“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.                                                                                             Deuteronomy 6:4-5

And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”                                                                                                           Mark 12:30-31

 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.  This is my command: Love each other                                                     John 15:16-17

As a special treat to my readers this Christmas season, I have the pleasure of having my daughter join me in this blog today. Indeed, the topic was her idea….

In all the controversy these days about the Christian message to the world, and frankly the misuse and misunderstanding of what the Bible says about how God would have us to live, there remains this one thing.

Love one another.

In the Old Testament, the message from the famous Shema of Jewish tradition remains as a pillar of how we can understand God. His message has always been, “Love one another”. The passage in Deuteronomy indicates that we are commanded to love God. When it was reiterated by Jesus in the book of Mark, and again in John, Jesus made it clear that love was not an option, nor is it a feeling that we have. It is a sacrificial decision that we make. Jesus expanded the Shema to include the second part as equally important – “Love your neighbor as yourself”

So, if you want to know the Christian message (not the “thou shalt nots”, but the “thou shalls”), and how God would have us live in the world, be aware that the formula has been repeated many times.

When the world hands us a dose of political or religious vitriol, Jesus hands us love. When we are divided by race, ideology, economics, or gender, Jesus comes in and unites us with a simple message of love. In this world where social media entices us to debate, outwit, out smart, or out do one another, Jesus says “Where there is any uncertainty, just choose love.”

Even within the Christian church, there has been much division about how to welcome those who don’t look like us, worship like us, or love like us. Our natural human reaction is to build rules around love: you are welcome if you vote like me, look like me, marry like me, live in a home like mine. But there is no model from Jesus for these kinds of rules. We saw Jesus approach a woman at the well who carried shame, and he welcomed her. We saw Jesus love and heal the paralyzed man who was dropped through the roof to reach him; quite an unconventional approach, but it phased Jesus none at all. Indeed, we saw this loving Jesus flip the tables as a sign of his disapproval of the business of the church that was drawing attention away from love and towards bank accounts instead.

There is so much that is confusing in this world today, including the church that so many of us grew up in. While we may never fully understand it all on this side of heaven, Jesus provides us a way through. He offers us the holy way of love. Just love. Just listening and holding space for each other. That’s it. It doesn’t have to be a battle. Jesus says to us, “Where there is any doubt what way to choose, choose love.” There is no greater command.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the love you have shown to us through the ages, Amen

Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem, in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. At about that time some astrologers from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in far-off eastern lands and have come to worship him.”                             Matthew 2:1-2

I have been looking at the clear night sky lately, and the stars and planets have been especially brilliant. The one advantage of winter is the clarity of the sky due to the cold temperatures and relative lack of clouds and haze. I was really taken aback the other evening with the brightness of Jupiter. Venus, the morning star is similarly brilliant.

Then I happened to hear a podcast which discussed a possible explanation of the Christmas star. That same star the Magi were tracking when they sought the newborn ruler whom they believe the star portended.

The theory put forth by this scholar was that on the morning of April 17, in 6 B.C. an unusual alignment of the planet Jupiter, rising early in the morning, before sunrise in the eastern sky, caused the Magi to follow this omen. Since it arose in the astrological house of Aries, it caused them to believe that this omen meant that a significant king would be born in Judea. Judea evidently was associated with the astrological house of Aries.

It is interesting to note that these Magi were astrologers from perhaps Mesopotamia or Babylonia. They were skilled in the arts of astrology, and when they determined that this new king would be born in Judea, they headed to Jerusalem to inquire of the current king about this amazing birth.

Jews were prohibited from practicing the astrological arts, so Herod, and the other Jewish inhabitants were unaware of the significance that the pagan world associated with this sign. Of course, Herod wanted to hear about a king who might supplant him. Herod wanted names and addresses so that he could destroy this usurper king!

The mind-blower for me was that on December 19 of that year, Jupiter seemed to stand still in the sky. It shone brightly because of a confluence with the moon, and it seemed to just stand still. There is a technological reason for this phenomenon- Jupiter did not stand still. However, it appeared to stand still relative to the position of the earth in its course around the sun relative to Jupiter at that point.

Now this theory is just that- a theory. However, it does have some scientific backing and it could have been an explanation of the Christmas star followed by those wise men from the east.

Whether this theory flies or not, there are some interesting aspects to it. The Judeans would have been clueless about the astrological significance of this momentous event, but the rest of the world may have seen something that the Jews of the time did not.

