endless nonsense. As George Harrison said "But it takes so long." Indeed it does.

And so perhaps the first step on the road to purity, is patience. And I'm far from mastering that one.

Gotta Problem

"So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

 - Matthew 6

All over social media, Christians are attacked for opposing raising taxes to feed the poor and redress other social problems. They are called "hypocrites" for calling it a "Christian nation" while "taking food away from starving children."

Hmmm.

But how does Christ Himself define "hypocrisy"? He doesn't worry about saying one thing and doing another, so much as He hates for us to make a big show of our good works.

Give your alms in secret. DO YOUR CHARITY IN SECRET! Therefore I don't even want the government knowing of my good works! I don't want the government deciding how my charitable dollars are spent, for me!!

We gotta problem. And what is it?

We have no way of defending our low tax position without becoming . . . hypocritical.

We can't say: "Well I give charitably so it's okay to want lower taxes." Because that's saying too much. And if we say of our wealthy neighbor "Yes he's a one-percenter but he annually donates $100,000 to Feed My Children; then we have just violated a sacred trust. We have let our friend down.

So the best approach may very well be . . . say nothing, literally. Or at best: "I use the biblical definition of "hypocrisy," and therefore cannot discuss any details of my giving, or of why I am opposed to raising taxes.

Your Own Kin

"Is not this the fast that I choose . . . not to hide yourself from your own kin?"

     - Isaiah 58

People avoid their own family. When you're finding extended kin: second and third cousins, the problem is even more pronounced. You plan a large family reunion, and the question is: "Will I know any of these people?" You find something interesting about a great-grandparent, or grand-aunt or uncle: "Oh I'm not interested in dead people."

And as a Christian this attitude always bothered me. I couldn't put my finger on just why. To me, Scripture is wrought with references to the need to care for family. I mean, if you are to take care of widows and orphans first, isn't that because something awful happened to them: a relative shunned them? (And what could be worse than that?)

But here is a clear Scripture in support of my position. God puts His finger right on it. Even more important than fasting . . . is not to hide from your own kin! He put them in our lives, so that we would care for them! And we may need them in return, some day!

Friends can bow out. And we know that even spouses certainly can, and do, make an exit. 

There is nothing in nature binding friends together. But the very DNA coursing through your veins ties you to your kin. And even if the fourth and fifth generation has gotten so watered down that the DNA is not that similar . . . well at least they have a common ancestor that they may even have met; or someone that they know met and has memories. Doesn't this tie people together . . . enough? If I have heard stories of my Great-Great Grandfather, and one day I show up at his home with distant cousins I have just met, that heard versions of the same stories . . . doesn't this count?

It's Fat Tuesday. And I shall call on people to take a fast from hiding from your own kin.

Our Part

"Why should it be said among the peoples, `Where is their God?'"

 - Joel 2

Before getting to this concluding question - Why should it be said "Where is their God?", Joel first talks about a horrible judgment coming, in the form of an army larger than any ever seen before. And then it goes on, that the people should repent, and that they should all come together, from the very old to the very young, and petition the Lord for forgiveness.

And then Joel says that God will turn around instantly, and His blessing will be even greater than the people deserve.

And so today: We're nearing a point (if not there already) where people are mocking God's people: "Where is their God?" Or better yet - "Why would a loving God blah blah blah?"

But have we repented? What about our divorces and our adulteries? What about our cheating, our withholding funds that could go to the poor? What about our sick divided denominational priorities?

Have we fasted? Have we spend hours in prayer? Do we put people ahead of money, jobs, games, TV, raunchy music?

Where is God indeed? Where are we?

Some Political-Biblical Issues

"O mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob."

 - Psalm 99

These concepts: equity, justice, and righteousness are in use in politics today.

The Left loves the word "equity."

Both love the word "justice", but it means different things to different people.

And the right loves the word "righteousness."

And that's the problem. Both sides have a handle on something important.

The problem is that neither side likes the other having the reigns of government, and defining the terms.

The Left does not want the Right defining "righteousness" and enforcing it. The Right is scared to death of what the Left means by "equity."

So the answer, for believers, is to pursue both within the Church, and in the community . . . and to stay out of politics where arguments ensue.

Let's have all three . . . in God's name.

When Talking to God

"Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God."

 - Exodus 34

A lot happens in the Old Testament, that will never happen since, because of our lack of faith. 

