The passage from youth to older age seems to move very rapidly. At the outset of youth, it appears to move slowly, but as one advances into adulthood, the clock seems to accelerate and the years seem to pass more quickly. One of the major adjustments is in the area of vibrancy and vitality. Vibrancy, where one moves about quickly and without too many concerns or restrictions; and Vitality, where there is an excitement in both physical pursuits and mental achievements with few, if any, restraints. How can and should one adjust to the aging process and the limitations that come with it? One of the difficulties is the reaction and response of a younger generation who don’t always manifest any appreciation or need for those who have been down the road of life for several years.

The Biblical perspective of life is interesting as well. It shows the physical time-frame for it and the quickness of the passage of time and life. If or when one attends a funeral for a departed friend or acquaintance, aside from the “traditional” reading of Psalm 23, one may also hear these words from James 4:13-15, “Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” The Message Paraphrase is blunt, perhaps crass, when it shares: “And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, Today – at the latest, tomorrow – we’re off to such and such a city for the year. We’re going to start a business and make a lot of money. You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. You’re nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, If the Master wills it and we’re still alive, we’ll do this or that.”

Another Biblical Chapter often used at a funeral is The Prayer of Moses in Psalm 90:10-12, “The length of our days is seventy years– or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away…Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” The New Living Translation, “Seventy years are given to us! Some may even reach eighty. But even the best of these years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we are gone…Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom.” The Bible is essentially preparing one, and his/her loved ones for the inevitability – life is more short than we think. We need to interact, not morbidly but with reality, that those who are aging will soon die and be buried. I have met too many people over the years who were full of regret for the lost opportunities and missed moments with for whom there was both care and interest.

What are the positives for those who are in the aging process? Isaiah 40:28-31 comes to mind, “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Another is, Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” In Joshua 14:10-12, my personal hero and one whom I hope I can emulate, is Caleb, who says: “And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, just as he said…while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming. So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the Lord said.” Stay focused! Keep looking unto Jesus! Always let Him be your strength and shield! Consider these things with me!

It is strange that so much attention in our nation and world has focused on class distinctions and wealth-envy. It has become an ongoing part of the political climate of our day and it does so by emphasizing over and over again the richest 1 percent versus the non-rich 99 percent. No one ever pauses to ask who comprises that 1 percent nor where they live in the world. The talking points of most politicians demeans those of means while stirring up the rest to clamor for what that 1 percent has – namely, redistribution of their wealth.

CNN Money published a Headline Story on January 4, 2012 – “Americans Make Up Half Of The World’s Richest 1%.” How many are there in that 1% bracket? Do the protest groups know? Do the Politicians who seek the vote of the poor adequately define the who and where of the 1%? Why do you think they omit the facts in that regard? There are 60 million people who fit into the designation of the World’s Richest. The CNN Money Report states: “The United States holds a disproportionate amount of the world’s rich people. It only takes $34,000 a year, after taxes, to be among the richest 1% in the world. That’s for each person living under the same roof, including children. (So a family of four, for example, needs to make $136,000.) So where do these lucky rich people live? As of 2005 — the most recent data available — about half of them, or 29 million lived in the United States, according to calculations by World Bank economist Branko Milanovic in his book The Haves and the Have-Nots. Another four million live in Germany. The rest are mainly scattered throughout Europe, Latin America and a few Asian countries…” The breakdown of the others is: 3 million in France, 3 Million in Italy and 3 Million in Great Britain; 2 million in Canada, 2 Million in Japan, 2 Million in Brazil and 2 Million in South Korea; the other Million are scattered throughout the countries of Switzerland, Spain, Australia, Netherlands, Taiwan, Chile, Singapore and a few other countries.

We should never allow ourselves to become calloused or indifferent toward the poor and needy. Their plight is dreadful and their needs are considerable. We must remember, implement and practice James 2:12-15 (NLT), “…whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law of love, the law that set you free. For there will be no mercy for you if you have not been merciful to others. But if you have been merciful, then God’s mercy toward you will win out over his judgment against you. Dear brothers and sisters, what’s the use of saying you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can’t save anyone. Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, and you say, Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well — but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?” A Goal worthy of consideration is:Do as much as you can for as many as you can.

