I think of the huckster pastor Mark Driscoll. I have never been a fan of his Gospel told through an overgrown ego with splashes of marketing spin, but watching his ministry crumble before the world depresses me.

While I don’t know the names of the people next to us, or the airmen rowing, nor they will know our name, a spirit of love came upon us and dwelled us.

Leading up to my turning 50, I reread the farewell discourse of Jesus found in John 13-17. As read it, I thought of many of new (gnu) atheists and my trouble with them.

Today, I turn a zero. I have have seen five zeros in my life and science says I might have two, three or four more zeros before meeting my end and seeing Jesus face-to-face.

When God chose to be with us, to dwell among us, God gave us light to shine through our darkness. The glory of Christian prayer arises from Jesus choosing to empty himself and be with us in the flesh.

The major mission of humanity arises from engaging love. Only in love can the dark human soul be purified — the key insight of Christianity.