Life Source - Week 2 - Day 2 ** John 4

Read John 4. 

I wish I knew this woman's name.  I like her. 

Let's do a quick (a very abbreviated!) history lesson to identify these Samaritan peoples.  Under Kings Saul, David and Solomon, there was a united, strong kingdom of the Jews, ruled from Jerusalem.  A division in the nation followed ... the northern part of the Kingdom became known as "Israel" and the southern part of the Kingdom was know as "Judah".  Generation after generation of ungodly kings and priests reeked havoc on the two nations ... disobedience and disregard for God was rampant.  Finally, judgment came.  The nation of Israel was defeated by the Assyrians and carried away into captivity.  The only people left were the poorest of the poor ... the ones Assyria did not want.  Assyria then repopulated the land with their own nationals and peoples from other countries that had been conquered.  Therefore, the populace of that region became a mixture of nationalities and ethnicity - truly a melted pot - Samaritans!  Their religion became a mixture of the same variety that was represented by their prior nations.  It's called theological pluralism.

Judah, who did have a few Godly kings, was later defeated by the Babylonians and carried away into captivity.  The Babylonians did not have the same policy for re-population ... so the land lay dormant and empty except for the stragglers left behind.  That captivity had an end.  It lasted 70 years.  After that time, a small number of Jews returned to their native land under Nehemiah and Ezra.  They were to rebuild the city of Jerusalem and the Temple there.  These returning Jews were DETERMINED to not repeat the same sins and violations against God that brought on the judgment.  That is why they wanted nothing to do with this mix of people who are called "Samaritans". 

Did you learn any lessons as you reflected on this chapter?  I learn several ...

First, Jesus made contact.  He opened dialogue.  This woman is an unlikely candidate!  Her nationality ... her gender ... her past ... her current lifestyle ... all make her easier to ignore than to engage.  I fear that I often pre-judge whether or not someone will be receptive to the message of Christ.  Only God knows who can "hear" and who does not have ears to hear.  I am challenged in this chapter to stop pre-judging people by any external circumstance. 

Second, I love the way Jesus always takes conversation from exactly where it is to things of the spirit, to things of God.  The two of them were talking about water.  OK - so water it is.  Jesus then proceeds to introduce Himself in terms of water.  And He moves the conversation from His need for a physical drink to her need for life!  And this woman has "ears to hear" ... I like her!

Third, in spite of her lifestyle and the moral mess she had made of her life, the Lord talks with her, not at her.  And, somehow, with His graciousness, she is confronted with her own sin yet seems to realize that she is safe with Him and her dignity is restored.  I wonder if she doesn't go back into the town and talk to people that have avoided her for years.  She is bold and courageous.  I like her. 

A fourth lesson is about worship ... listen to Max Anders in his commentary on John:

In this passage we find one of the strongest worship statements in the New Testament.  Ten of John's thirteen uses of the Greek word for worship appear in these few verses.  We learn immediately that place is irrelevant and that worship is not primarily in body - through physical motions and activities - but in spirit.  The text does not refer to the Holy Spirit but an attitude of heart which acknowledges God and His sovereignty over our lives.  Furthermore, worship must be done in truth - honestly, biblically, centered on Christ.  This paragraph shows the difference between religion and the gospel:  religion describes humankind's search for God; the gospel describes the way God reached down to humanity ... True believers must stop this mindless, endless, meaningless bickering about sites and sounds of worship.  God is not interested in Jews or Samaritans, Presbyterians or Methodists, Calvinists or Arminians.  He is interested in worshipers who must worship in spirit and in truth.

Do you think this woman "got it"?  I think she did ... or she would not have run back into her town desperately wanting others - perhaps even ones who had mistreated her in the past - to hear as well.  It is to this unnamed, obscure woman in a little backwater town called Sychar in Samaria that Jesus makes His first, clear statement that He is, indeed, Messiah. 

And many of us join with these Samaritans and say with them the words that close verse 42:

We know that this man really is the Savior of the world.

And He is my Lord! 

HALLELUJAH!!



Life Source - Week 2 - Day 1 ** John 3

Read John 3. 

One of the unique features in the gospel written by John is the writer's emphasis on the discourses of Jesus.  The other 3 gospels focus on the events in Jesus' earthly life.  In John, we get these incredible teachings, these discourses from Jesus.  There are 10 of them throughout the book.  In chapter 3, we find the first one.  Discourse #1 is about the "new birth". 