One must also be careful and guarded regarding envy. There is a statement of candor and transparency in this regard in Psalm 73:2-7, “But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pangs in their death, But their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride serves as their necklace; Violence covers them like a garment. Their eyes bulge with abundance; They have more than heart could wish…” In Psalm 73:11-14 (NLT) we find these words: “Does God realize what is going on? they ask. Is the Most High even aware of what is happening? Look at these arrogant people – enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply. Was it for nothing that I kept my heart pure and kept myself from doing wrong? All I get is trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.” A truth that one must remember is contained in Psalm 37:1-12, “ Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong…Trust in the Lord and do good…Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him…those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land…the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.” The promises of God are sure and will never fail. Let your hope and confidence be in Him always. Consider these things with me!

The English Language contains many idioms and phrases that are used to summarize a thought and/or to narrow the parameters of a discussion on a particular subject or matter. One such phrase is – “the heart of the matter”. The Reference Dictionary shares the following as “the heart of the matter” finds its origin in the phrase – “the crux of the matter.” Most understand what the phrase means, namely, “the basic, central, or critical point of an issue…” In English usage it is also used to mean difficulty or puzzle… The word “heart” has been used in the phrase to mean “the vital part” of an issue or matter at hand.

The idea of the “heart” as “the vital part” has application in terms of physical, mental and spiritual matters of life. The Book of Proverbs 4:20-23 states – “My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words.Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” The New Living Translation is – “ Pay attention…to what I say. Listen carefully. Don’t lose sight of my words. Let them penetrate deep within your heart, for they bring life and radiant health to anyone who discovers their meaning. Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.” And, The Message paraphrases these verses – “ Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice. Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart! Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul, they’re bursting with health. Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts.” In other words, all of these renderings is stating that the heart is vital – it is the seat of one’s emotions – it is necessary to the maintenance of a normal bodily function.

In Psychological and Medical Studies, an area has become known as the Broken Heart Syndrome (BHS). It is “a known medical condition that frequently occurs soon after the loss of a loved one. Although Broken Heart Syndrome is discussed in modern and ancient literature, it was not recognized as a physical ailment until the early 1990’s. Symptoms of broken heart syndrome include shortness of breath, chest pain, insomnia and depression.” It is also recognized as being twenty-one times greater within hours (and immediate days) following the death of a spouse with whom there had been a deep, intimate, and loving relationship. “BHS is most common in women who have suffered the loss of a loved one or similar intense emotional trauma. A sudden fright, such as a robbery or even a surprise party, can also trigger BHS. It is possible to die of a broken heart through broken heart syndrome. An extensive study by the Mayo Clinic found about 3.6 percent of fatalities rate in patients with broken heart syndrome. The study also found that patients who experienced physical stress had lower survival rates than those under emotional stress alone.”

The Psalmist described how Depression impacted his entire being in Psalm 38:6-8, “ I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning. For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.” The New Living Translation expresses it, “I am bent over and racked with pain. My days are filled with grief. A raging fever burns within me, and my health is broken. I am exhausted and completely crushed. My groans come from an anguished heart.” There are many verses in the Bible that address the centrality of the heart in all matters. Proverbs 14:30 states, “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” The Message renders this verse – “A sound mind makes for a robust body, but runaway emotions corrode the bones.” There is a safe place for an individual that encompasses all of that which is necessary and vital for one’s physical, mental and spiritual health. It is in a very simple statement of Proverbs 3:5-8 (NKJV), “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.” Too often and too frequently,one focuses on just the physical aspects and desires medication to meet the inner need. However, one would be better served by focusing on the Spiritual resolve as being The Heart of the Matter. Consider these things with me!

A Wall Street Journal Columnist wrote a very poignant paragraph regarding Republican Candidates for the Presidency. Last week, she wrote: “The worst trend in politics that fully emerged…People running for president not to be president but as a branding exercise, to sell books and get a cable contract and be a public figure and have people who heretofore hadn’t noticed you now stopping you in the airport to get a picture and an autograph. In an endeavor like this you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. You’re not held back by any sense of realism as to your positions, you don’t have to worry about them being used against you down the road because there won’t be a down the road. You can say anything. And because you do you seem refreshing. People start to like you—you’re not like all the others, who are so careful. You rise, run your mouth for a month and fall. Maybe this is harmless. But America is in crisis. The world is in crisis. Everywhere you look establishments and old arrangements are falling, toppling to the ground. Does it help, in this context, to lower the standing of the American political process by inserting your buffoonish, unserious self into it? Or does it make things just a little bit worse?”

