The Lord mocks the mockers
    but is gracious to the humble.                                                                                                         Proverbs 3:34

As we know, Artificial Intelligence (AI) learns from everything that has already been produced by human beings. We also know that there is growing concern about where AI is heading. In some cases, it has already “gone rogue”. There are reports that AI bots have set up scams, have taken over some websites, and generally have caused some havoc of its own doing. Yes, for all of the good that has and can come out of AI applications, there are also some deep concerns.

Essentially, I have concern because human being themselves are quite “tribal”. We sort into group affiliations based upon cultural, religious and racial identities. I am wondering how AI will fare as it mimics our human habits. Our tribal notions have landed us in some pretty dreadful wars and conflicts over the centuries.

I have no idea where AI is heading in the future, but I do know that many top AI developers are warning us about the current unrestricted learning process. I wonder about where the guardrails are for a process without a soul.  

So, my friends, I do not want to be an alarmist, but I do believe that the future of our planet needs to have actual human souls guarding the process somehow. I want leadership with a conscience to be able to put the brakes on things that affect our future.

What say you?

Prayer: Lord, you have made us to be curious creatures. Help us to have the humility to recognize proper limits on what we produce, Amen

“Don’t think about winning the game. Just do everything possible to prepare. As long as you know you have done everything possible and you have given your best self on the court, that is your reward. The scoreboard is meaningless.”                                                                                  John Wooden

This quote by Hall of Fame coach John Wooden was spoken to his star player from the 1960’s, Kareem Abdul Jabbar (at the time named Lew Alcindor). The venerable coach Wooden shared a valuable life lesson with his young star player.

The only thing that we can control is the effort and preparation that we put into any endeavor. There are variables beyond our control in, say, a sports game, a performance, an interview- whatever. Things can go wrong that are not our fault at times. In a sporting contest, there are many things that can happen that we cannot control- mistakes by officials, weather issues, injuries, etc.

If we have done all that we can reasonably do to prepare, we have met our objective, and we can be more at ease. In other words, do all that you can do, then just pray about the rest. You have done your job. Winning is not the primary consideration. Doing our best, is.  

Prayer: Lord, help us to let go of the outcome and consider the process, Amen

O Lord, what a variety of things you have made!
    In wisdom you have made them all.
    The earth is full of your creatures                                                                                                      Psalm 104:24

We have just returned from a trip to Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Teton National Park. There were, of course so many fascinating sights and geological wonders that it was almost “other worldly”. I always come away from such trips with a sense of awe about our Creator, and the splendor and intricacy of creation.

For example, there was a devastating fire in Yellowstone Park in 1988 that wiped out almost 40% of the vegetation in certain areas of the park. One can still see the remnants of that fire with barren trees littering large areas. Yet interspersed with those dead relics is new growth. The Lodgepole Pine is the largest species of tree in the park, and the fire actually aids in the spread of this tree. The Lodgepole Pine has seeds imbedded in tiny pine cones that are covered with a thin layer of wax. When there is a fire, the waxy substance melts, freeing millions of new seeds to fall to the earth. The ash produced by the destructive fire is a great growth medium for the new crop of pines which will prosper for decades after the fire.

Certain bird species, such as Clark’s Nutcracker, are especially suited to spread the pine seeds as they gather them for food. What the Nutcrackers drop, the squirrels and bears use for food. Bears especially love the pine nuts which are rich in fat and calories which they need to bulk up for a cold winter.

These are just a few of the amazing designs of nature that show creativity and diversity as well as symbiotic relationships. Nature needs for species to nurture one another and depend on one another. Sometimes this looks like predator and prey, but often it looks like interdependence.

What an amazing creation…     

Prayer: Lord, we stand in awe of your creation, Amen

“Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be…”

(Attributed variously to several people, including, of course, Yogi Berra)

I am a student of history. I am so very interested in the way that society has changed over the years. I study things like “what were the forces and challenges of that period of time that occurred, and how did (do) we react to those changes?”

History is not just a story of the past, it is a story about change. Sometimes, in looking back, we try to rewrite those narratives to fit a present reality. We, of course, have the benefit have of hindsight to explain societal changes, and often we look at the past through nostalgic lenses.

I am often prone to do that. I grew up in the simpler time of the 1950’s and 1960’s. At least they appeared that way to me. However, those years were not always simpler times for many people around the world. History is often viewed from a very narrow window. We look back and we may only see life from our perspective.

