Consider this

            Sometimes a short verse says a lot.   A good example of that is James 3:18 which says, “Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness”.   Those ten little words have a lot to say.             For instance, consider the words “peacemakers” and “sow”.   Both of these words are active.   We are not just to be “peacekeepers” (one who preserves something that already exists), but “peacemakers” (one who creates conditions where peaceful relationships flourish).   Now these words are important because of the difficulty of the action.   It is easier to just think about yourself and what you want, but we are called to do more than that.   We are to be people who invest in others.   With that in mind, now consider the words “raise” and “harvest”.    Both of these words imply something that is long term and somewhat uncertain.   Raising something takes time and there certainly are no guarantees.   The crop may get hailed on.   You may experience floodin

            In order to be successful in most areas of life, whether playing a game, paying your taxes, driving down the street or baking a cake, it is necessary know the rules and how things work.            That principle is on display at the start of the Exodus.     As God begins to lead his people, he makes sure that they have the “baseline knowledge” that they need.   In fact, he communicates it to them in two ways:   First he shows them and then he tells them.              The showing part is one of my favourite stories. “The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites… Moses said to Joshua, ‘Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.   So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When M