Her rhetorical questions point to the fact that these Serious Times Require People Who Are Serious. How many times have you listened to a Candidate from any political persuasion, or a spokesperson for them, or a prognosticator and said to yourself – “You’ve got to be kidding! That just isn’t true!” Not enough of the cheering crowds pause to consider what they have heard nor the implication of what was said means. In other words, these Serious Times are devoid of People Who Are Serious. It reminds one of an old Radio and Television Program – Truth Or Consequences? It seems as though too many are willing to risk the Consequence rather than confront and demand the Truth! There seems to be a readiness and wiliness to set aside foundational principles and core values so that a greater good can be accomplished and satisfied. There are no parameters to reference – but – there is the willingness to blithely and blindly go forward in lock step – ignoring any and all warning signs in the process.

The realities of life and the shortness of it goes on. Later on today, there will be two Memorial Services conducted for the wives of two long-time friends. Both wives died after enduring the struggle with cancer and the treatments that were not accomplishing the desired result. It gives one a moment to pause and remember that real people are passing through serious personal times – and – they are having to deal with the gravity of the moment in the most serious of ways imaginable. James 4:13-15 reminds serious people that: “ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James reminds us that life is brief, at best, and goes on to say: “…you ought to say, If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” This truth is also shared in a Prayer of Moses – Psalm 90:1,10-12,“Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations…The length of our days is seventy years– or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away….Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Considering these realities and the brevity of life, a renewed emphasis needs to be placed upon the need for Serious Times Require People Who Are Serious. RaviZacharias shared these thoughts: “Although the cultural revolution has abandoned the fundamental foundations of faith, restoration is possible if Christians will light the way. (1) We are thrust into a humanistic world view, and we wonder how it happened. (2) A cultural revolution is under way, and we must respond. (3) As we come unhinged from our Creator, our culture’s foundations are being destroyed (4) The antagonism against things spiritual is real. (5) The revolution strikes at the jugular of every institution in the land. (6) God created us to be accountable for our actions, but that has been lost. (7) By losing accountability, we’ve eradicated conscience. ( God gave us charity, but that has been lost. We have lost the idea of beneficence.” Please – Consider These Things With Me!

There was a time when Logic was the expectation and Order/Purpose was the expectation for the ebb and flow of life. But now, Topsy-Turvy has gained cultural traction and it has quelled one’s ability to anticipate the future and to plan accordingly. A question that should be answered by someone pertains to How and When Topsy-Turvy was invited in and allowed to become an accepted lifestyle embraced by many. The American Heritage Dictionary defines Topsy-Turvy as: “with the top downward and the bottom up, or – upside down; In or Into a state of utter disorder or confusion; that which has become inverted.” Roget’s Thesaurus shares that Topsy-Turvy is: “characterized by Physical Confusion; or that which is chaotic, confused, disordered, mixed-up.” One can almost hear another say: “I knew it! Someone opened the door and in came Topsy and Turvy, and nothing’s been the same since…”

If you happen to be one who doesn’t sense or realize the changes that are taking place within our culture and lifestyle – maybe even thinking this is the way it is supposed to be – then you have other issues that require your attention. During 2011, a Television Program that gained a growing audience was: “Hoarders: Buried Alive.” The stated purpose of the program has a simple focus, namely, “Hoarding explores the Psychology behind the compulsion to accumulate and store large quantities of non-essential things.Each episode tells the stories of Hoarders struggling with behavior that has made every day existence unbearable for both them and their loved ones.With the help of expert Therapists and Organizers, The Hoarders will attempt to unlock the key to their obsessions in hope of reclaiming their lives.” A major problem that surfaces is that the individual cannot separate himself/herself from the accumulated stuff and junk. It is painful to observe those who live in the midst of squalor protest that they launder clothing and bathe themselves and their infants even though it is obvious to everyone that it is untrue.