A new King was being born.

Prayer: Lord, you give us wonderful gifts that we sometimes fail to see, Amen

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!                                          Philippians 2:5-8

Jesus came into this world as a helpless vulnerable baby to experience this world as a thoroughly human person. He also wanted to give us the message as a model of a sojourner in an alien place. He was denied and persecuted from birth. He was rejected by his own people, and finally put to death by a crushing civil government.

He gave the message to comfort the afflicted, to alleviate the suffering of the oppressed, and to welcome the stranger in our midst. As Christmas approaches, we need to evaluate- how well are we doing obeying his commands, and not just celebrating his coming?

Prayer: Lord, help us to fully appreciate your message as Savior and Redeemer, Amen

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle ’til morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And take us to heaven, to live with Thee there.

I love the traditional old carols, don’t you? The Christmas season brings back these beautiful little songs to be sung each year to get us in the mood of celebrating the birth of Jesus. Of course, many of the lyrics, sweet and lovely as they are, just simply aren’t true.

There wasn’t deep snow in Bethlehem when Jesus was born (The First Noel), and when Jesus was a baby, I am sure he cried when he was wet, hungry or upset.  The three wise men didn’t arrive at the manger hours after Jesus was born. Poetic license allows for these pictures to remain in our collective psyche to form a sweet narrative about the birth of Jesus.

I will keep singing these carols not because they contain actual true statements, but because they are traditional reminders- culture carriers if you will- that Jesus came to earth as a baby to start his redemptive mission.

Let’s remember that Jesus humbled himself to become a human being, and to have a life filled with all the physical and emotional anguish that life can bring. He can relate to us in every way. He cried when he was hurt, he had to grow in wisdom of relationships, and he had to be taught and encouraged by those who loved him.

Yet his mission was special and God-ordained. Only he could do it. And he chose to do it because of his great love for us.

Prayer: Lord, how can we thank you for the gift we celebrate at Christmas! Amen

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle ’til morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And take us to heaven, to live with Thee there.

I love the traditional old carols, don’t you? The Christmas season brings back these beautiful little songs to be sung each year to get us in the mood of celebrating the birth of Jesus. Of course, many of the lyrics, sweet and lovely as they are, just simply aren’t true.

There wasn’t deep snow in Bethlehem when Jesus was born (The First Noel), and when Jesus was a baby, I am sure he cried when he was wet, hungry or upset.  The three wise men didn’t arrive at the manger hours after Jesus was born. Poetic license allows for these pictures to remain in our collective psyche to form a sweet narrative about the birth of Jesus.

I will keep singing these carols not because they contain actual true statements, but because they are traditional reminders- culture carriers if you will- that Jesus came to earth as a baby to start his redemptive mission.

Let’s remember that Jesus humbled himself to become a human being, and to have a life filled with all the physical and emotional anguish that life can bring. He can relate to us in every way. He cried when he was hurt, he had to grow in wisdom of relationships, and he had to be taught and encouraged by those who loved him.

Yet his mission was special and God-ordained. Only he could do it. And he chose to do it because of his great love for us.

Prayer: Lord, how can we thank you for the gift we celebrate at Christmas! Amen

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”                                                      Micah 5:2

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts     Isaiah 55:8-9

Once again, we see how the smallest and least significant of places, Bethlehem, becomes the ancestral place of the birth of Jesus. The Bible is replete with upside-down explanations.

Young David, the least honored of his clan, becomes the King of Israel and leader of a mighty nation. Then he becomes part of the lineage of Jesus. Jacob, the second born twin (Esau’s brother) also becomes an ancestor in the chosen lineage of Jesus. Then of course, there are the scorned women- Rahab, Ruth, Tamar, and Bathsheba, all of whom had stories not expected in a royal lineage.

The list goes on. Unexpected people who play a major role in a holy story- because the story is one of a savior who does not find race, ethnicity, wealth, privilege or bloodline to be a preferential value in his Kingdom economy.

Ah, but we have corrupted the story, right?  We are “respecters of persons”. We rank privilege and race as demarcations of preference. We think that because of heritage, perhaps we have a corner on the truth.

