How do you respond to the difficulties in your life? Do you bear your cross and endure the thorn in your flesh in silence? Or do you complain about them? If you believe that they are given to you for a purpose, then it would be unseemly to complain about them. I want you to have a large enough perspective that you are aware of the means of grace in your life, even if they are deeply veiled. Then you can accept them rather than fighting against them, and they can accomplish their purpose without your opposition. You can bring glory to me by bearing your trials with grace and equanimity. 

Do you cherish your right to vote? This is your free choice to make according to your conscience. Do you understand that history gets to vote as well? This is in a metaphorical sense rather than in political elections, but it is still a valid concept. Consider the wisdom of those who have gone before you in giving you the world as it is and the way it works. History doesn’t have veto power; otherwise slavery would not have been abolished. You may have strong opinions about things you would like to change in your church, your country, and the whole world. You will be in a better position to create positive change if you honor those who have gone before by learning to understand your path to this point. 

The religious leaders of my time sent soldiers out to apprehend me. They encountered me but they returned without me. They had the authority and weapons to bring me back so the religious leaders asked them why they did not. The answer they gave was that never a man spoke like this before, but I didn’t even try to fast-talk my way out of being arrested. Do you think that power and position are what really matter in getting things done?

In the beginning I created a man and a woman. They were designed to come together to reproduce themselves, and so they have replenished the earth. I gave distinctive masculine and feminine qualities to them that persist to this day. This was part of my creation that I declared to be good. Do you find the whole question of gender characteristics to be a sensitive issue today? Different cultures have handled this in different ways throughout history. Is yours too easily threatened and heavily defended on this issue to hold a serious conversation about it? I have things to teach you about this if you can relax enough to learn them.