A Reviewer made this assessment: “Hoarders is the best depiction of mental illness on TV today… Hoarders works because you can see mental illness and its effects on screen like never before: in piles of trash, or rotting food…or, in one especially disturbing episode, dozens of dead cats. The two people featured in each episode are usually at some kind of turning point – their relationship is deteriorating, they’re going to be evicted—and so a professional organizer and/or specialist comes in with a cleaning crew to help them deal with what has accumulated over the years.Why can’t the show’s subjects just throw this stuff away?…But the subjects’ mental illness – for which hoarding may just be a symptom – prevents them from being able to do that, which makes it obvious that they aren’t just being stubborn. That frustration is clear in friends and family members, but particularly in the workers who have been hired to help clean up. They can’t understand why it matters that they threw away a piece of broken tile or scraps of paper…”

We need to look at our individual lives and the things that we allow to accumulate in them – the clutter that begins to stack up! Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. That being so, why have we allowed for the ‘Topsy-Turvy’ to dominate? Two passages from God’s Word that can serve as a resolve for us: (1) Psalm 119:133 (The Message) “Steady my steps with your Word of promise so nothing malign gets the better of me.” We might say: ‘Keep me from accumulating junk in my life that prevents me from glorifying and enjoying you always. On this passage, Charles Spurgeon suggests: David “was not afraid of being laughed at for living by method and rule, for he saw method and rule to be Divine institutions. He did not aspire to a random life, or envy the free-livers, whose motto is, “Do whatever you like.” He had no lusts to be his own master—he wished in all things to be governed by the superior and all-perfect will of God.(2) I Corinthians 14:40 (NIV) “But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.” This needs to be linked with Psalm 37:23-24 (NKJV), “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.” Topsy-Turvy should not be part of one’s life – order and purpose is God’s design and will for His own. Ask the Lord to order your steps and life. Consider these things with me!

One of the experiences we would all like to avoid is encountering corruption – yet – in one form or another, we have all encountered it to some degree. Corruption is a 14th century word that was used in reference to material things, especially regarding dead bodies. It also had a spiritual application in terms of the soul and morals. In current times, we have had a glimpse of it regarding Governments, Businesses, Sports and Churches. Some have the idea that the wrong thing can be done in plain sight and the brightest daylight – but – that no one will notice or care. It is frequently rationalized by use of the trite notion – “well, everyone does it.” It is a breakdown of the moral fiber of a culture that has been nurtured with a marked imbalance of permissiveness, promiscuity and narcissism. It has allowed for an evolving climate where “everything/anything goes” and “no one is responsible for their actions.”

Two words that describe the climate of our times and that seem to go hand-in-hand with each other are Corruption and Decadence. Corruption focuses on the diminishing of moral standards and equivalents; depravity; and the perversion of integrity. Decadence focuses on “the act or process of falling into an inferior condition or state; deterioration; decay; moral degeneration or decay; turpitude; unrestrained or excessive self-indulgence.” The synonyms are: “degeneration, retrogression, decline.” Some historians, namely, Edward Gibbon, held that the fall of Rome can be attributed to internal decadence. Gibbon “…placed the blame on a loss of civic virtue among the Roman citizens. They gradually outsourced their duties to defend the Empire to barbarian mercenaries who eventually turned on them. Gibbon considered that Christianity had contributed to this, making the populace less interested in the worldly here-and-nowand more willing to wait for the rewards of heaven. The decline of Rome was the natural and inevitable effect of immoderate greatness. Prosperity ripened the principle of decay; the causes of destruction multiplied with the extent of conquest; and as soon as time or accident had removed the artificial supports, the stupendous fabric yielded to the pressure of its own weight…”

Five summary points have been offered and referenced over the years in terms of why and how the decline and fall of the Roman Empire occurred: 1) Increased number of Divorces resulting the undermining of the sanctity of the home; 2) Higher Tax Rates and the redistribution of wealth as money was spent for bread and celebrations; 3) the ever-increasing craze/demand for pleasure – sports events becoming more brutal and exciting with each passing year; 4) the building and amassing of larger and more potent armaments that would allow for defense and domination (more so than the M.A.D. concept – Mutually Assured Destruction); and 5) the indifference toward and the decay of religion – faith becoming more form than function – and ultimately becoming impotent. The time-frame for The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire was – 476. The application is both obvious and timeless – the historic narrative could almost be used as an overlay and description of the culture and society of the 21st century.

The Bible instructs and warns one regarding the dangers of decadence. Galatians 6:7-8, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” Those who have ignored the Gospel and the advantages of it in terms of corruption, become those who would entice others to a godless and hopeless lifestyle. In II Peter 2:19, “They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.” The only hope and the only help is in and through Jesus Christ. In II Peter 1:3-4, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” Don’t be among those who are deceived – identify with those who have been delivered by God’s Grace and Power. Consider these things with me!

