I heard someone say that the male psyche doesn’t like love “language” or love “words” because it feels weak. I agree that the brains of men and women are wired differently. But I don’t think that men are inherently born with an idea that love is weak. I believe it is a concept that some people are taught when they are young.

The strongest man I can think of is Jesus Christ. Not because he was a fighter, but because of His Love.

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Leviticus 19:1-2; Psalm 119:33-40

Holiness is a part of our Nazarene DNA—we are Christian, Holy, Missional. I don’t think we explain this process of who we are very well—I know that I certainly did not understand it until I was well into my adulthood. Perhaps I still don’t.

There are many sad reasons young people leave our churches; one of our daughters went searching for a tribe that explained it better when she was in her late teens. Does it matter that my daughter left our denomination? I don’t know. What DOES matter, however, is that we learn how to define and demonstrate holiness to our young people. And to our older people.

One of my favorite hymns is, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” and the next line is “tune my heart to sing thy grace.” Do you ever think about the words of a song when you’re singing? What does that line mean, anyway?

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The Christmas gift-giving season is closing in. Traditionally it can be a time of hustling around the malls and bustling from one Christmas gathering to another. There is an energy in the air that is both exhilarating and exhausting.

This year is different. It feels risky to shop at a mall and everyone must limit or eliminate the celebrations we enjoy with friends and family. #StopTheSpread … Sigh. Darn COVID!

One thing hasn’t changed – Christmas is still a time to think about giving. Because this season is quieter it may be a good time to think about giving in a different way.

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The other day, I was listening to the soundtrack for Hamilton (the musical). One song, My Shot, pushed me down a wandering thought path about passion.

At this stage of the musical, Hamilton has hooked up with other revolutionaries who share a passion for independence and a desire to build a grand nation based on freedom.

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Contrast, life is full of it.

There is no light without darkness
There is no joy without sadness
There is no healing without sickness
There is no love without mourning
There is no freedom without bondage
There is no knowledge without ignorance
There is no satisfaction without hunger

We would not recognize the good things without contrast of the bad. If you are feeling the “good” today, you know it because you’ve felt the bad. If you are feeling the bad, know that God is sending the good your way.

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