Nobody's face physically shines anymore, from talking with God, because we don't believe anyone can talk to God like that, and we actually don't believe it will make your face shine.

But Science shows that your face actually emits light. So it should be scientifically possible for someone to activate that light capability even more than normal. If your experience is heightened enough, maybe it's possible.

"Let your light so shine." We talk about someone with a sunny disposition. We know that many people are like light in the darkness, when they walk into a room. But no one believes they actually give off true, physical, observable light.

And this is why it doesn't happen today. If we really believed could shine, we would observe it all the time. So at heart of these Old Testament lessons is that our collective faith is so weak.

Nevertheless . . . make that an aspiration. Desire to be light. And then talk to God and see what happens.

"Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people."    - Hebrews 2

This is a hard one to grasp, unless we take it at face value.

Jesus became just like us.

Just like us.

He would get cold, hungry, and angry. Presumably, He had all the same urges.

And it's essential that we understand that He was able to overcome every temptation. When He was presented at the temple as a boy, two people full of the Holy Spirit approached Mary and Joseph and affirmed that their son was the Promised One. How did they know this? They had great faith, and they stayed in the Temple all day long, praying.

Jesus had those disciplined practices even more. 

It is possible to overcome temptation. You have to pray, fast, get into God's, and fellowship with other believers. But most importantly, you have to want to be holy.

If He did not respond to Nature in just the same way as us, then He could not be our redeemer. He had to be just like us. 

And this gives us hope that we have a Redeemer that matters, because we matter to Him. And we also know that we are able to master temptation, for He showed us how.

And the main ingredient is desire to be sinless.

"For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap."

 - Malachi 3

One of the most distressing things about the human experience, is our out-of-control thoughts. Our words are bad enough. But the things that go on in our minds; the thoughts that are only known by yourself. Those dark, horrible things that you consider, that you ponder on. The hate, the violence.

I believe that every single person thinks these thoughts. When a person says, in jest "I ought to kill you!" we take it innocently enough. But really, should such a thought ever be entertained, even if there is no chance it will be taken seriously?

I have observed restless people with nothing to do. We pelt our minds with constant images, sounds, and stimuli. We do not like being left alone to our own thoughts. We engage in hate on social media, because we cannot bear the self-reflection that tells us how horrible we are, because our thoughts are horrible. We seek, and find, solace in the affirmation we get from others that also hate.

We don't think, or speak, as people that are comfortable with themselves. We do not like our thoughts, and we so all the wrong things to control them.

In this context, we should come face to face with the Refiner. I can bear myself if I know that one day God Himself will completely incinerate the evil that permeates my psyche. If can just be like Christ: with the purest thoughts, the kindest regard toward others, and the warmest sense of presence, anywhere, then I will be fine.

As eternal beings with unlimited resources and unending life, there is no reason for us to hate. With perfect knowledge of everything, we would know everybody fully, and see that there is really nothing there to resent.

But to make sure we become truly pure, God destroys the evil within us. He burns it away, and boils it off the top.

That alone, puts my thoughts at ease. That promise, and that assurance, are the coals thrown upon the Refiner's fire, that makes the flame hotter yet.

The Pro-Life Readings

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you ..."

 - Jeremiah 1

This week we have an Old Testament reading, and a Psalm, that both reference God's knowledge of us, before we were formed in the womb.

Not before we were born. Not even when we were children.

"Before I formed you in the womb."

So the point becomes, if the formation has started, how do you know that God isn't the One doing the forming? Any new life is a thing of beauty.

Our debate today is focused on Planned Parenthood, on pro-life terrorists bombing clinics, on whether or not the fetus is a human, or tissue, and whether or not abortion is murder and what should be the severity of the penalty for having one. And, who is at fault? Who's the criminal?

Such a sickeningly complicated issue!!

In its most simple terms, we should have faith: Faith that whatever God has started in the womb, He will protect. Faith that, whatever mistakes we have made, at least there is a future human that could make a difference in the world.

What if we quietly, and simply affirmed: leave what's happening in the womb, alone. Maybe this is the person to invent warp drive, or to cure cancer, or to feed half of Africa. Maybe this person will lead us to a better form of politics.

And of course . . . if the Christian community is going to stand on such principles, than it had better follow through on helping that child and his or her mother.

Maybe you are the one that God will use, to protect and nurture that child.