And now this…from the leader of the free world. We are no longer free.

Donald J. Trump •

@realDonaldTrump

A very sad thing happened last night in Hollywood. Rob Reiner, a tortured and struggling, but once very talented movie director and comedy star, has passed away, together with his wife, Michele, reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, sometimes referred to as TDS. He was known to have driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession of President Donald J. Trump, with his obvious paranoia reaching new heights as the Trump Administration surpassed all goals and expectations of greatness, and with the Golden Age of America upon us, perhaps like never before. May Rob and Michele rest in peace!

Some days there are no words!

Jesus came with angels heralding “Peace, peace on the people of earth”. How we have twisted the gift of the Father to the world that He so loved. God forgive us we know not what we do. Carla

"Preach the Gospel always. Use words when necessary." St. Francis of Assisi

In junior high and high school, we had a well-known bully. And he followed the script, carrying himself like the world revolved around him.
He did attend most of his classes, and when not in class, walked the hallways with an air of arrogance, a mixture of “Look at me, I’m important” and “Stay out of my way”. He was shadowed—depending on the year—by two or three minions who would flatter and fawn. And he spent much of the lunch hour in the parking lot sitting on the hood of his car.
We all knew not to get in his way, and we knew not to find any way to irritate him.
I had a girlfriend in my freshman year, and he wanted her to be his girlfriend. He would threaten to beat me up. And he enjoyed calling me names.
This story didn’t come to my mind for those occasions, but for another—for me, a very emotional memory. The memory of him openly berating, and intimidating, younger boys. There were times when I couldn’t miss it. And times, when I couldn’t turn away, and watched. Sometimes it was just the verbal intimidation and name calling. Sometimes it was physical threats. We all—everyone in the school—could see it. And we knew the pretext, “It’s just him being him. Let’s ignore it. And stay out of his way.”
I can tell you, that to this day, I carry the shame—and sorrow—from “ignoring”. And avoiding. “There’s nothing I can do,” I would say to myself back then.

And to this day, when I see pain from unkindness or meanness (including when we ignore the pain of the “least of these”), it goes straight to my core. And there is a part of my heart that wants to pretend it isn’t so. And I close my spirit down. In a world where bullying—meanness and violence—exists, it can be too easy to close our eyes. As a go-to response. Easier to avoid the involvement emotional roller coaster we tell ourselves.
And no, this was not the Sabbath Moment I had set out to write today.
So. Why the bully story?
I just read the news. And I don’t have the words.
They were gathering for a celebration at the beginning of Hanukkah, in Sydney, Australia. And shooters—a father and son—targeted a Jewish gathering on the beach and killed at least 15 people, and wounded 40 more, officials said. At least one gunman (the father) is dead, and the son, is in custody. The authorities called it a terrorist attack.
And here’s the deal. Even with the news—national or international—the voices inside sound familiar. “But what can I do?” “Cruelty and violence are real. Crazy people do crazy things.” “It happened so far away.” Yes, the temptations of cynicism, and despair, and shutting down, are very real.
I remember one conversation in one of my BBC TV shows, Grantchester, about one of their dear friends going downhill, “I noticed, but I didn’t say anything,” said Kathy. “We all noticed, but we didn’t say anything,” said Mrs. C.

And I am reminded of a Pope Leo XIV recent summons, “Religion… cannot be limited to the private sphere, as if believers had no business making their voice heard with regard to problems affecting civil society and issues of concern to its members.”

I put my pen down. And took a writing pause.
And put on some music. And sat, and listened to Peter, Paul and Mary signing, “Light One Candle.”
“Light one candle for the terrible sacrifice
Justice and freedom demand
But light one candle for the wisdom to know
When the peacemaker's time is at hand
Don't let the light go out
It's lasted for so many years
Don't let the light go out
Let it shine through our love and our tears
Light one candle for the strength that we need
To never become our own foe
And light one candle for those who are suffering
Pain we learned so long ago
Light one candle for all we believe in
Let anger not tear us apart
And light one candle to bind us together
With peace as the song in our heart”
(“Light One Candle” is an affirmation and confirmation of the healing power in Hanukkah.)

Now, back to the bully story. Here’s the deal: we do have a choice.
We—every single one of us—can “light one candle”.
We can say No, to the “darkness” of bullying, and cruelty, and unkindness, and Yes, to lighting a candle for mercy, and compassion, and healing, and hope.
When we light this candle, let us listen to—and hear—the words of Micah (a Hebrew prophet from the 8th century BC), “What doth God require of thee, but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
Oh my. To love mercy.
Mercy is real, my friends. And mercy makes a difference. And I’m so grateful for the people in my life and world that show mercy, and spill mercy around them. Thank you.
I read this today from Sean McDowell, “Jesus modeled this in his interactions with lepers. In first-century Palestine, lepers were considered cursed by God. They were required to live outside of cities, have no contact with anyone, and cry out ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ if anyone approached (Lev. 13:45-46). Because of their loathsome skin disease, lepers were truly societal outcasts.
Yet one leper risked everything by approaching Jesus. Would Jesus possibly consider him worthy of being healed? Rather than turning away, ignoring him, or mocking him, Jesus was ‘filled with compassion’ and did the unthinkable: he touched him and made him well (Mark 1:40-45).
Rather than taking advantage of the weak and vulnerable, Jesus humbled himself and cared for them.
How would Jesus respond to bullying? Jesus touched the untouchable. He loved the unlovable. He cared for the disregarded, weak, and vulnerable. Even those who were excluded by society could be included in his love. If Jesus were physically present today, he would stand up to bullies, have compassion on those who are bullied, and never be a bystander.
Will we do the same?”

