Feb 15 2013
Who are my Mother and Brothers?
“Dad, I’ve become a believer.” There was a long silence on the phone. “What does that mean, Judy?” “It means I believe in God. I believe the Bible is the Word of God, and (long pause) I believe Jesus is the Messiah!” I was speechless. Many parents might have welcomed those words, but they absolutely crushed me! I mean, we’re Jewish! To mention the name of Jesus is awkward enough. To consider Him as the Messiah is something we just don’t do. For any of us to believe that Jesus is the Messiah is to betray our people, to join the enemy. How could Judy do this? Rage started to well up within me. My first reaction was to blast her over the phone. The words were aimed when another voice within me said, “Don’t retaliate. Keep the conversation open. Don’t let this end in anger!” And that’s what I did. “Look Jude,” I said, “There is no way we can resolve this thing tonight. You’re coming home in a couple of weeks; we’ll have time to talk. For now let’s just let things cool off. Okay?” I heard a sigh; a long pause, then a deep breath. “Okay, Dad. I love you. Goodnight.” * More
Mar 21 2013
The King of Justice & Peace
“Cut the baby in two and give half to each woman!” Do you remember the story? Two prostitutes presented their cases to King Solomon. They lived together and both had babies. But a baby died in the night. One woman claimed she awoke to find the dead baby next to her but it wasn’t hers. She said the other woman had taken her baby and replaced it with the dead one. But the other woman said this was a lie, that the living baby was hers. After listening to both King Solomon asked for a sword. He told his men to cut the living baby in two and to give half to each woman. The false mother was comfortable, but the real mother said, “Please my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!” So, the real mother was revealed and King Solomon gave her the child (1 Kings 3: 16-28).
Here is a 2013 parallel: Two Kenyan presidential candidates appeared before God. More