Let’s remember that the last shall be first, and first shall be last. What appears right to mankind is not always the way God sees things. Remember the principle of paradox. God’s economy differs from ours. The beginning of wisdom is humility- the humility to know that God’s plans and ways are higher than ours…  

Prayer: Lord, gives us wisdom to be able to see your way, Amen

During the Christmas season, we are often asked, “What do you want for Christmas?” A good question, and one that we also ask of our children and grandchildren. Of course, as we age, we get much more joy in giving than receiving gifts. Yet we also recognize that it gives joy to others to give gifts to us. Others want to surprise us, or think of that “perfect gift” in order to make us happy. What a wonderful set of circumstances this Christmas season brings!

This also gives me pause to consider what things I really need for Christmas. No, I do not need anything material, thankfully. What I want is for my wife, my kids and my grandkids to be happy. That is really the large consideration for parents and grandparents around the world.

As for material things, yes, they can be fun. Generally, however, people would much prefer experiences over material gifts. That is why cruises, trips, and vacations are so popular in our affluent culture. In an affluent culture, luxuries become necessities, and expectations are raised for givers and receivers.

So, during this Christmas season, revel in the joy you give to others through gifts or great experiences. Of course, we all need to remember that the best present is presence. That is the most remarkable gift of all.

Prayer: Lord, you gave us the gift of your Son’s presence and we are grateful, Amen

 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things                                                                                    Philippians 4:8

“It’s all in what you are looking for”. That is what I tell my clients at times. If you are looking for reasons to see the good in someone, you can probably find it. On the other hand, if you are looking for reasons to be upset with someone, you can find that too. The question is, what will you decide to do? We have a choice in how we decide to look at others.

I am not saying to be naïve in how we interact with others. We live in a world of internet scams, phishing, and heaven knows how many other nefarious schemes out there to separate us from our money. There are plenty of bad actors in the world. But most people are not.

However, when it comes to relationships with people to whom we are close, it is a good practice to look for the best in them, not the worst. I talk to couples about ascribing best motives to their partner. Look for the best in the person you decided to trust.

You will likely find it.

Prayer: Lord, help us to extend grace to those around us, Amen

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, Philippians 2:3

I was recently talking with a client who struggles with feeling lovable. This has been a long-standing issue with her, and it was complicated by a traumatic sexual assault many years ago. She still struggles with her self-acceptance, and she has trouble seeing herself as a person of value. She felt unlovable.

She is, of course, a person of great value and worth. I pointed out to her one of the characteristics of her value in this way. She has a great desire to serve others and to give them joy. She works in various volunteer activities, and she serves home-cooked meals to families who are food insufficient. I pointed out that she performs behaviors of service, which are really good things. But beyond that, she has the desire to give others joy. That is character.

Doing good things for people is good behavior. Wanting to do good things for others is good character. I pointed out to her that she has good character, not just benevolent behaviors. She gradually saw that these are characteristics of a good and valuable person- one who is indeed lovable.

Many people struggle with feeling lovable and of value. We are of value because we are made in the image of our Creator. We display character when we desire to serve others in order for them to have joy and a sense of being loved.

Prayer: Lord, help us to love others as you us, Amen

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things                                                                                                                                                                   Philippians 4:8

What is the deadliest animal in the world in terms of human deaths caused? Is it sharks? Maybe snakes? How about scorpions or spiders? Well, you can add up all the deaths caused by all of the above animals, multiply it by a thousand or so, and you are still not close to the biggest killer.

Mosquitos.

Yes, mosquitos are responsible for about 2.7 million human deaths each year, and about 500 million mosquito borne illnesses. Yeah, they are deadly, not to mention completely annoying. But mostly those of us in the Northern Hemisphere just find them annoying. People in the Southern Hemisphere, especially children, find them to be deadly.

I was watching a documentary on NOVA (PBS) the other evening about the search for a malaria vaccine. The scientists, doctors, researchers, and human aid groups have been diligently searching for a malaria vaccine for decades, and in October, 2023, one was approved by the World Health Organization. I was captured by the reactions of the scientists.

They wept.

I write this because I saw the reactions of these heroic workers when the vaccine trials showed effectiveness. Spent of emotional energy from years of frustration, they wept and celebrated as they anticipated the millions of children, especially children in Africa, that would be spared the devastation of malaria.   

Mostly these days, we are inundated by the news of inhumane actions of evil in Ukraine, Gaza, and many other places. I can get pretty downcast by the cruel actions of humans toward other humans. But in this Christmas season, I was looking for uplifting stories. Stories of people who love their fellow man and work for the best interests of humankind.

They are all around us to be sure if we are looking. We just need to remind ourselves to look.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the loving kindness we see in others when we look, Amen