​Samson amazingly typified the nation of Israel.  He was specially chosen by God, and empowered with eye-popping strength.  Yet, like his countrymen, he chose the cravings of his flesh and failed miserably.  What prompted the man set apart for God to make decisions set apart from God?   

​It was 1:00 a.m. and the doorbell rang.  I got out of bed, walked down the stairs, looked through the peephole and opened the door for a young police officer. 
“Sir, we received a 911 call from your home.”  
“Officer, was the call from 620-4081?”
“Yes, the dispatcher said all she could hear was static.  She called back and left a message.”
“I’m so sorry. This is the second time this week (midnight or later) this has happened.  My computer is turned off and I don’t know how you are getting called.”
I took him into my office and showed him the offending phone.
“Okay, you might want to call your phone company and have them check this out.”
“Yes, I will.  I’m sorry you had to come out here.”
“No problem.  Hope you can get back to sleep.” 
 

​The beginning of the year is a time when people in our society reflect.  For many, new resolutions and goals are forged on the gold-embossed pages of a new journal.  Yet as the past is closed for the door of tomorrow a timeless God is not concerned with another year.  His word makes His question clear—are we loyal to Him?

Meditation
Luke 12:15--He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.

​Bruce Thielemann tells the story in Christus Imperator of a king long ago who organized a great race within his kingdom.  All the young men in the land participated.  A bag of gold was to be given to the winner, and the finish line was within the courtyard of the king's palace.  During the race the runners were surprised to find in the middle of the road leading to the king's palace a great pile of rocks and stones.  But they managed to scramble over it or to run around it and eventually to come to the courtyard. 

​It was in part what the President wouldn’t say that disturbed a nation.  Liberty lowered her torch and sat on her pedestal of stone weeping from the bitter blow his pride struck.  She cried because he lied.  She sobbed because he robbed—he stole the trust of a nation to enjoy forbidden pleasures.  Tomorrow she will rise and light her torch.  But it will not burn as bright.  Around her base swirls water blackened with the slick oil of deceit. It’s mixture runs downstream leaching through soil at an alarming rate.  Her children are poisoned by this hazardous waste of rationalization that dares to call evil good and good evil.