There’s an old expression regarding “the day after the night before” which pertains to the partying practices of different cultural groups in the world. It usually has reference to the “hangover” that some experience from their excessive drinking and consumption of alcoholic beverages the “night before”! For such a one, “the day after the night before” can be a miserable one as blurred vision and headaches accompany one in the process of becoming “sober” and functional.

However, “the day after the night before” has a different tradition, observance and reference than a binge with which one has inflicted himself/herself. Particularly in the British Empire, it has reference to the day following Christmas – December 26th is observed as St. Stephen’s Day. “St. Steven’s Day is an official holiday in Italy, Finland, Ireland and some other countries. It is also celebrated in some other countries as an official or unofficial holiday. In England and the English speaking Commonwealth countries it is known as Boxing Day and celebrated as an official holiday under that name. In Ireland, December 26th is celebrated under the name of St. Stephen’s Day or sometimes referred to as Wren Day. Today the holiday is celebrated in Ireland very much like Boxing Day is celebrated in nearby England. But much of the lore of the day centers around a little bird known as the wren. In rural Ireland in times past, groups of young men and boys would dress in old clothes and blacken their faces. They would then capture and kill a wren, and march from house to house, carrying the dead wren on the top of a pole, and asking for a treat or money to bury the wren.” It is a strange way to commemorate a day bearing the name of one who was very significant in Christian and Biblical History.

We first read about Stephen in Acts 6. As the Church was expanding and growing, the Apostles were directed to find godly men who would be able to assist in aspects of ministry – especially the care of widows (and presumably orphans). The requirement for those to assist in a Diaconal role is stated in Acts 6:2-5, “Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit (along with six others)…” In Acts 2:8-15, a summary of Stephen’s life, character and ministry is given: “…Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen…disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. Then they secretly induced men to say, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God. And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council…And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.”

The result of the wicked scheming of the Freedmen is given in Acts 7:55-58, Stephen “…being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God! Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him.” Stephen became the first Martyr of the Christian Church. Rather than the day being observed with the frivolity of a Boxing Day or a Day of the Wren, it should be commemorated as a day for noting the cost of true discipleship and a challenge to us all to have the same confidence, hope, courage and commitment to implement Ephesians 6:13, “…take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Consider these things with me!

On the website – Fathers.Com – is an interesting presentation regarding: “Your Heritage and Your Legacy” written by Ken Canfield. He states the following – “Some of my recent study has gone toward helping fathers understand the hand-in-hand connection between their heritage and their legacy. Becoming a father is often a catalyst for a man to process his past and begin planning for the future—his and his childrens. With that in mind, I have come up with an exercise for fathers consisting of two sets of six questions… The first six questions focus on your heritage: (1) In reflecting on your relationship to your father or father figure, how would you describe his support of you? (2) Did he regularly show you affection? (3) Was he present and accessible to you growing up? (4) Did he struggle with substance abuse or was he unfaithful to your mother? (5) Did he abuse you or another family member? (6) Would you say he was a good example? The second set focuses on your legacy: (1) What values and skills do you want to pass on to your child? (2) What are your child’s greatest challenges? (3) What are his greatest strengths and gifts? (4) How can you strengthen your relationship with him in the coming year? (5) What physical and emotional resources will be required for your son or daughter to face the future with confidence? (6) Whom can you count on for support and counsel as you father your child?…”

One’s life can be greatly influenced and impacted by his past. I am the youngest of three children and have a vivid memory of seventy years ago today. It was in the early morning hours when the policemen came to the door of the tenement in which we resided to inform my Mother that our Father had died. I stood at the doorway behind my Mother and have the continuing memory of the emptiness of that moment and the wonderment of what the future held (our Father was buried on Christmas Eve, 1941). Where we lived was in a nice, clean German-oriented neighborhood. For whatever reason (perhaps embarrassment, or financial need), shortly after the turn of the year, my Mother decided to relocate us to a tenement that was the reverse of where we were living – to a dingy and dirty and backward community where we were clearly the “outsiders.” It was clear that we did not fit, did not speak Italian, were not Roman Catholic and were further advanced in schooling than in the comparable grades where we were placed (or displaced. We didn’t know that we had moved into a “ghetto” atmosphere – but – we were aware that it was traumatic for all of us. My Mother had to find employment; my Grandmother came to live with us and to be a care-provider; due to our Father’s malady, we had to go to the Board of Health for X-Ray observation…It was a debilitating, demeaning and difficult time – – a time when we felt isolated and alone.