Do you think you would like Nicodemus or not?  I think I would have liked him.  He was smart, respected (a member of the Jewish court, the Sanhedrin) and willing to seek answers for puzzling questions.  I'm not sure the fact that the visit was as night is significant.  Perhaps it did mean he was coming in secret ... but it could also mean that he was coming at the end of his work day.  We don't know.  What we do know is that he came.  And he came because he had seen and heard about the miraculous signs that Jesus was performing.  So the puzzling question?  Who in the world are you? 

Did you notice that Jesus did not answer the question?  He gave this man what he needed ... not what he wanted.  I need to remember that.  Sometimes I don't even know my needs ... I just know my wants.  Can you relate?  That's where trust comes in ... trusting that my God knows my needs.  What follows is the discourse on new birth.  The law of reproduction says, "like reproduces like".  That is why a flesh birth cannot give us what we need.  Our need is for a spirit birth.  And that cannot be done by flesh, by man and woman. 

Jesus says that rebirth is by "water and spirit" (verse 5).  Commentators tell us that this is an unusual expression.  I find the 3 primary interpretations quite interesting ...

1.  "Born of water" it is a backward look to the baptism of John by water.  John's baptism was a baptism of repentance, concerned with purifying.  If that is the water reference, then Jesus sets the two baptisms in contrast.  "Born of spirit" would be the new life from above, from God.

2.  "Water" may be connected with procreation.  From Leon Morris:

This conception is quite foreign to us and we find it difficult at first to make sense of it.  But ... terms like "water", "rain", "dew", and "drop" are often used of the male semen.  If "water" has this meaning here there are two possibilities.  Being born "of water" may point to natural birth, which must then be followed by being born "of the Spirit", i.e. spiritual regeneration.  Or better, we may take "water" and "Spirit" closely together to give a meaning like "spiritual seed".  In this case being born "of water and the Spirit" will not differ greatly from being born "of the Spirit".  

3.  "Water" may refer to Christian baptism.  Remember John is writing around 60 years after the church has been established and the reference would create a natural association.  The only negative to this interpretation is that Nicodemus could not possibly have understood that allusion. 

What we can know for certain ... new birth ... required!  This new birth is from the Spirit.  And water plays a part.  Have you been?  Born from the Spirit?  God's "seed" in you?  If not, why not?  If you are not sure, send me a note (gailm@bammel.org) and let's talk! 

The dearly loved John 3:16 is in the context of this discourse on new birth.  To the Jewish mind, God loving the "world" was a new idea.  The idea of God loving Israel was certainly not new ... but the "world"?  Salvation - regeneration - rebirth - life ... all come from God, out of love, for all, through the "one and only" Jesus.  Our response?  Worship ...

Heavenly Father, great is Your love for the world, far beyond all comprehension.  Great is Your love, even for us, those who have sinned against You, who have lived as Your enemies.  Great is Your love, so great that You sent Your beloved Son to die so that we who believe in Him might live forever with you.  So great is Your love, lavished upon us, that we may be called Your children.  So great is Your love that nothing in all creation can take it away from us.  "Amazing love!  How can it be that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?"

Life Source - Week 1 - Day 3 ** John 2

Read John 2.  As you read these two events, watch Jesus.  See what you learn about Him. 

First event:  Turning water to wine at the marriage in Cana

Cana was a town very near to Nazareth.  Obviously, Mary was close to the family - either close friends or perhaps even a family member.  Weddings in Jewish culture at this time were a week long celebration.  Guests would return each evening and the celebration would continue ... with the groom and his bride as the "stars" of the week!  The groom's family was responsible for providing the food for the guests and it was not one dinner or a reception following a ceremony as is our custom.  This particular wedding was about to become the one that would be talked about for years to come - the one where the host family ran out of supplies!  They ran out of wine.  We had two weddings in my family in 2010.  Guests were invited.  I would have been mortified if any of our guests had not been served at dinner because we had not planned well enough for every guest to have food and drink at the celebration.  This is what was happening at the wedding in Cana. 

