June 23

OT -- 2 Kings 4:18-5:27
Leprosy. People my age have no idea the terror that word could induce in people. I had a pastor once who when he knew he was being called to the ministry, begged God, "I will go to seminary but please don't make me a missionary. I don't want leprosy." Not flies, hot climates, bad water. He didn't want leprosy.
Here is a good website with information as to what leprosy is and the symptoms. An interesting factoid about leprosy is that about 95% of the population is naturally resistant to leprosy. This is why doctors and nurses in leprosy colonies did not always get the disease.
Leprosy
In Naaman's case, his case must have been pretty far along as vs 14 says 'his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.'
Naaman becomes a believer but then there is the little tidbit in vs 18. "when I bow down in the temple of RImmon (a god of the Arammeans), may the Lord forgive your servant for this."
Elisha allows it, and Naaman leaves. No problem. We have to do things all the time that allow us to keep the peace, keep our status, keep the upper eschelon happy.
Christmas, for example. Not sure that Jesus would have liked how it has evolved. But not to participate in the revelry or to make a statement about it runs you the risk of getting the "put the Merry Christmas back in Christmas" folk on the warpath. Easier just to bake the cookies, have the sing-a-longs, toss in the hat for the company party and then in the privacy of your own home, focus on the meaning of Christmas FOR YOU.

Here is one of my favorite set of rules from His Holiness, The Dalai Lama

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

3. Follow the three Rs:

1. Respect for self

2. Respect for others

3. Responsibility for all your actions

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone every day.

9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.

14. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.

15. Be gentle with the earth.

16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.

17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

I think, in particular #9 speaks to the story about Naaman. He knew what he had to do in order to keep his position but he wanted Elisha to KNOW that he knew it was a compromised choice.

Acts 15:1-35
Oh the circumcision debate. I am sorry to say that this will go on and on and ON. Prepare yourself. The basic argument (which isn't presented by the way in the Bible) is that if you require the Gentiles to be circumcized before they become Christians, they will not convert and they won't support the church in Jerusalem specifically with their money. Paul and Peter are against (at least here in this section of Acts) the requirement and THEIR argument is that no Jew could keep all the commands so why should the Christians put this on the Gentiles. The other apostles and the Pharisee converts in Jerusalen feel that it SHOULD be a requirement.
So, which side do you support? Careful now, you may go to a church that doesn't require circumsion but requires other 'hoops' to jump through. The specifics change, the games do not.

Have a blessed day and if you are out early, come see me on the square in Marietta selling the best cheese in Atlanta, CalyRoad Creamery cheese. 8-12.