The White Stone Zone

  Is freedom the greatest value for a follower of Christ? Did Jesus say that all men will know you are my disciples if you fight for freedom?   Was Jesus' main mission here to bring political freedom from a tyrannical government? We know the answer to that—from a worldly lens, it appeared Jesus had his freedom taken away from a tyrannical government.   Although freedom is a fundamental right, and placed high on our list of core values, there is one value that trumps freedom, and that is love.   The highest value for followers of Christ is love. Paul stated it quite clearly, “It is for freedom that Christ has set you free, but do not use your freedom as a cover up for evil, rather, serve one another in love.” Thus, with freedom comes responsibility, the resposibility to love.  The more responsible we are with our freedom, the more we gain; likewise, the less responsible we are with our freedom, the more we lose. As I write this, our nation is reeling from another school shooting i

 _____William Lloyd Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead; He knew he was going to raise him, and yet he wept over his death. Why would Jesu weep knowing in a few minutes Lazarus would be alive and well? At first, I thought that Jesus was mourning with those who mourn. He did not weep when Martha came, but instead appealed to Martha’s intellect and faith. He provided her facts with the hope of the resurrection. When Mary came, Jesus wept with her. Perhaps, Mary was more upset evidenced by her crying, and Jesus was meeting her where she was at. It does say that “when Jesus saw her weeping…he was deeply moved.” So, I figured, Jesus was mourning with those who mourn like a good Christian should, and then got  on to the business of raising Lazarus. After my son died, my thoughts on all of this changed. I truly believe that Jesus, being human, grieved for his friend. I also believe that Jesus saw what sin and death is doing to His children. Was this the first time, as Jesus of Nazareth, he ful