When I think about Jesus at this event, two things come to mind.  First, He was at the party!  Jesus was not an austere, withdrawn, unsocial person.  The picture of Christians being severe, anti-social, long-faced individuals is NOT like our Lord!  Check your countenance ...

Secondly, I am touched by the Lord's compassion for this family.  As He said, His "time" was not yet here.  He well knew that as soon as the "signs", the miracles that would testify to His identity and power, began - then He was on the road to the cross.  And yet, I think He knew the humiliation that was facing this family in Cana and His compassion moved Him to action.  He could take care of the situation ... and so He did.  How is your "compassion quotient"?  When you have the ability to alleviate a difficult situation, are you willing to act? 

The writer, John, uses the word "signs" to describe the miracles of Jesus because he uses them as windows into spiritual truths.  Consider the spiritual significance of this event.  The water pots stood at the entrance of a Jewish household and were used for foot washing and for ceremonial hand washings.  Each would have held between 20 - 30 gallons of water.  So we are looking at up to 180 gallons of wine!  No wedding party could drink that much wine!  Drunkenness was shameful then (still is!).  And I see it ... there is no need on this earth that exhausts the grace of God.  When the grace of God comes, there is abundance, more than enough, all - sufficiency.  Jesus gave the first sign of His glory ... in a humble home ... in a small town ... for a family.  Jesus brought God home.  Emmanuel ... God with us.  If you belong to Him ... He is at your table as well. 

Second Event:  Cleansing the Temple

It was Passover.  Remember, that was one of the 3 feasts that Jewish males were required to attend if they lived within a certain radius of Jerusalem.  But it also was the dream of every Jew throughout the known world at the time to experience at least one Passover in his lifetime in Jerusalem.  Estimates are that there could be as many as 2 1/4 million people in Jerusalem for Passover.  Every Jewish male over 19 was required to pay a Temple tax.  And it had to be paid in Jewish coin ... foreign currency was 'unclean'.  Well, of course foreign coin had to be changed ... so money changers were needed.  The Talmud allowed for them to make a profit from the exchange ... but it did not allow for extortion.  And extortion was being done.  Also, the animals brought for sacrifice had to be "without blemish".  So there were "inspectors" in the Temple to certify to the perfection of any animal.  Animals brought in were seldom good enough.  Therefore, you had to buy another one inside the Temple walls.  One example I read was that a pair of dove would sell outside the Temple walls for 4p and that was about one day's wage for a working man.  Inside the Temple, the price was 75p!  It was open extortion ... the pilgrims coming the Jerusalem for this most holy feast were being fleeced ... all in the name of religion and religious law.  Our Jesus was incensed when He witnessed the shame.  Hence, His behavior. 

What do we learn about our Lord?  He had no patience with man-made religious form that kept people from God ... from prayer ... from worship.  He had authority over the Temple, authority over the "house of prayer" - and so He used that authority to clean house! 

The spiritual truth revealed is not hard to see - it's just hard to see in ourselves! 

Listen to Williams Barclay from his commentary on John:

Is there anything in our church life - a snobbishness, an exclusiveness, a coldness, a lack of welcome, a tendency to make the congregation into a closed club, an arrogance, a fastidiousness - which keeps the seeking stranger out?  Let us remember the wrath of Jesus against those who made it difficult and even impossible for the seeking stranger to make contact with God.

I also remember the words of the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:16

Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?

Are you allowing your Lord to cleanse your temple - daily?  The things you think about, the things you do.  Your appetites and desires.  Your gifts and talents and skills.  Your play and your work.  Your relationships.  Even your secrets and your hang-ups.  Let the Lord cleanse it ... and I think it is better for us to allow that BEFORE it requires a whip! 

Lord, cleanse me.  Wash me.  Every room in my heart and every thought in my mind.  "Search me O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139: 23 - 24)

Life Source - Week 1 - Day 2 ** John 1: 19 - 51

Today Read John 1: 19 - 51

As we think about the names and descriptors of our Lord, verse 29 adds a most important one to our lists.  John the Baptist sees Jesus coming and says, "Behold, the Lamb of God ..."  Lamb of God.  That is the scarlet cord that runs throughout the Old Testament.  The lamb ... the sacrifice ... without blemish ... forgiveness of sins ... atonement ... Lamb of God.  If you have time today, or perhaps tomorrow, spend a little time reflecting on this name of Jesus.  As you do so ... follow these cross references:
          Leviticus 4: 32 - 34        Isaiah 53        1 Peter 1: 18 - 20        1 Peter 2:24
Read ... reflect ... and worship as you, too, 'behold the Lamb of God'.

