This day I have come upon the realization that my job is not just my job. It is really my service to the Lord. So whether I like it or not, whether I have complaints, I ought to be thankful. And I ought to do my best "as unto the Lord" and for His pleasure and glory, not my own.

The motto of the Cub Scouts, which my youngest son has joined this year, is "Do Your Best." It is just as good a motto for adults as it is for children. While I always do my best, I don't always have "the attitude of Christ Jesus", as I know I should. Griping about things in ones workplace, whether valid or not, just makes me miserable. So I am going to be very thankful, especially since this week it is Thanksgiving, and do my best every day, with love.

Love? Why would I do my computer work with love? Love just makes things better. It makes cooking better. I heard about a garbage collector who loved his garbage, his job, and all the people whose garbage he collected, with the result that he was the favorite refuse company in his town, and an encouragement to people with easy, high-paying jobs, not to complain. So LOVE is the "secret ingredient" in a happy life and happy career and a happy family. May God help us to do our best to love our work, love our coworkers, and love our jobs.

Lord, forgive my complaints. Thank you for my job. Bless my coworkers, and help me to do my best, for Your eyes, for the love of Jesus. Amen.

God had made a covenant with his people. He expected them to keep it. When they did not, God withdrew his protection from them. He even told the prophet, "Do not pray for this people nor offer any plea or petition for them, because I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their distress." [14] Instead of living for the glory of God according to his Law, they were all waging a conspiracy against God. [9]

Naturally when Jeremiah warned them of God's punishment for their sins they also plotted to kill him. But God was going to protect Jeremiah.

We have to be bold in proclaiming God's word to this generation, which is also full of conspiracies and oppression of the poor. May God give us strength to stand up for God, as Jeremiah, even if there is no hope of reforming or saving our people. God will take care of us and will call out his remnant. But those who resist us will be utterly ruined.

God had endured the sin of Israel and Judah enough. Now there was no remedy for them [16]. They were doomed. God would be with his remnant in Babylon. But the temple and the city was destroyed.

Could it be that after only 250 years America has also come to the point of no return? Some wonder. I believe there are a great many Americans who are praying. But I also know that there are not a majority. I myself do not pray very much. May God help me to pray and deeply devote myself to know the Lord. May God use me and my household as a witness and messengers to this generation.

Father, we have come so far from pleasing you. Please help America to repent. Be it ever so painful, help us to turn back to you. 9/11 and Katrina were such minor rebukes, Lord. Now we are in the midst of a drought. Perhaps if this went on for three years, people would finally take note. Lord, if this is what it takes, give us drought. Only do not let us fall into the hands of wicked men, such as Liberals, Socialists and Muslims. IJNA

"...from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."

If we believe that God "uses all things for our good" [Rom 8:28] and that he is with us as he promised again and again, then we must hold fast to the belief that there are reasons for everything in life.

The reason God chose us and went to such lengths (the cross of Calvary) to save us, is that, acc. to v.14, "we might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." This is not just fluffy talk. To share in Jesus' glory is the very meaning of life to the Christian. It is what should drive us daily. While worldly people are driven by human riches and temporal glory, we envision the day we will stand at Jesus' side in heaven, exalted with him, sitting with him on his throne [Rev 3:21]. Some people LIVE to have a gorgeous physique or a pretty face or a fancy sports car or some position. Mitt Romney can make a lot more money in business than by being President. He isn't driven by money as much as the glory and power, or maybe some altruistic goal to make the US a better place (and take credit for it). (Sorry if my bias isn't very well veiled. Ron Paul is more altruistic in every way.)

But what gives? When does this glory begin? Unlike human glory, it isn't something we can have here and now. Until we die, we must suffer with Jesus---disgrace, misunderstanding, persecution, hate. Jesus said, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." [Jn 15:18] The hard part is to wait. "Stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you," Paul says [15]. With heavy temptation and storms of cultural upheaval, it's hard to stand firm. When I see how kids (even in our church) are so unstable, it's truly scary.

But I know I must stand firm, setting "an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." [1Timothy 4:12] THIS is how glory comes to us: We set an example. Later, after we're dead and gone, they remember us. It's quite the opposite of worldly glory. Does anyone really care today about politicians of the past? A few, who were good examples, but the most of them, not. Do people generally remember the rich and famous of the past? The generations that follow will surely forget Bill Gates and Donald Trump. But we are Christians today because of the good influence of one example, Jesus, and the twelve men who followed him and emulated his life.

