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A long-time friend of mine wrote on my Facebook page, "Somewhere in New York it says, 'Give me your tired, your poor.'  Well people are tired and people are poor. What are we to tell them?"

Sacrifice of Jepthah's Daughter

"It is a snare for one to say rashly, 'It is holy,' and begin to reflect only after making a vow." Proverbs 20:25

As businesses, economists, and foreign governments look on with disbelief, the political talk in Washington has somehow become all about vows.  Suddenly there seem to be all these vows that politicians are being asked to sign, from vows about opposing same-sex marriage to vows to avoid tax increases no matter what.

"The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath."  Mark 2:27
 

Like millions of others in America this week, I watched the verdict in the Casey Anthony trial being handed down.  Like just a handful of others, however, I was not surprised at her acquittal.  Yes, I think she's guilty of killing her young daughter and I would bet most every juror thinks so, too.  But I have realized for some time now that, with just a few exceptions, we no longer have a justice system.  We have a legal system.
 

In case you hadn't heard, Osama bin Laden is, like Old Marley, dead as a doornail.  Probably Donald Trump wants to see his long-form death certificate to believe it, but it's true.  The world's most-wanted terrorist is no more, and the airwaves have been filled with responses.
 

Dia, me, and my mother

Scripture Reference:  Luke 15:11-32
 

It's Monday of Holy Week, and over this past weekend I packed up myself and the dog and headed the three hours north to see my mother.  As you can see from the picture, we were not frolicking in the great outdoors or remembering the days of our youth over a cup of coffee.  She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at age 70 and has been in a home with some level of clinical care since 2004.  She will be 79 next month.
 

Milo was a boy of about 11 years old, who lived in a small village by the edge of the sea with his mother.  Milo was a big help to his mother.  Every morning he would take some money and two sacks to go and buy the groceries.  First he went to the butcher and bought some bacon and salted pork.  Then he went to the farmer on the hill who sold him lettuce, beans, and sometimes corn.  Lastly he went to see Miss Gretchen, who sold him the eggs that Milo and his mother would have for breakfast as they listened to the sounds of the sea. 

But one day there was no money on the table and Milo found that his Mother was still in bed.  He went on tiptoe into her room, but saw that she was not sleeping. There were moans coming from her bed, she was shivering under the covers, and her face looked very red and tired. 

 “Mother!” cried Milo.  “What’s wrong?  Are you sick?”

She could barely speak.  “Yes, Milo,” she answered.  “I am very sick.  I don’t think I can even stand up. You must go and bring the doctor from the other side of the farmer’s hill.”

"And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."  Micah 6:8
 

Lately I have become more addicted to my Twitter feed (@revanner) as I have found it to be the most immediate and reliable source of news on the various struggles for freedom in the Middle East (and increasingly here at home as well).
 

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.  He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’  Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born again.’ 

Go ahead.  Make a lunch date with a good friend and for half an hour speak only what you literally mean to say.  You can't say you have a million things to do unless you can actually tally that many.  You may not refer to a suit costing and arm and a leg unless there is a surgeon at the checkout.  You can't order "the usual," unless that's the name of a sandwich on the menu.  You get the idea.
 

Matt. 5:21-22  "You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not murder'; and 'whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister you will be liable to the council; and if you say, 'You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire."

Those who did not see something like the violent events of yesterday coming need to step out of their bubbles and look around.