Saturday May 5^th, John 10: 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The early church depicted in Acts was a church that was beginning to grasp the idea that the mission of grace begins in Jerusalem, (at home and in the comfort of knowing) and then goes to Judea (next to home, and close enough to have an understanding) and Samaria (those people you might think you know, but really can’t stand) and on to the ends of the earth (which with scientific discovery is an ever changing proposition).  The church later held onto the idea that the earth was the center of the universe and that the sun revolved around us. Those who taught to the contrary we chastised and excommunicated from the church, for which in some cases the Roman church has apologized. Lest we be too judgmental it is good to realize that we too tend to think that the universe revolves around us. It always is easier to see oneself as right, and those who opposed your viewpoint as wrong.  Our children, whose brains are different than ours, are more able to function in the world of dichotomy.   They, more than we are able to conclude that though we and the other may differ, we may also both be, to a certain extent, right, even when the conclusions appear to be at polar opposites. Some of the worst atrocities in the world have been committed in the name of god. I use a small “g” because any atrocities committed in the name of god must assume that god is not grand enough to love all of humanity. It is only our “little god” of self-interest. Jesus lets us know that there is more to this world, more to the family of God, more to our brothers and sisters in Christ than seems reasonable by our perception. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth, all of it, everyone in it, begins the scriptures. It is from that basis that we are called as the children of God to love all creation. There is no axis of evil save that which wishes to judge others as such. To accept the notion of Islamic terrorists is to also accept the notion that those who would use any means, including torture, are terrorists also.  To accept them as Samaritans means that we don’t particularly like what they are doing, or maybe even who they are, but they are our brothers in Christ, with a Capitol “C” which rhymes with “G” and is our God.  Anything else is just lower case.