Lord, make me an example, for the glory of Jesus. Let me increase his glory with all my heart and life, that glory which you've promised we will share who now share in his sufferings. Amen.

There are so many reasons to give up the decision to be holy, devoted to the Lord, devout, pious. Why bother, when everyone else is going absolutely insane with sin---lust, greed, pride, filth, violence and/or selfishness? Why try so hard?

I feel very often these days like Jeremiah, who had to watch helplessly as his nation plunged into unbridled immorality and was ruined from within and then from without (by enemy nations). He wrote, "Who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?' declares the Lord." [Jer 30:21b] God isn't looking for the majority. He isn't looking for a big church building, or a mass movement, or a highly-organized revival.

God is looking for one man who will devote himself to be near God. I want to be that man.

Instead, we avoid reading God's word so as to plead ignorance of his will. We study it cursorily so we can forget it quickly. We memorize it almost never. Now "we" but "I". If I have no INTENT to kill, it is not pre-meditated murder, so it is considered less offensive. If an unemployed man has no INTENT to get a job, he's likely to remain unemployed. If I have no INTENT to live for God, I will probably live for myself.

So to live a holy, pure life, we must repent and intend or resolve to do so, as Paul says in v.11, "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands ... so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." This is not a call to be hermits, but a call to be SIMPLE, to live simply. It is quite the opposite of the hip-hop, metro-sexual, busybody, urban lifestyle we see everywhere, full of gadgetry and a constant stream of music, phone calls, text messages, email and chats, and multi-tasking.

OH how I wish I could have a job to "work with my hands" instead of being highly paid to solve more little problems and provide a slightly more convenient and opulent lifestyle to my fellow rich Americans. I guess this could be arranged. I am thankful for my job. But give me the simple life. Lord, give me at least a life that is simple enough that I shall never be too busy to spend time with you. AMEN

Paul was deeply thankful that the Thessalonians accepted the message of the gospel as the word of God. It's too easy to reject a message given by men as merely man's word. But God uses men to deliver his message. This is a problem for those who want to see miraculous signs or hear voices from the clouds. But it is GOD'S WAY of working.

But the truth speaks for itself. Those who love Truth will be able to stand on Jesus' side even if it means losing their lives for Him. God's word will always come through a preacher or witness. But we need "ears to hear what the Spirit says". Jesus always said this, "Let him who has hears ear." We need ears that are tuned to God's word, not the loud shouts of fanatics or the constant drone of music and other noise. We need a Quiet Place.

Jesus is that Quiet Place. He is our Rock, where we can hide in the desert, who shields us, comforts us, protects us, warms us.

Meanwhile, there are serious enemies of the gospel. They were those who killed Jesus and the prophets and also drove out Paul and his companions. They displease God and are hostile to Truth. Why would intelligent people who are even countrymen and friends oppose Paul so vehemently? They want to keep the gospel from reaching people because they do not want to repent. V.16 says, "In their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved, ... they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last." Such people are not willing to repent their sins, but live under God's wrath.

I met a man who is living just like this. He will not listen or repent because he is under God's wrath. "For me it is too late," he would say. "I'm too bad to come far gone to come back to a righteous life now." How sad, how sad, that one would prefer the status quo to being born again, that one would prefer a rut that goes nowhere to a new direction that leads to God and God's heavenly kingdom. Such people are actually not just desperate; they are committed to their evil ways. They are determined to keep others from escaping the life of sin also, and to lead as many as possible in with them.

But we must be imitators of God. This is a much harder lifestyle and the view is scary at times. May God give us real courage like Paul, to fight spiritually and not back down.

Today my cat caught a blue jay. I had never seen a blue jay up close up till then. But I have deepest respect for the species now that I have.

After Lightning (my cat) caught him, she brought him to the back door, as she usually does with her prey, to show us her prize and, we presume, to show OFF to our dog Poochie and the other cat Thunder.

Christine (my wife) screamed, as is her custom; I didn't have to ask why. Running over and seeing the blue jay fiercely struggling to get free, I distracted the cat, who let him go. He then flew off, but not being able to get very far off the ground, was quickly captured again by the cat who darted after. This time, she carefully inflicted a little more pain, I think. So by the time I got to her, the bird was motionless, petrified, but not stiff or cold. He was looking very intently at me and clutching the grass in a death grip.

