Geoffrey W. Sutton PhD, Psychology and Culture

VIOLENCE ON EARTH   or   PEACE ON EARTH Imagine greeting people with a blessing of “Violence” as in, “Violence to you and your family.” Of course violence has been a part of life for millennia. And we often hear that peace is fragile in some part of the world. But we hope for peace. And some of us work for peace. In the Hebrew and Christian scriptures, peace follows justice. That makes sense. We hear news stories of violent protests following a legal decision that seems unjust. Peace follows justice. Injustice disrupts peace. Future peace is predicated on evidence that the offended people will be treated justly. The image of peace created by the Hebrew prophet Isaiah strikes us as strange. What kind of world would it be if a wolf and a lamb could eat together without the latter being the meal? A wise lamb would flee from the presence of a wolf. In the Bible, many texts admonish people to live righteously and justly. True, biblical notions of justice involve ...

A Christmas Story Image Geoffrey W. Sutton with AI What's the Christmas Story about? Jesús Born Reports Lucas César Augusto, who loved making announcements almost as much as he loved peppermint bark, declared that everyone must sign up for healthcare by December 24. The website immediately collapsed in a dramatic swoon, and people across the land rushed around trying to find Wi‑Fi strong enough to revive it. José and María, expecting a baby any minute, didn’t have internet at home. So they bundled up, grabbed a blanket that smelled faintly of cinnamon, and trudged into town to borrow cousin David’s connection. David wasn’t there — his router blinked sadly, as if it too had given up — so they wandered to the Holly Day Inn. Clark, the night clerk, looked like he’d been working since last Christmas. “Sorry, folks, we’re full,” he said, gesturing toward a lobby overflowing with travelers, carolers, and one man who insisted he was a reindeer. José spotted a small office with a crooked...

Hope  Peace  Love  Joy I wish you a Merry Christmas

PEACE "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9 During advent we witness peace represented as a baby. Evangelical preachers often speak of the power of God. But when I see a baby I think of a fragile and vulnerable life. New life needs protection and nurturance. Peace is like a baby. Peace is fragile and vulnerable to disruptions from many sources. Nurturing people affirm peace. Peacemakers nurture peace through gifts of time and talent. Like an infant, newly formed peace requires devotion. To survive, peace must be fed and clothed. People keep peace alive. People let peace die. Some people seek to destroy peace. When the Prince of Peace became a man, he made serious demands of his followers. When the light of Peace shone in the darkness, Peace was attacked and Peace surrendered. Peace died as did the hope of his followers. But then came life. Peace lived on in the hearts of his followers who shared the peace wit...

Hope  “May integrity   and uprightness   protect me,  because my  hope ,   is in you. ”         Psalm 25: 21 NIV Social media sites are full of pictures of parents and grandparents beaming as they hold new babies. Thousands of years ago, the Psalmist declared his hope in God. It is fitting that Jesus comes as a baby. Hope is a forward looking activity. What better way to hope in the future than to see a newborn full of possibilities? Of course, at the time of his birth few foresaw what would unfold for Jesus in the next few decades. Yet some came with hope-- there were shepherds and wise men. Christmas is a time to reflect on hope. To nurture the possibilities within any child, parents must devote considerable time and energy and personal resources. Parents are often tired and seek assistance from family and friends. Nurturing hope is an investment in the future. And for Christians, hope lives on beyond the life...