The verses in John 1 that we have read today introduce us to several men.  What impresses you most about each one?  Remember that they are flesh and blood men, not story-book characters.  When I read about them and try to put myself in their shoes ... several things come to mind.

John the Baptist:  (verses 19 - 37) I love the absence of personal ego in John the Baptist.  He points to Jesus ... always.  He knows that he is not the center, not the main one.  He understands that his task is to point people to Jesus, to prepare them for His coming, for His message.  Ego gets most of us into a lot of trouble.  Ego causes us to fight and fuss when we could be still.  Ego drives wedges in relationships.  Inflated ego seems to result in one of two things ... either the person is puffed up and really believes the world should do exactly what she wants (OK - maybe not the world, but certainly my family and my circles) or ... the person is so self-effacing that she can do nothing.  She needs constant, moment-by-moment reassurance that she is OK.  John the Baptist seems to do what he knows he is to do ... and points to Jesus.  What a beautiful example to follow!

Andrew: (verses 35 - 42) I think Andrew had a seeker's heart.  I think he was teachable.  He was willing to follow.  Was it his own hunger for God that had led him to be one of John the Baptist's disciples?  Don't miss the "first" thing he did when he followed and listened to Jesus - he immediately went to tell his brother, Simon.  Is that the first thing you do when you encounter God?  Tell someone?  I tend to be private.  I am going to work to follow Andrew's example here.  When I know I have been touched by God - tell it!  It brings glory and honor to God. 

Simon: (verses 41 - 42)  We don't learn much about Simon in John's record of his "call" by Jesus.  We know he let Andrew lead him to Jesus.  We know he stayed.  We know Jesus changed his name to Cephas (or Peter in Greek).  And this may be the only record of Peter's presence when he says nothing!  Lessons?  Sometimes, say nothing! 

Philip: (verses 43 - 46)  Again, Philip shares what he knows, what he has found.  I am also impressed by the fact that Philip is not put off by his friend, Nathanael's cynicism.  He merely dismisses it ... and says, 'Come and see'.  I like that.  Philip saw no need to have to prove himself ... or defend himself.  Just, 'come and see' for yourself.  Lessons for me?  Give people the opportunity to meet Jesus.  Their response is their business.  My business is to "point to Jesus". 

Nathanael: (verses 45 - 51)  The cynic, yes ... but also willing to 'come and see' ... willing to change his mind.  We need to be willing to change our minds over some things.  We need to be willing to observe and learn and lay aside some long standing prejudices.  Do you have any?  Identify them.  Admit them!  Perhaps God would have you change your mind ... have you be more like Nathanael. 

Are you a follower of Jesus?  When did He call you?  Are you ignoring His call?  Why?  Was someone a "Andrew" or a "Philip" for you?  Have you told them?  If you began following a long time ago and have grown tired or lazy, is it time to get back on the road?  To get back in step with the Master? 

He still says, "Follow me ..."

Life Source - Week 1 - Day 1 ** John 1: 1 - 18

Read John 1: 1 - 18.  Read slowly ... thoughtfully ... out loud if possible.  These are some of the most beautiful verses in all of scripture.  Also, note as you read, that verses 6 - 8 and verse 15 are parenthetical.  So, if you can read out loud ... skip those verses to get the flow of this magnificent prologue. 

At the time of John's writing, political power belonged to Rome but cultural and philosophical power still rested with the Greeks.  Much oversimplified ... Greek philosophy held to 2 major tenets: 1) Logos - meaning 'word' or 'reason'.  Where does the order in the world come from?  The Logos ... the mind of God.  Or ... look at man and see his ability to think and reason.  Where does that ability come from?  The Logos ... the mind of God.  2) Secondly, there was the concept of 2 worlds:  the one we see and live in which is all shadows and copies and unreality ... and the unseen world - which is the real world, the world of patterns and perfections.  Everything in the seen world is but a shadow or copy of the perfect pattern that exists in the real world, the unseen world.  So, much of the challenge facing Greek philosophers was how to manage to make contact with the real world. 