As I held the bird in my hands, he looked at me with a peaceful, deliberate gaze that said, "You want a piece of me?" But he did not resist, chirp or even quake the least bit. It was almost unnerving. I very respectfully put the cat indoors and took him to perch on a bird feeder hanging from a rope in our yard. No way the cat could get to him there.

When I left for work, he was still perched there. All day I mused on that bird and talked about him to others. When I returned home, he was gone. There were exactly two small feathers under the bird feeder. Had Lighty again got hold of him, there would have been a large number of feathers there, and probably a carcass. So I assume he eventually came to himself, preened out the two damaged feathers and flew off. I doubt he will venture into our yard again.

I wonder if it is cruel to keep both cats and a bird feeder in the same yard. It may SEEM cruel, but no more than raising, say, fruit flies to feed a dart frog, or mice to feed a snake, or for that matter, chickens to feed humans.

And I wonder if cats are cruel? They are. I playfully called Lightning a "Murderer!" in the voice of Scar (in Lion King when he falsely accuses Simba of causing Mufasa's death). But she is only doing what good cats do: catch small animals and eat them. (And I DO allow her to eat whatever she catches, which of course taste much better than Purina.) Some question this.

But I don't. Life isn't fair. If a cat eats a blue jay (though this time she did not), or a man eats a cat or an alligator eats a baby antelope, it is both fair to the eater and unfair to the eaten. If all species were vegetarians, eating would always be fair (except for the plants, I guess.) But that isn't natural. Vegetarian humans are not usually very healthy. We need the protein. God gave man the animals as food in Genesis 9.

So whether we LIKE it or not, it IS fair for the cat to eat the bird and the bird to eat the worm and the cat to be caught and eaten by the fox, and so forth. Likewise, it is NATURAL and GOOD for man to eat a cow or deer or fish or worm or even a cat. That's How It Goes.

My friend John Armstrong wrote an article called "Believers Living in the Desert," in which he says, "The longer I attempt to live in Christ the more I discover that many things that I thought were so clear need to be continually challenged. This is disturbing."

Continual challenge and change! Same here, John. But I don't really think it's disturbing. Thrilling is a better word, with definite elements of adventure and uncertainty. The changes within are unsettling, and yet hopeful signs that I have not stopped growing.

Moreover, I have been reading William Law's "Serious Call". And it is really challenging the moral laxity and luxury of our age. For example, I recently started swearing---nothing horrible, just coarser language than I was brought up using. Law makes it clear that it is not becoming of a Christian and therefore doesn't glorify God, and therefore isn't a mark of devotion to God. Same goes for overeating, wearing expensive clothes, he touches many things we assume to be more or less acceptable. And James ch.5 (my recent Sunday sermon) likewise lambastes the rich and their riches.

These things are challenging me. Not really to doubt whether I am a Christian (thankfully), but to see clearly that I'm in no way devoted or holy as I want to be. And that this is not because I am ignorant or powerless, but "because I have not intended to be so." William Law is the standard operating procedure for "heart work".

Still there are moments when I wonder. Growing up in a mainline denomination (the same one as John did) I assumed I had a kind of guarantee and didn't bother to "test myself". Now I think I've entered the desert, where there isn't a Big Church or Formula or System telling me I'm OK, where the heat and thirst are relentless and no one comes out to serve me and feed me (spiritually) or offer comfort. Wealth is no shade. Even friends can't be my shade. Only the Rock is a refuge, and the only cool place to be is "under the Rock".

Unfortunately, "living under a rock" is not cool to the world, but a euphemism for a dull life. But the holy and devout life is, in William Law's world, the best and most blessed life. To shun the comforts and luxuries of the age and live simply, devoted and holy---in the desert---is not what many Christians are willing to do.

But the Bible teaches us to "Make level paths for our feet and take only ways that are firm." [Proverbs 4:26] Jogging at night is a little risky on a paved road through a quiet neighborhood. But running out on trails at night is near suicidal. This maxim holds true in business, in relationships, in surfing the Internet, in guiding a family or church or organization, and in personal morality. If I go to the "red light district" or bar-hopping, I'm not on a level path morally. Visiting certain web sites is no different. They are not safe.

