Hope has nothing to do with wishing.

Hope is distinct from optimism or idealism. It has nothing to do with wishing. It references reality at every turn and reveres truth. It lives open eyed and wholehearted with the darkness that is woven ineluctably into the light of life and sometimes seems to overcome it. Hope, like every virtue, is a choice that becomes a practice that becomes spiritual muscle memory. It’s a renewable resource for moving through life as it is, not as we wish it to be. (Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living by Krista Tippett; p. 233.)

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Madison's Warnings About Creating Political Parties

While doing some research today I came across the "Federalists No. 10" written by James Madison on Thursday, November 22, 1787. Madison warned his readers about the dangers of the formation of political parties and allowing them to become involved in government.
When the Constitution was written in 1787, the founders thought of political parties as "factions," acting only for their own selfish interests rather than the public good. The founders saw instances in history when factions resorted to assassination and civil war if they failed to get their way. The writers of the Constitution believed that political parties would play no formal role in the new government. The Constitution made no mention of them.

Even in electing the president, the founders assumed the absence of political parties. The Constitution established an Electoral College, which called for a small number of electors—elected or appointed in the states— to meet, deliberate, and choose the best perso…

Why did they lay their coats at Saul's feet?

The witnesses, laying their coats at the feet of Saul, were the men that would cast the first stones at Stephen in Acts 7. Why did they all lay their coats at Saul’s feet? The Talmud contains a very interesting account of the act of stoning that may provide the answer.
“When the trial was over, they take him [the condemned person] out to be stoned. The place of stoning was at a distance from the court, as it is said, ‘Take out the one who has cursed.’[i] A man stands at the entrance of the court; in his hand is a signaling flag [Hebrewsudarin = sudar, ‘scarf, sweater’]. A horseman was stationed far away but within sight of him. If one [of the judges] says, ‘I have something [more] to say in his favor,’ he [the signaler] waves thesudarin, and the horseman runs and stops them [from stoning him]. Even if [the condemned person] himself says, ‘I have something to say in my favor,’ they bring him back, even four of five times, only provided that there is some substance to what he is saying.…

Do You Really Want to Know What Jesus Taught?

Over the past 30 plus years I have spent a great deal of time working to understand the life, teachings and movement of the Jesus that took place between 6 BCE and 27 CE in Galilee, Judea and Samaria. Over the years I have met a lot of people that tell me they really want to accurately understand what Jesus taught when we first met. However, as they began to learn what he taught, it became clear that they left something out of their statement when we first met:
I really want to know what Jesus taught -- as long as it supports what I believe!
It’s probably pretty safe to say that what most Christians believe about Jesus and what he taught differ significantly. So, why is it such a big deal when people discover that they differ? The reason is that in modern Christianity people are told that going to heaven when they die is based on “believing in Jesus.” When I ask people what that means, their answers are usually one of these:
● believe that Jesus existed
● believe that Jesus is the Son of …

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