John begins his Gospel addressing that very problem ... identifying with the philosophical challenges of his particular day ... and we hear him say, "In the beginning was the Logos, and the Logos was with God, and the Logos was God. (v 1)  Through Him all things were made (v 3) The Logos became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (v 14)"  It is as if John is saying to his readers:  The mind of God has come down into this copy world.  The real mind of God has entered our seen world and He put on flesh.  You can see Him.  We could touch Him.  He was not an imperfect copy of the perfect pattern.  He was perfect ... giver of light and life." 

John is not telling a new message.  He is telling the old message ... but he is telling it in a language form that communicates with his readers.  My friends, we must ever be aware of the need to tell "the old, old story" in fresh language, using metaphor and thought patterns that fit with the world in which we find ourselves.  The year 2011 is different from the year 1850 ... or 1900 ... or 1952 ... or any other year you select.  We must be aware of current thought patterns ... aware of the way they have changed.  We must communicate in ways that communicate!  John is a beautiful example of that.  Struggle with it.  It will be incredibly important as you communicate with your older children, your adult children.  Also, support your church leaders as they struggle with that need ... as they work to communicate the truths of the "old story" to the generations that live and think right now. 

On a separate piece of paper, or in your study journal, write down every name or descriptor of Jesus that you find in these verses.  I think it would be a good exercise to keep that list going throughout our study of John.  If one of our goals is to "see Jesus" then to record the names He uses for Himself, the ways that He is described, will help us see Him.

In these few verses ... here are a few that I found ...

Word

God

Creator

Life

Light of men

One and Only

Full of grace and truth

At the Father's side

Did you find others?  Which is most meaningful to you?  Why?  I have a hard time settling on just one!  I love the "light of men" because I love to be able to see.  Jesus makes real 'seeing' possible. 

Let's close today by hearing the words of verse 18 from a couple of different translations.  I think it helps our understanding ... and it lifts our hearts to soar!  Remember our goal?  To see God? 

New Revised Standard:    

The Message: 

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow ...



 

"No one has ever seen God, not so much as a glimpse.  This one-of-a-kind God-Expression, who exists at the very heart of the Father, has made Him plain as day."

"No one has ever seen God.  It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made Him known."

Life Source - A Study of John ** Introduction

The holidays have wound their way down.  I hope your season had beautiful moments of laughter and joy.  And I hope that you are ready to dig deep into the wells of scripture and get a portrait of our Lord, Jesus.  That is our goal in this study.  Jesus said in John 14:9 - "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father."  I believe that He is telling us that if we see Him, as He really was, we are looking straight into the face of God. 

There is a longing in every human heart to know God.  It's that ache for 'fullness' that we all experience.  Beware allowing Satan to convince you that some 'substance' will fill that void.  It is reserved for God.  We can't fill it with a husband, or with children ... not with food or shopping.  It is reserved for God.  And only His Presence can ease the longing for completeness. 

So, our goal is to see Jesus ... and in seeing Him ... we see God.  Then my faith grows stronger and my priorities have a way of settling into place.

Let's consider some logistics of the book. 
Author:  the Apostle John.  There are those who question that because he never names himself in the book.  But the majority of Biblical scholars agree that John, the apostle, is the author.  Even early church fathers like Irenaeus and Tertullian were convinced of the apostle's authorship. 

John's heritage:  John was from Galilee, a northern province removed from Judea and Jerusalem.  The atmosphere would have been a bit freer there.  The closer one got to Jerusalem, the more bound by strict religious law.  Many of Jesus' apostles were called in Galilee.  I wonder if He knew they would be more receptive to new thinking?  To new interpretations? 

Family:  John's father was Zebedee, a fisherman in Capernaum.  We assume that the family had some financial means because we learn that they had hired workers in the fishing business.  His mother was Salome.  (learned as we compare Matthew 27: 55 - 56 with Mark 15:40 - 41)  I love that she followed Jesus as well.  She was nearby at the cross.  His brother was James.  We don't know for sure which was older.  We may be able to assume that James was because his name is most always mentioned first. 

Temperament:  In his natural fleshly self, John was hot-tempered.  In fact, Jesus even nicknamed he and his brother, Sons of Thunder!  What would your nickname from Jesus be - in your natural temperament?  Would He call you Pitiful Pauline? or Arrogant Alice? or Whiner Winny?  Don't miss the fact that John was transformed by Jesus.  He lost that early nickname ... and began to take on the name, "the apostle of love."  Do you need transformation from your natural self to yourself touched by the Lord?  I do! 