For example, one of the facets of the study of history from an American perspective was the intense interest in courses called “Western Civilization”. I was fascinated by the stories of European culture, from the time of the Roman Empire through the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, the Age of Exploration, and finally the rich history of the Unted States.

However, I learned very little, in my early schooling, about the history of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Yes, such history books were there, but there was great emphasis on Western Culture. And, fair enough, that is a large part of American heritage. I loved it, and I still do.

However, I often wonder if world history might have been different had we studied more about Eastern cultures. Indeed, in the minds of many Americans in the 18^th 19^th, and early 20^th centuries, Chinese, Japanese, Philippine, Korean, and other Asian and Pacific region cultures were felt to be odd and inscrutable. Presidents like Theodore Roosevelt (and others) believed those cultures to be backward, primitive, and even dangerous. Such provincial thinking may have led to serious misunderstandings which ultimately involved us in the Second World War.

History is complicated, and this essay does not do justice to a very complex topic. Suffice it to say, when we think about history, we need to take a look first at the lenses through which we view it.  

Prayer: Lord, you have made your creation diverse and fascinating. Help us to truly appreciate it, Amen

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.  A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd.  So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”  So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.                                                                      Luke 19:1-10

Today I want to look at an encounter with Jesus. The story of Zacchaeus is well known. There is even a children’s song or two about this charming story.

My first look at this story zooms in on the intent of Zacchaeus. He wanted to see Jesus. Because he was short, Zacchaeus climbed a tree to get a better view. Because he was up high, Jesus spotted him, knew his intent, and invited Zacchaeus to dine with him. This was a courageous and loving move on the part of Jesus, because we see that Jesus was immediately judged by others for this bold action.

When Zacchaeus encountered Jesus and his invitation, he was moved- by the love and courage of Jesus I’m sure, and also the fact that Jesus cared about an outcast like Zacchaeus. The response of Zacchaeus was the spontaneous reaction of a person who encounters the love and courage of Jesus- he offers to immediately make restitution to the people he has stolen from.

The response of Zacchaeus to an encounter with Jesus was an action of repentance. When one encounters Jesus, there must be a response. The decision to follow Jesus is a verb- it involves a change in how we treat others. As I have written before, belief is a verb. Believing involves action. Zacchaeus gave us a good example.

Prayer: Lord, help us to respond rightly to our encounters with Jesus, Amen

We felt we were doomed to die and saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us, for he can even raise the dead. II Corinthains 1:9

Often when I speak with clients, and they appear to be angry, or if I ask them how they are feeling, they may say, “I’m not angry, I’m just frustrated!” It is interesting that we would rather not identify a feeling we are having as anger- we label it as something else. I suppose it is more acceptable to be feeling frustrated than feeling angry.

I often explain to my clients that frustration is actually a combination of anger plus the perceived loss of power. So, frustration is a little more complex than just anger. It actually is somehow worse, because we also then feel unable to go about acting on the difficult situation we may be in.

Sometimes it helps if we can more clearly identify the complex feelings we are having. We can own the idea that we are angry, and we can also clarify that we also are feeling helpless at the time. Usually, we are not totally helpless. There are things that we can do so that we feel more agency in directing ourselves or regulating our emotions. Indeed, sometimes it is merely acceptance of the fact that we cannot do anything to change our current situation. However, we can decide to accept our situation, and that in itself gives us some sense of having the ability to make the decision to accept.  

This reminded me of Viktor Frankl, who famously said of his Nazi captors- “They may control everything about my situation, but they cannot control my attitude about it.”

Prayer: Lord, help us when we feel powerless, knowing that you are always in control, Amen

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the Earth                                                                                         Matthew 5:5 

I have always been drawn to the meaning of the word “meekness”. We have typically made the word synonymous with “mild” or even “weak”. One of the definitions I found for the word was:

MEEKNESS- NOUN

1. the fact or condition of being meek; submissiveness

However, upon further review, I think the meaning is actually quite different than this. Some Bible expositors define meekness as “power under control”. I think this is the sense that Jesus talked about in the Sermon on the Mount. Those who are meek really will inherit the earth, because the meek have power and use it with great discretion. Those who have the attribute of meekness recognize that they do not need to bully others, or intimidate others in an argument. They have enough self-assurance that they need not explain to others that they are powerful in their reasoning.

Like a strong horse whose power is under control by the bridle, it can summon great strength when it is directed properly by the rider. The key is to understand that the power is available, and it is not used recklessly, but for a purpose.

