That time of year again...

For those of us who pay attention to these sort of things, the High Holy Days are almost upon us again. No not Easter or Christmas, although I still haven't done any Christmas shopping and that is right around the corner but I digress... The feast of trumpets is in a couple of days, followed by the 10 days of awe and Yom Kippur. For observant Jews, the 10 days of awe are a time of introspection, repentance and"fence mending" with friends and family. It is a time of recognizing how far off of God's path you have wandered and doing what you can to get back on it. All this because when the books are opened in heaven on Yom Kippur, and your name isn't in the book of life there could literally be hell to pay!

I am reminded of Matthew 5:23. Jesus tells us if we come to make a sacrifice, and at the altar remember a brother has something against us to leave the sacrifice and go and make things right. Afterwards, return and make your offering. The idea of repentance is taught in most churches as a fundamental necessity for salvation. The idea of reconciliation with one another maybe no so much. Jesus said that the world would know we are His by our love for one another. Rick Warren wrote in the Purpose Driven Church, that most believers can quote John 3:16, but they can't quote 1 John 3:16 "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." Do you feel that level of commitment to your brothers and sisters in Christ? What keeps you from it? Maybe this is the time of year for us to make things right. I can think of a few people I need to talk to this week. Pride really burns all the way down when you swallow it!

Syria

The Middle-East is in crisis...again. I know it is somewhat less than attention grabbing when a part of the world that is always in turmoil, is once again...ah, well in turmoil. Whatever your view on the US getting involved, if you are a Christian you should be praying. All over that part of the world, Christians are being pushed out, attacked, or falsely accused of all sorts of evil things. Sadly the US government no longer acts on behalf of the faithful with any regularity. Russia is more aware of the pressure being applied to the various Orthodox groups and seems to be trying to help. Obviously, we cannot count on any worldly power defending God's people but we as the Church must help! 

I cannot believe that in this post- Christian, deceived and perverted age, the body of Christ can remain fragmented. I don't mean to suggest that we all bend a knee to the Pope or that denominations are bad. Remembering that we are the body of Jesus perhaps we can expand the concept of the various parts of the body from individuals, to churches, denominations, etc. I am not a Roman Catholic and do not accept many of their teachings but they are my brothers and sisters in Christ. So are the Egyptian Coptics, the Russian, Antiocian, and Greek Orthodox. I am not a Baptist or a Methodist and I do not accept many of their teachings, but again, they are my family because they love Jesus. I am praying for our brothers and sisters suffering in the "Holy Lands" right now. The world needs the Church even though it doesn't want to admit it and our call is to bring the light of Christ into it, so pray and help as you can!