The book was written about 98 A.D.  So the generation that had walked when Jesus was in the flesh has thinned and was nearly gone.  The other three gospels were written to tell the story.  John writes about 40 years later and his goal is different.  He does not seem to concern himself with chronology of events.  His purpose is to reveal the divinity of Jesus ... God in flesh ... the Logos in flesh.  He writes so that his readers may believe ... and in believing, have life! 

Let's begin our study with these words from William Barclay:

John the apostle, the last of the apostles set down, not only what he had heard Jesus say, but also what he now knew Jesus had meant. There were many things which seventy years ago he had not understood; there were many things which in these seventy years the Spirit of Truth had revealed to him.  These things John set down even as the eternal glory was dawning upon him.  When we read this gospel let us remember that we are reading the gospel which of all the gospels is most the work of the Holy Spirit, speaking to us of the things which Jesus meant, speaking through the mind and memory of John the apostle.  Behind this gospel is the whole church at Ephesus, the whole company of the saints, the last of the apostles, the Holy Spirit, the Risen Christ himself

.

So we begin ... and my prayer for us is ...

Lord, over the next 12 weeks, let us see You.  Increase our capacity for love of You.  Take our love-relationship with You to the next level. 

Abraham/Joseph Postscript

FAITH

We began our study marveling at the faith of Abraham.  We observed him choose trust ... choose to believe God and to take Him at His word.  We watched Abraham obey God.   The faith of Abraham teaches us the place of obedience in our lives.  It is necessary for the one who longs to walk with God.  We read of Jesus stating this principle in John 14.  He says, "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.  He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." (John 14:21)  And in verse 23 He says, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching." 

Do you want to walk with God?  Do you want to walk in faith?  Then obedience matters.  It's not optional.  It matters everyday of our lives.  It matters today ... even in the smallest details. 

We closed our study with Joseph.  We observed him choose integrity and forgiveness.  We watched him choose to walk rightly before God even in the harshest and most difficult of circumstances.  And then we marveled at his ability and willingness to forgive.  When Jesus teaches us how to pray, He includes this sentence:  "Forgive us our sins as we also have forgiven those who sin against us." (Matthew 6:12) 

Do you want to walk with God?  Do you want to walk in faith?  Then forgiveness matters.  It's not optional.  It matters everyday of our lives.  It matters today ... in both the small and the large circumstances.    We forgive because God forgives.  We forgive because we have been forgiven.  How dare we hold grudges against those who have hurt us when our God has released us from any guilt over the hurt we have caused?!  Recognize that forgiveness is a process ... it is a decision ... you make the decision in your mind first ... the emotions follow later.  It takes faith to forgive.  Faith that God knows what He is talking about when He tells us that we need to do this.  It takes trusting that God has our highest good in mind when He tells us to becomes 'forgivers' and to accept His forgiveness. 

FAITH

I have loved walking through the lives of these two great men with you.  I love the study of Genesis.  There is so much to learn about God ... about people ... about myself.  I want to close our study with words from Naomi Rosenblatt from her book, "Wrestling with Angels".  She closes her book on Genesis with these words:

"So ends the book of Genesis.  But as its name implies, Genesis is merely the beginning of a much longer story that extends over thirty-nine books of the Hebrew Bible - and over all the intervening generations connecting Abraham's family to our own.  So long as life continues on this planet, the human drama will renew itself in every generation.  So long as we persist in beginning, the creation continues.   ...  There are two powerful and interdependent calls that resound throughout Genesis: 'Go forth' and 'Fear not'.  'Go forth' addresses the active dimension of our lives.  'Fear not' addresses our spiritual dimension. ... Go forth and fear not.  But how?  By always reminding ourselves that we are created in God's image, that we are endowed with intellect and free will, compassion and responsibility, conscience and creativity.  That what we do matters.  That our life, and all life, is infinitely precious.

Go forth ... and fear not. ...

And the story begins again."

P.S.  Our next study will begin in January.  We will talk a stroll through the gospel of John and draw closer in relationship with our Lord, Jesus.  Join us ...