Do not underestimate the power of a restrained response. Especially in these days of conflict, anger and social media confrontation, those who demonstrate meekness, may be seen as weak, but their discretion is so important. The restraint that we need these days will be modeled by the meek.

I hope they do inherit the earth.

Prayer: I thank you for the depth of Jesus’ amazing teaching. His are truly the words of life, Amen.

 

 

 I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy,  because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,  being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians1:3-6

 

I woke up with this verse in my head today, and I feel compelled to share this with my readers this morning. I have always loved this verse because it speaks to Paul’s love for his fellow believers, and it is also so encouraging. It made me think of the importance of sharing those feelings that we have toward one another on a very regular basis.

Paul’s fellow travelers in faith shared many hardships. Indeed, many faced death on a regular basis. The thing that encouraged them was knowing that others cared for them, and that God sustains them. Paul said that he was “confident that God, who had begun a good work in them, would carry it on to completion”.

We need to be reminded of this promise, especially in these trying days. We need to remind one another of this promise also. So, I want to convey that I am so thankful every day for my family, my friends, my colleagues, my readers- so many people in my life.

Pass on today that sentiment to those around you, or even those distant via our electronically connected world. Blessings on your journey…

Prayer: Father, thank you for sustaining us with your love and provision, and thank you for the plan that we travel together, Amen.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans12:2

 

Our attitudes are the things that we most certainly have control over. We may not have much control over events that happen, but we do have control over how we interpret the events, and how we respond to the events.

Viktor Frankl was a Jewish doctor imprisoned in a concentration camp in World War II. He observed that those prisoners who “gave up” or behaved like victims were the ones who tended to die much more quickly. The ones who found meaning in their life, in spite of circumstances, were the ones who survived. It was all about their attitude toward what was happening around them- not bemoaning their unjust fate, (and it was unjust!). Finding meaning in suffering sustained them. He suggested that there are higher meanings in life which no one can take from us. We carry those values and beliefs within us, and we are ultimately responsible for how we get along in this world.

Victims are people who identify themselves by their handicap or situation. A person can be a victim of their suffering or abuse, or a person can be an overcomer. Having suffered from hardship does not mean that a person needs to be identified as a victim. That person can recognize that their suffering can be used for a better purpose.

People going through a shared experience of suffering, as we are currently enduring, can make the painful experience one of real significance, by actively trying to help others who share the suffering. We see this happening so often during this crisis, and it encourages all who see it.

The root of the word “encourage” is from the Latin word for “heart”- cor. We literally “give heart” to people when we encourage them. So, dear readers, take heart, and give that away to others!

Prayer: Lord, help us to redeem our current suffering into encouragement for others, to your glory, Amen.

 

 

God has come to Help His People

Luke 7:11-17 

“God has come to help His people” 

In this passage we see the compassion of Jesus, which moved him to raise from death the son of a widow. In those times, a widow without a man to help her with the daily needs of life was in a desperate situation. Jesus knew her need, and he responded to it.

People need to see how we as Christians respond to the desperate needs of those around us. Only then (in many cases) will people even look twice at the saving power of Jesus Christ whose love compels those compassionate deeds.

Consider the actions that so many people are doing during this time of health crisis.  Compassion for desperate, suffering people is the historic response of Christians throughout the centuries. There are many, many examples of course, but one that really moved me is the action of Samaritan’s Purse in going “directly into the fire” so to speak.  That ministry has set up temporary hospitals in Italy and now in New York City. Their selfless and extravagant charity toward others is truly inspiring. Often, it is only after responding to the physical life and needs of people that we can begin to show them the spiritual saving power of Jesus.

As the hands and feet of Jesus, we can help to make the “kingdom come” for the poorest and neediest people on earth. Indeed, we can be the instruments whereby “God has come to help His people” as it is recorded in Luke 7:16.

So, I urge my readers to think about those little, unique ways you can serve others at this time. A gift card to health care workers or first responders is a small example of kindness and caring, affirming our gratitude to those laboring to save others. By the way, gift cards from local restaurants also helps those struggling businesses to survive!

People will be better able to respond to our evangelism (good news of eternal life) when we can also give them hope for a future on earth through our care and compassion.

 

Prayer: Father, we thank you for the abundant life which you have given to us. Give us the vision to be able to share it freely with others who do not yet know you. Amen