BALANCE... when you live aboard a sailboat, you don't take it for granted... you have to work at it. Balance is even more important in the life of a Christian. Jesus said, "I am the alpha and the omega." Alpha and omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Jesus led a balanced life. He wasn't a single issue Messiah. He didn't focus on the alpha issues and neglect the omega issues. He came to guide us through all of the complex twists and turns of life; from alpha all the way to omega. Jesus was comfortable dining in the home of a rich man, and he was comfortable hanging out with the poor. He came to save the lost and he came to proclaim the way of peace. He called people to walk by faith and he challenged them to love justice. He exposed the hypocrisy of some religious leaders who wanted to stone a woman who had committed adultry, but he also challenged the woman to, "Go and sin no more." Jesus came to bring life and to oppose death. I believe that means he is opposed to anything that might kill, steal and destroy. He came to say no to abortion... child abuse... capital punishment... hunger... terrorism... wars and rumors of wars. Jesus is the alpha and the omega. We can't afford to get so caught up in the alpha issues of life that we neglect the omega issues of life. There is no such thing as an Alpha Christian or an Omega Christian. Anyone who follows Jesus needs to follow him from alpha all the way to omega. -- Bob