Today in our Christian churches, we light the third Advent candle of Joy.
And during this season of “lists” and intense pace, please be gentle with yourself.
And let’s use the words for Light One Candle, as our prayer this week. Thank you for your concerns about the serious flooding that occurred in Washington State this past week. We were fortunate, but other areas were seriously damaged.
Happy Hanukkah to our Jewish brothers and sisters.
And let us be on the lookout for those around us who need the light of kindness and mercy. Sabbath Moments

John 10:11-16 We are loved!

John 11:52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.

Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong. We are weak but He is strong! We must come to Him as a child totally trusting in God to do what we cannot.

John 10:11-16 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son so that we could be reconciled to Him.No longer bound by sin we can choose to love Him and trust only in Him. Thank You, Jesus. Carla

I am the good shepherd Jesus fulfills the messianic role of the shepherd. This role in Ezekiel is depicted as fulfilled by God; Jesus makes the claim that He (as God in flesh) is the one fulfilling it (Ezekiel 34:23).  

Evoking imagery of the young shepherd, David, risking his life to keep his sheep safe (1 Samuel 17:34–37). In addition to fulfilling God’s role with His people as shepherd, Jesus fulfills David’s role as their king.

The Father knows me gives Jesus the authority to make the claims He does. 

I have other sheep alludes to the Gentiles and the ultimate universal scope of salvation via Christ’s atoning death. One flock—one shepherd compares  Ezekiel 34:23. The flock includes all believers, both Jews and Gentiles. Faithlife Study Bible

Jesus is the good shepherd who gives His life for the sheep (3:16; 1 John 3:16), as opposed to the wicked thief who takes their lives. While life in verse 10 refers to eternal life, life here refers to physical life. Jesus laid down His physical life in order to give us eternal life.

The hireling is a hired shepherd, a mercenary, who tends the flock for his own interest. When a hired shepherd sees a wolf coming he flees, not caring about the sheep.

The other sheep were not Jews in heathen lands, but Gentiles. The Jewish people had asked if Jesus would go and teach the Gentiles (7:35). Jesus now declared that He had sheep among the despised heathen. One flock anticipates the salvation of the Gentiles and the formation of the church, in which converted Jews and Gentiles would form one spiritual body (1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:16). The NKJV Study Bible

Ezekiel 34:23

I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them—My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. 

1 Peter 2:25

For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Ezekiel 34:11–16

‘For thus says the Lord GOD: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day…

John 10:17–18

“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

I am frequently asked, “What specifically can we do to keep sane in a world that too often feels upside down?”

Here’s my answer. “Let’s give ourselves the permission to let our soul catch up.”

We don’t need another assignment. Or test to pass. 

Sometimes, without even knowing it...

We need times and places to decompress.

We need times and places to let our soul catch up.

Savor your moments this season, for Christmas and Hanukkah. (To my Jewish brothers and sisters, “Happy Hanukkah”, which begins at sundown Sunday.)

And say thank you to those who make your life richer. Sabbath Moments

Spiritually speaking, without faith in Jesus, our lives are like sin-stained clothes. Except we only have one set. And if heaven is like a wedding (Revelation 19:7), we'd never get in dressed as we are. We've all acted in ways that are unfaithful to our loving and holy God, and there is nothing we can do on our own to make peace. The only miracle that could save us is a brand-new set of clothes.

Thankfully, Jesus came not just to wash our clothes white but to give us His own garments that have never been stained (2 Corinthians 5:21). During this second week of Advent, we remember that the arrival of Jesus was the arrival of peace with God.Today's key verse prophesies about this very thing: "Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place" (Daniel 9:24).

Daniel was a prophet who lived through Israel's exile in Babylon and oppression in Persia. His book is divided into historical narrative and prophecy, and this particular prophecy is among the most debated in Scripture. Bible scholar Stephen Miller notes that it's perhaps the most difficult verse in the book of Daniel, as many question the meaning of "seventy weeks."

But the time period actually isn't the most important part of this scripture. Let's look at what is promised: the end of sin, atonement for iniquity, and the arrival of everlasting righteousness. These phrases point to the Day of the Lord, when Jesus' return will permanently make peace and set all things right.

