From man’s perspective, life has become quite complicated.  Things are constantly changing: from the operating systems of our gadgets to the societal definitions of normal.  Relationships evolve, the rules transform, etiquette wanes, goals fluctuate, and so much more, …or so it seems.  The political stage has become something like a perpetual parody of fools.  It is increasingly hard to tell who believes in God and who doesn’t.  Perhaps you have begun to ask yourself questions like:  Who is running our country?  Is anybody telling the truth now?  Are they serious?  Do they really think we are that stupid?  What’s the world coming to?  Does our government really need that much money?, etc.  Perhaps the hardest and most disconcerting question to answer these days is, Who is the enemy, and who is our friend? 

  As usual, our most helpful resource is the Bible.  It tells us very plainly that the true enemies of our souls are three:  The World (its system), The Flesh (our illicit appetites) and The Devil.  Because these three work against all that is holy and right, they happen to be the enemy of God as well.  All three have been around since the beginning of time, and know our weaknesses well.  When Eve (the first woman) was tempted, and partook of the forbidden fruit, all three were present, and exploited her weaknesses: “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. (Genesis 3:6)”  The lusts of the flesh arouse our physical appetites, the lusts of the eyes stir our emotions, and the pride of life tugs at our intellectual moorings—three enemies and three internal triggers (hot buttons) for them to attack.

  Paul said, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 7:24-8:1)”

  Will you be part of the problem, or part of the solution?  Know your enemy!

  Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here.  The curtain is up and it is making its debut even as you read.  Personal computers are now being infused with this cutting edge technology whether we desire it or not.  Additionally, almost all of the big tech websites have integrated AI into their interfaces to interact with those of us who utilize their services.  So now it is not only possible to utilize your computer for word processing, spreadsheets and databases, to solve mathematical equations, correct spelling and grammar, or search vast amounts of information in seconds to find that little known fact that is packed away in the voluminous expanse we call the World Wide Web, BUT NOW your computer will be able to do the part that you have always done as well.  It will think for you, manage your workflow, do your creative writing, manage your money, and interact with the Artificial Intelligence of others on your behalf.  What could possibly go wrong?

  Computers have always functioned without feelings, calculated without motives or emotions, but now in order to function for you, and like you, they will need some semblance of these human characteristics as well.  But how?  You do trust the programmers, don’t you?  And there is much talk of giving computers the ability to learn on their own, i.e., to program themselves without limits.  Again, what could possibly go wrong?

  Perhaps we are about to relinquish responsibilities to our assorted “devices” that God intended only for the complex beings that He created.  Perhaps God would have us speak and write for ourselves.  Perhaps He intends for the human elements to be contained only in the immortal human souls of men and women rather than sloughed off to artificial intelligence in order for us to free up some more time to play.

  “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion…(Genesis 1:26a)”  “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (1Peter 4:11)”

  Everyone needs to know the truth about his relationship with God.  The Bible states emphatically that we are all sinners (Romans 3:10, 12, 23), and the wages of our sin is death (Romans 6:23).  It also tells us that forgiveness is very costly,“…without shedding of blood is no remission (Hebrews 9:22).”  

 The blood of animals, because they are not eternal beings, was never sufficient to purchase forgiveness for the sins of men, who are eternal beings (Hebrews 10:4).  This would require human blood.  But the blood of sinful men could never be sufficient to atone for even one of their many sins, because all of their “righteous deeds” are as “filthy rags” before God (Isaiah 64:6).  Man has nothing to offer.  To pay the wages of sin would require a unique, sinless, perfect sacrifice, and only God is perfect, but God is not a man, …at least not until the birth of Jesus.

  The Bible teaches very clearly that Jesus’ mother was a virgin when He was born (Matthew 1:22-23; Luke 1:26-34; Galatians 4:4). He was Mary’s son—a man.  It also tells us that God the Holy Spirit supernaturally caused her to become pregnant (Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:35).  He was the Son of God—Deity.  Jesus was both God and man—the God/Man—exactly what was needed to purchase man’s pardon.

  Why was Jesus born in Bethlehem?  Because sinful man needed a God/Man to pay the penalty for his sin, and “…God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)” Jesus is God’s gift to the human race.  He alone is the perfect sacrifice for sin: human in order to atone for human sin, and Divine in order to satisfy the demands of God’s holiness and justice.

  The angel told Joseph, when he discovered his fiancé was pregnant and it was not his child, “…Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:20-21).”  Merry Christmas!

  In my mind, these words are associated with Christmas.  To some folks, the “hustle and bustle” are what make Christmas fun.  They conjure up mental images of past Christmases that included shopping with the crowds at the mall, merriment with the crowds at the office, and gathering with crowds at Grandma’s house on Christmas Day.  Christmas for these is a time to break the monotony of life and to enjoy a tenderness in mankind that seems to manifest itself only in the Christmas season.

  To others, the “hustle and bustle” are what make Christmas a real drag.  They prefer a few quiet restful days at the camp, with snow lightly falling in the dark of night, a colorful wood fire dancing in the fireplace, an aromatic Christmas tree filled with dazzling lights and twinkling tinsel that reaches to the ceiling, hot chocolate steaming on the hearth, and the warm presence of a beloved soul mate.

  But Christmas is not about “hustle and bustle,” nor is it defined by their absence.  Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ—the day that the Prince of Heaven, God’s Son, laid aside the splendors of His glorious home to condescend to a barn in Bethlehem and inhabit the body of a poor babe nestled in a feeding trough, wrapped in ragged swaddling clothes fit only for a pauper’s child.

  The Bible tells us that an angel announced His coming to the poor shepherds near Bethlehem.  They knew from the angel’s message that this was no ordinary babe, for he had said, “ Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:10-14)”

  Jesus came then to be our Savior, and soon He is coming back as King of kings and Lord of lords!

  For years I have known individuals with dual citizenship (i.e. citizens of two countries at the same time).  Without understanding the laws, one might imagine that dual citizenship is, or ought to be, illegal.  They might argue that a dual status will divide one’s allegiance and cause him to be less than committed to one country or the other—or maybe both.

  Christians are described in the Bible as belonging to Heaven (Philippians 3:20).  Those who will live with God in eternity, are only sojourners for their short pilgrimage on earth.  But because everyone has to belong somewhere in the here and now, many citizens of Heaven are American citizens as well, and we see this as our beloved homeland.  Could our hearts and allegiance be divided?  Do we have the right, or responsibility to put America First in the overall scheme of things, or should our allegiance be over there?  Should our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ have first place, or does it belong to our government officials?  The answer is simple, we are citizens of Heaven first, and Jesus must have preeminence.“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18)”  But Why?

  The truth of the matter is that citizens of Heaven make the very best citizens on earth, if they follow the instructions of our gracious Lord.  But many of us  have forsaken God, and America has declined and suffered great loss as a result.  We have celebrated god and COUNTRY with the emphasis on COUNTRY, while we have neglected the eternal God who gave us life.  History doesn’t lie, though some historians might.  The blessings of God have always been abundant to those nations who have acknowledged the Lord, and their  dependance upon Him.  “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. (Psalm 33:12)”

  Want to make America great again?  “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2Ch 7:14)”