One of the positives with these transitions was that our Maternal Grandmother was a godly woman who knew the Bible and was willing to share it with everyone. A verse that is too often generalized rather than particularized is Psalm 127:3, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.” The Message paraphrases it: “ Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?” There are several places and circumstances where one can observe the workings of the Lord in one’s life. Personally, I find substance and application to the clichéd words – “I’m not all of what I ought to be; I’m not all of what I’m going to be; but – praise God – I’m not all of what I could have (or might have) been!” Early on in my life, I underscore a verse in my Bible – Deuteronomy 33:27 – “The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, And will say, ‘Destroy!’” I think it was a personal quest to be accepted or to have some sense of worth and value. Our Mother would remind us – “Be the best of whatever you are.” In that regard – and later on – a different verse challenged and motivated me – II Corinthians 5:15, “He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” These words, as well as those of a college Hymn, challenged me then – and – continue to challenge me now. The Hymn: “All For Jesus, all for Jesus! All my beings ransomed powers; All my thoughts and words and doings, All my days and all my hours… Let my hands perform his bidding; Let my feet run in His ways; Let my eyes see Jesus only; Let my lips speak forth His praise. Consider these things with me!

This year the Jewish Celebration of Hanukkah begins at the evening hour today. Hanukkah means Dedication – the time commemorating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in 165 B.C. The events leading up to this event are given in the writings of Flavius Josephus and in I Maccabees, especially Chapters 1 and 2. Briefly, “In 168 B.C.E. the Jewish Temple was seized by Syrian-Greek soldiers and dedicated to the worship of the god Zeus. This upset the Jewish people, but many were afraid to fight back for fear of reprisals. Then in 167 B.C.E. the Syrian-Greek emperor Antiochus IV made the observance of Judaism an offense punishable by death. He also ordered all Jews to worship Greek gods.” The oral history tells of the extent to which Antiochus went in his Hellenization efforts. One such incident, such as, if any Mother with a male child who had been circumcised – that Mother was killed, as was her infant son, and they hung that dead son around the Mother’s neck. It was a treacherous and hideous time.

History records that “Jewish resistance began in the village of Modiin, near Jerusalem. Greek soldiers forcibly gathered the Jewish villages and told them to bow down to an idol, then to sacrifice and eat the flesh of a pig – both practices that are forbidden to Jews. A Greek officer ordered Mattathias, a High Priest, to acquiesce to their demands, but Mattathias refused. When another villager stepped forward and offered to cooperate on Mattathias’ behalf, the High Priest became outraged. He drew his sword and killed the villager…” In I Maccabees 1:20-28, “After subduing Egypt, Antiochus returned in the one hundred and forty-third year. He went up against Israel and came to Jerusalem with a strong force. He arrogantly entered the sanctuary and took the golden altar, the lampstand for the light, and all its utensils. He took also the table for the bread of the Presence, the cups for drink offerings, the bowls, the golden censers, the curtain, the crowns, and the gold decoration on the front of the temple; he stripped it all off. He took the silver and the gold, and the costly vessels; he took also the hidden treasures which he found. Taking them all, he departed to his own land. He committed deeds of murder, and spoke with great arrogance. Israel mourned deeply in every community, rulers and elders groaned…

I Maccabees 2:1-22, contains a summary of both the commitment and courage of Mattathias and his sons. Given the opportunity to compromise their core values, and in observing the degree and extent to which the arrogance of Antiochus has gone, when Mattathias : “… saw the blasphemies being committed in Judah and Jerusalem said, Why was I born to see this, the ruin of my people, the ruin of the holy city…the sanctuary given over to aliens?” When called upon at the moment of actual compromise, he said: “…Even if all the nations that live under the rule of the king obey him, and have chosen to do his commandments, departing each one from the religion of his fathers, yet I and my sons and my brothers will live by the covenant of our fathers. Far be it from us to desert the law and the ordinances. We will not obey the king’s words by turning aside from our religion to the right hand or to the left.” When the victory is won and the Temple is to be rededicated, only one small vessel of dedicated oil is found to light the Menorah – only enough for one day – as they proceed, the oil lasts for eight days. That tradition and celebration – The Festival of Lights – continues to this day.