Would I rather never know "good and evil"? It is true. Purity of soul is a matter of ignorance, to a large degree. But simply staying on the level path isn't "going nowhere" or "living under a rock". It is going places that are right and which glorify God, and NOT going to places I don't feel morally, spiritually, intellectually, financially, or relationally safe. In some seasons of life, the level path may seem like a desert wilderness. For John the Baptist, that's where he was led. When God leads us to the desert, it is for our good. Just take alone plenty of water. Fancy food and clothes are not needed.

Makes me kinda interested to visit Burning Man some day.

Ooops! Cancel that! Makes me kinda interested to visit the Grand Canyon.

Jesus had met a Samaritan woman. Not quite what we would call a minority, Samaritans had more the position of gypsies. They were despised. And she was a woman who had been married to five guys, and was now shacking up with another---not the kind of woman most religious leaders want to be seen talking to at a romantic spot like Jacob's Well.

But Jesus spoke with her and told her all about herself, till she realized two things: He KNEW her. He understood her and knew all about her, and yet he accepted her conversation. By this, she knew that Jesus was a sincere and lovely man. So she said, "Sir, I can see that you are a prophet." Then she quickly changed the subject from her personal problems to the larger religious dilemma of her people.

"Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem." It was an age old historical rift that began in the times of King Rehoboam (who reigned ca. 931-913 BC), son of Solomon. [1Ki 11:43, 12:27] It was a national split that was still being after a thousand years. This bothered her, nagged upon her and her people's hearts. It was a problem only the Messiah could solve.

So she said, "I know that Messiah is coming. He will explain everything." It was the very hope that Jesus could satisfy. I think Jesus' heart leapt with joy when he heard her words. He declared, "I who speak to you am he." To this woman, whose only real hope was not a dream husband or liberation from Roman oppression or Jewish prejudice, but whose living hope was the coming of the Messiah, to HER, not to the enlightened and intellectual or the usual conservative types, but to her, a "used" and questionable woman. Surely no one can accuse Jesus of prejudice or judgmentalism.

So let us, as Christians, show the same liberality and grace as Jesus toward broken, questionable, needy people of all stripes: to drunk or immoral, the poor and the sick, and to the proud, haughty Pharisees. It is perhaps hardest of all for me (as a happily married man) to talk with women. I know how quick the world is to say, "Aha! You're unfaithful to your wife, you sleezey pervert." In fact, they say this if you become close friends with another man, too. There is no friendship or association that isn't suspect in times like these.

But God grant us boldness to befriend and help, even if it makes the prude and the proud suspicious. If only we may help them know Jesus and solve their sin problem in Him, it is worth the risk.

But just what IS our objective in Iraq? Initially it was "enforcing the UN resolutions." Then it was "regime change". We've done both. Now the goal is what? a peaceable democracy for The good Iraqi People? Are the Iraqis ready to spill their own blood, as our ancestors did, until they can have and deserve freedom? I sense the answer is "no". And if not, no other country on earth can walk in and give it to them.

I've supported Bush and the war effort until now, and still think it can be won. But no one seems to be ready to define the goal in a way that is discrete enough to be achievable. With no clear goal, there can be no clear success. With a sliding goal, victory will always be just a few more years out. This is why I think US intervention and occupation cannot resolve the conflicts in Iraq. We're making gains. But they are still killing one another. They aren't willing to compromise and live together under western law. I've listened with interest to the lively debate waged by Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity and others. But I've decided they are towing the GOP party line (or the media networks they work for, FOX?) more than really thinking the matter through for themselves.

Now Curtis said he didn't know what to do about the problem of teen apathy---esp. apathy toward current events and politics and the election. We should start by reminding young people that apathy toward government is what made Iraq the country it is---where "might makes right" and the best one can do is "look out for himself." Our country, on the other hand, was built by men who neglected their farms and businesses each year for a month or two and went to Washington (or a state capital) and got involved in the costly aspects of democracy: self-defense and self-government. We can't change others, but we can ourselves get involved.

As for Ron Paul, the man truly understands that his participation in Congress is not a career, but a service. So he routinely forfeits perks and benefits and votes against all pay raises as well as anything that increases taxes (so I'm told). I think he has it right. I'm really inspired to believe again that standing on principles is better than popularity, pragmatism, political self-preservation (which I call Clintonism), and the apathy which leads to tyranny.

Sic Semper Tyrannis ("Thus always to tyrants") is the motto of Virginia, where I live. It goes with a picture of a citizen (Virtue) trampling a king (Tyranny). That citizen is you and me. We are the only defense against tyranny or the kind of anarchy that we see in places like Iraq. Apathy is ignoble, and lack of involvement (such as voting and serving and, yes, fighting wars) is tantamount to betrayal. (That sounds harsh. Maybe it is. But think about it before deciding.)