Until that day, sin still remains in the world. But when we read Daniel 9:24 through a gospel lens, it invites us to pause and remember that even now, Jesus has already "appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself" (Hebrews 9:26).So in part, Daniel's prophecy has been fulfilled! According to Hebrews, we are living in the end of the ages. Jesus is our peace and "everlasting righteousness" (Daniel 9:24).

Jesus is also the true "holy place" of Daniel 9:24; the temple of His body was torn down and raised up again in three days (John 2:19-21), and His Spirit now dwells within believers (Galatians 2:20). Though He will ultimately "seal both vision and prophet" in eternity to come (Daniel 9:24), God's Word is also complete and sufficient now as we wait for Jesus' return.

During Advent, let's remember that Jesus' first arrival began the work of atonement for sin, bringing peace between God and humanity.And let's also eagerly anticipate His second coming, which will bring everlasting peace for believers because there will be absolutely no more sin ever, in us or anyone else, to the praise of His glorious grace. First5

Psalm 85:10-13 Together in God’s mercy and truth we live.

James  1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Jesus is truth and God’s mercy is offered to all who accept Him.  All good comes from our Father and is offered in salvation.  In the tender care of Holy Spirit we dwell. We abide in the righteousness of Jesus and not in ours.

Psalm 85:10-13 

10 Mercy and truth have met together;

Righteousness and peace have kissed.

11 Truth shall spring out of the earth,

And righteousness shall look down from heaven.

12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good;

And our land will yield its increase.

13 Righteousness will go before Him,

And shall make His footsteps our pathway.

Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father. Carla

The words mercy and truth often appear together in the Scriptures to express one concept. Here they are viewed as separate entities that come together, in the same way that righteousness and peace have kissed. The union of God’s mercy and truth and His righteousness and peace describes the way things ought to be, or the state of peace spoken of in verse 8. The blending of the ideals of truth and righteousness in verse 11 suggests a vision of the kingdom of God (Isaiah 11). The fact that the word righteousness appears three times in the last four verses of this psalm alludes to the holiness of the coming kingdom of God and the sinlessness of the Savior and King who will rule over it. The NKJV Study Bible

Loyal love and faithfulness will meet one another. The psalmist portrays mutual faithfulness between Yahweh and Israel. God’s chesed (“steadfast love”) is His defining characteristic (Exododus 34:6).

Israel’s unfaithfulness has made it impossible for righteousness and peace to exist together because Yahweh’s righteousness could not tolerate Israel’s waywardness (Psalm 85:8). Israel’s unrighteousness offended God and caused injustice within the nation.

God cares for Israel.

Righteousness will go before him. This phrase may have an intentional double meaning: God’s righteousness (tsedeq in Hebrew) enables Israel’s faithfulness and Israel’s righteousness and makes it so that Yahweh can express His love without violating His character ( verses 10–11). Faithlife Study Bible

Psalm 89:14

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;

Mercy and truth go before Your face.

Psalm 72:2–3

He will judge Your people with righteousness,

And Your poor with justice.

The mountains will bring peace to the people,

And the little hills, by righteousness.

Psalm 84:11

For the LORD God is a sun and shield;

The LORD will give grace and glory;

No good thing will He withhold

From those who walk uprightly.

Isaiah 45:8

“Rain down, you heavens, from above,

And let the skies pour down righteousness;

Let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation,

And let righteousness spring up together.

I, the LORD, have created it.

All changes, all growth, all improvements in the quality of our lives flow out of our vision of God. And when our vision of God is one of a God of relentless tenderness, we ultimately become tender ourselves.
(Thank you Brennan Manning, The Wittenburg Door, Oct–Nov 1986)

Even so. I can be easily derailed. And I fall back under the spell of angst. And that unnerves me.

But even there, I’m invited to participate in this life. To bring all that I am (without letting the unsettled parts dictate) to the table of this moment. To invest my whole heart. What Barbara Kingsolver calls a conspiracy with life.

My friend Phil Volker used to say that it takes one kind of hope to show up for life, and another kind to partake. I don't think we are supposed to be casual observers here with our precious—and often precarious—time.

This can be transformative. Embraced by a God of relentless tenderness, gratitude empowers us to spill the incarnation. And embracing beauty allows us to practice the sacrament of the present moment. And that which we have buried—mercy, gentleness, kindheartedness, tenderness—comes to life. Let us never forget that. Sabbath Moments

Psalm 132:11 (ESV) "The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: 'One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne. '"

God's Word is true, and His promises never fail. 

Even in seasons of difficulty and disappointment, when life is hard and we feel forgotten like God's people did in exile, we can remain hopeful and find peace in this promise: He reigns. Today we know Christ has come, and He is on the throne.

Centuries after Psalm 132:11 was written, God's promise was fulfilled. The angel Gabriel, sent by God, greeted Mary with this announcement of a new covenant of peace: "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end" (Luke 1:30-33).

As we remember Christ's birth, let's rejoice in His fulfillment of God's promises and find peace in His enduring reign. Our true and faithful God is worth celebrating all year, in every season. First5