The summary of the Birth of Jesus Christ in John 1:1-14, “ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world…the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” This “Festival of Light” is celebrated by the Christian world as Christmas. The sadness that attaches to this celebration is the fact of John 3:19-21, “And this is the condemnation (verdict, judgment): light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.But whoever does what is true comes to the light… Have you come to the Light – Jesus Christ? Do you – with commitment and courage – abstain from all compromise as you grow in knowing Him and making Him known? Consider these things with me!

Is there ever a time when Compromise is the correct and only course one can/should take? Does Compromise violate another’s conviction, principles of life, core values and moral compass? What is the standard by which Compromise can take place without there being a violation of ones conscience? Should Compromise merely be accepted as “the way things are” and “we need to learn to live and let live” – or – is it a case that the stronger and more dominant are allowed to exercise their will upon those who are weaker and with little or no influence at all? Has Political Correctness been allowed to run amuck in this nation? Has any one raised a voice of protest or – like a Caspar Milquetoast (a milquetoast is a weak, ineffectual or bland person; the word is derived from the character Caspar Milquetoast from the 1924 comic strip The Timid Soul) – just shrugged and willingly accepts that as the new status quo?

It strikes one as being strange that the traditional Christmas Season has succumbed to Political Correctness, and to the Atheists who purport that their rights are violated when a Church places a Nativity Scene on Church-owned property. Should the “will” of these and other groups be allowed to determine what Music is permissible at this time of the year or what type of Display can be viewed by the public? In addition, this issue of Compromise has entered the rules of the House of Representatives as our elected officials are told how they can communicate with their Constituents. The Washington Examiner headlined a report (12-16-11): “Congressman Can’t Say Merry Christmas In Mail.” The column begins: “Looks like the PC Police have threatened members of the House of Representatives against wishing constituents a “Merry Christmas”, if they want to do so in a mailing paid for with tax dollars. Members who submit official mailings for review by the congressional franking commission that reviews all congressional mail to determine if it can be “franked”, or paid for with tax dollars, are being told that no holiday greetings, including ‘Merry Christmas’, can be sent in official mail.” They were also told they cannot say ‘Happy New Year’ but can say “have a happy new year’ – referencing the time period of a new year, but not the holiday…” The columnist then opines: “So it’s true, the elected representatives of the nation that puts ‘In God We Trust’ on its currency are not permitted to use the greeting that has likely been uttered by every living adult American at least once in their lifetimes. Just another demonstration that political correctness and freedom of speech, faith and thought are utterly incompatible.”

Compromise is defined as being: “a settlement of differences by mutual concessions…adjustment of conflicting or opposing claims, principles…” A Biblical narrative of a Compromise that never should’ve occurred is: “II Chronicles 18 – Jehoshaphat, the good king of Judah, and Ahab, the wicked king of Israel, joined together to make war against Syria. Jehoshaphat was intent on asking God’s will before going to war, so Ahab summoned 400 of his prophets. They all foretold victory. Jehoshaphat then asked if a prophet of the Lord could be found (it seems he could tell the difference!). Ahab said there was one, the prophet Micaiah (V.7), “but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil” (Devotional By Life Lines). Once Compromise is permitted, it can only lead to worse choices and events. Ahab convinced Jehoshaphat to wear his clothing and to drive his war chariot. “Jehoshaphat allowed himself to forget a major core value: “Once you have sought out God’s will, don’t ignore it.” The astounding part of this story is that after God’s prophet foretold defeat, Ahab and Jehoshaphat went to war anyway!” We might expect this from Ahab, but Jehoshaphat should have known better! What was the end result? Jehoshaphat came within seconds of being killed because of his having been duped into wearing Ahab’s garments and driving Ahab’s War Chariot. How closely have you come to a costly error and ruin because of a foolish and unprincipled compromise? Ecclesiastes 7:5 states, “It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools.” The NLT renders this verse, “It is better to be criticized by a wise person than to be praised by a fool!” Be a principled person who is governed by a moral compass that guides you away from unwise and unfounded compromise. Let Isaiah 30:21 be part of your core value and life practice: “And your ears shall hear a word…saying, “This is the way, walk in it…” Consider these things with me!