So to Curtis and other young people I say, Get involved. Jump in. But fight on principles. This is hard. You need faith in God first, love for your country and for its people, and guts. And all you see in the Media is power, polls, popularity, physical attractiveness---the Ipod culture had no principles (and IMHO very little taste.) These are NOT principles. You'll have to figure out your principles for yourself, though you have choices: Either you can dig them up for the next 40 years and THEN (maybe) get involved (after you've learned things the hard way), or you can follow a few trusted old-timers and "Stand on the shoulders of great men" seeing farther and "doing even greater things" than they after a little humble-time.

Here I recommend you learn Jesus Christ, then Ron Paul, Alan Keyes, Ronald Reagan, etc. And for God's sake, study history.

Jesus' first miraculous sign was to change water into wine. I don't think Jesus went out of his way to do a miracle or prove himself. Mary involved him. The servants obeyed him wholeheartedly. They even dipped out the water to serve it to the host, trusting Jesus in a big way. Where there was faith, Jesus could work greatly.

The word of God works where there is faith. Prayers are answered where there is faith. God heals the sick and changes things, changes people, where there is faith. But the important thing is this: people work when they have faith in Jesus. Mary was very bold indeed. So were the servants.

The main reason I don't see great miraculous signs in my life and ministry is that I don't work with faith. I usually stop filling the jars half-way.

The church would be marching out in faith, not to fight, but to sacrifice everything for the souls of those who don't know our Savior. Instead of seminars to gain "financial freedom" for the few years of retirement, we would be investing our wealth in the Kingdom we will enjoy forever.

May God help us to see Jesus' and put our faith in him, not that faith that talks well, but faith that MOVES, faith that works, faith that James would appreciate. He said, "Show me your faith without good works and I will show you my faith BY good works." --Lord, move me today with this kind of faith. Work at UVA through me as you worked in Cana, to change lives as water was changed into wine, not a little, but a lot. Grant me faith to fill the jars to the brim. AMEN

"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you." [48]

When Jesus called Nathanael, he didn't say "Follow me" as with Philip. Philip had already invited Nathanael to follow, or implied it when he said, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

Instead Jesus said, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false." Jesus knew Nathanael was genuine. He said it out loud on first sight, before even being introduced. So it was completely unexpected.

"How do you know me?" was all Nathanael could offer in response. Jesus' answer is forever perplexing. "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you." Sometime earlier that day, Nathanael had been doing something under a fig tree. Adam had made clothes out of fig leaves to cover his shame. Perhaps Nathanael was struggling in prayer under a certain fig tree where he went to be alone with God. Whatever he was doing there, he was not ashamed when Jesus mentioned it. He was in awe of Jesus. "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel!" he declared. Jesus was the One Nathanael had been WITH under the fig tree, he was the presence of God, God with us.

Jesus replied, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that. I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man." This might be a reference to Jacob's dream, when angels were coming and going down a great stairway to heaven.

But Nathanael never appeared to be one of the leaders of the Twelve, though he was so genuine. He was really just an ordinary, but very genuine, person, who was expecting Jesus, and who followed Jesus. I thank God when I meet such people. One of the students at UVA, T.B., is like Nathanael. He really is genuine and honest. It is such a blessing to know him. So is my intellectual Chinese friend Z.L. May God bless them to follow Jesus, who knows them.

I really want someone to know me. But it's too dangerous to reveal too much of myself to anyone less than Jesus. I want a place "under the fig tree" where I can lie completely naked before God. There is no shame there, for I am clothed with Christ Himself. He accepts me, though He knows all about me. I need not hide from Jesus. I am free in Him because he knows me through and through.

But we need to know Jesus as much as we need Him to know us. Even more than the miracle of being known, we need to see Him as he is, in glory. We need the vision of Jesus as God. This is the greatest joy of Christianity. So Paul wrote, "I want to know Christ." And this was Jesus' question to the first disciples. "What do you want?" [1:38] It is what we truly want, even if we don't have anything but fig leaves to hide in, we want to hide and clothe ourselves with Christ, to know him more closely than we know our own skin.

Father, let me know your Son Jesus, daily, deeply. I'm desperate for you, Lord Jesus. Fill me and clothe me and know me. Let me know you. Amen.

When John saw Jesus and said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" the two of his disciples who were with him that day LEFT him to follow Jesus. They were gone. John's ministry was in decline BECAUSE it was successful! He was leading people to follow Jesus, and they had to leave him to do so.

The fruit of real Christian ministry isn't always a booming number of disciples tithing members. It is measured by those who decide to believe in Jesus and follow Him. Measuring this kind of success is very difficult. For example, we have met in Richmond a lady who studied the Bible one-to-one many years ago with someone named King in Columbus, OH. We had a ministry there many years ago. Perhaps it was one of our UBF missionaries. Whoever it was, this lady doesn't remember much about King, but she is a Christian because of King's ministry. King will have great joy when he meets her in heaven one day.

This story seems to exactly match the story of John the Baptist, whose successful ministry fizzled away as his disciples left him to follow Jesus.

I don't know if my ministry will ever be successful in ways that can be measured. I hope it will. But more still, I hope and long to be an influence on students where I am here and now, and to provide a refuge for people who are truly struggling to enter the kingdom of God, to study God's word, to have a fellowship like the beautiful fellowship of those who followed Jesus and spent their lives in seeking Him and his favor.

But like John, my goal can't be me; it must be HIM, Jesus, the Lord. "He must become greater, I must become less." May God make our church in Richmond, and soon in Charlottesville, like that successful but often declining ministry of John. If only we can see them leaving to follow Jesus. But Lord, help us believe they are receiving the Word that can save them, even if we can't see them change or grow. Lord, use me to scatter your Seed and nuture it wherever it is growing. IJNA

One of the most beautiful passages of Scripture is John chapter 1, in which John introduces Jesus as "The Word" who became flesh and made his dwelling among us. How beautiful that God would come down in flesh to live among us.

We can see the glory of God in Jesus. Why look at anything less? Why fix our eyes on this world? Lately, I've been trying to decide who to vote for in the 2008 elections. I like some candidates and fear others; but I don't really trust ANY of them. Why? Because I don't see them or know what they really think.

But Jesus shows us in his words and actions exactly what God thinks and feels. Jesus wept at the death of Lazarus and the resulting unbelief of the Jews. He was angry at the money-changers in the Temple. He was frustrated by his disciples lack of faith. And he was compassionate to the underclass of society, the sick and blind and lame.

When John saw Jesus, he knew who Jesus was. V.15 says, John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " How did John know Jesus at sight, that HE was the one John had foretold? He was a cousin of Jesus, so they would have known one another from childhood. Sometimes such a deep knowledge of someone lowers our estimate of their spirituality. But not Jesus and John. John must have seen the consistency and passion in Jesus all his life, and marveled that Jesus was genuine, pure, always the same.

So while Jesus was younger and made his public appearance long after John, he was before John. It was a beautiful acknowledgment of John's humility, and of Jesus' greatness, that John could say this, not as self-abasement or self-pity, but in complete awe of Jesus.

Am I willing to be nothing but a voice crying out in the desert like John, giving glory to Jesus and drawing all people to see and know HIM? I truly hope that is what I may do this year at UVA. Lord, I'm not pure, not passionate, not genuine, not faithful. Please make me at least a voice, though, speaking up for Jesus on the campus, at work, at home and everywhere. Amen.

Ezra 4 records the opposition that the Jew met while trying to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. It was intense. First the enemies tried to infiltrate them by volunteering to help them with the work. When they told the enemies they didn't want their help, they tried to discourage them by lodging false accusations against them with the king. The accusations had to be investigated. So during the investigation, the work was ordered to be stopped, which it was.

What intrigues me is that the Jews didn't want the help of the other peoples around them. They were not building a Unitarian temple for all faiths. They did not want contributions from non-Jews, nor help from them. They preferred to go slower. Their motive, then, was pure.

In our times no one has such pure motives in building churches. They accept any donations. They go for big and beautiful, at all costs. It is because they think the church building is the important thing. It is a house, more precisely, "A house of prayer for all nations". But they build a palace for their enjoyment and glory.

Father, I have come to Virginia to build you a church. I don't know what I'm doing. I have enemies who would stop me that I don't even know, and plenty of discouragement from within and without. Please, purify my motive and help me to go forward according to your will and for your glory. Thank you for the work of God in PSU. Please bless their new meetinghouse to be used for your glory. IJNA