Heavenhigh

Nothing New!

# 1 2024 Dev. Ecclesiastes1:9. Nothing New! Read all of chapter one first . We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ecc,1:9 “What has been will be again what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”

Ecc.1 The word Ecclesiastes is a translation of the Hebrew word “koheleth” meaning: “one who convenes an assembly,” or “the preacher”(NIV), or as the text indicates “teacher.” This book is about the experiences throughout one person’s life, he is not named but there are indications in the text that Ecc. was probably written by King Solomon. That puts the date of writing at 970 BC to 931BC. Chapter 1 “Meaningless! Meaningless!” sets the tone for this chapter.

Vs.1-2 “Meaningless! Says the Teacher. ‘Utterly meaningless!”’ Vs. 1 indicates that Solomon is the author of the book. What is the answer to this statement? Yes without God, your life, is indeed meaningless.

Vs.3-7 He starts with a rhetorical question; what do people gain…” from all the sweat and tears of many years of struggle “under the sun. Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.” So it would seem at that time, yet we know that it will not last forever. The author talks about the repetitive nature of our world. It is the never ending cycle of our world, no change, always the same to those who will not thank God for His creation and refuse to acknowledge God’s power and glory displayed all around us.

Vs.8-11 “All things are wearisome… The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear of hearing. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” The author here is not speaking of technology, he is talking about the meaning of our lives on this earth. Are people happier today? The past, the present and the future will not be remembered the teacher tells us. The end of all things on earth will arrive but it will not be the end of all things, works done in the name of Jesus will survive, and those who belong to Jesus will survive forever!

Vs.12-18 The author reiterates his roots, kingship, his learning, and knowledge about “all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind!” Heavy burden indeed, the weight of knowing the truth and the overwhelming rejection of the truth by so many. That rejection is “chasing after wind”, as is comparing “wisdom and folly”. Wisdom, knowledge, is more than knowing, it is doing, living it out in our lives. “For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.” This is only rectified with trust, with faith, and with hope. “I am the way the truth and the life.” Jesus teaches us. Amen and amen. May God Bless us in this New Year!

The God of Your Father!

# 52 2023 Dev. Ge. 43:23.The God of your Father! Read all of chapter forty three first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ge. 43:23 “It’s all right,” he said. ‘Don’t be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver.’ Then he brought Simeon out to them.”

Ch.43 continues the story of Joseph in Egypt. God placed Joseph where He needed him to be to fulfill God’s purposes. Now, Joseph had been in Egypt for ten years or more. He had spent 3 years as a slave, he spent the next seven years collecting grain and now he is selling the grain. He will be selling grain for seven years.

Vs.1-14 Eventually the food Jacob’s sons bought in Egypt ran out, We read; “Now the famine was still severe in the land.” They had little choice, they had to go back to Egypt. These verses are a long negotiation between Jacob and his sons, about sending Benjamin along with the rest of the his sons. Jacob is resigned to the inevitable delayed trip and sends Benjamin along. In the end Jacob stops trying to keep his son safe, he puts his trust in God; “As for me, if I’m bereaved, I am bereaved.”

Vs.15-23 They make the trip and Joseph sends them to his house. We know the outcome, it is not a big deal. But his brothers were in the dark, they did not even have an inkling that they were dealing with the brother they had sold. As we saw in the last chapter a deep dread was hanging over them, the dread of God’s punishment for what they had done.

Now they were brought to Joseph’s residence, they were feeling the guilt and fear of not understanding what was going on. There are times when things happen to us that we do not understand, God provides a way to cope and to trust him. That is what happened here, in spite of Pharaohs attempt to limit the influence of God in Joseph’s household by marrying him off to the daughter of a priest, God was displayed by Joseph’s staff.

The brothers wanting to explain the returned silver, approached Joseph’s steward about the silver. Vs 23; “It’s all right,” he said. “Don’t be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver.’ Then he brought Simeon out to them.” Think about that; “your God, The God of your father,” Joseph’s steward comforts them and assures them that God is in control. He sends them back to their roots, their compass in life. As complicated Jacob’s life was, what his sons knew about God they got from their father, their parents. Our basic presupposition also comes from our parents, “the God of your father.(s)” .

Vs.24-32 When Joseph saw his younger brother Benjamin, he was “deeply moved” and had to find a place to weep. After more than ten years Joseph was thankful to be reunited with Benjamin and with all his brothers. When they saw the seating arrangement and “ they feasted and drank freely with him”, they must have become a little suspicious. God turned the horrible experience of the past and of their trips to Egypt into a blessing. Our God is good all of the time!

Christ Like Sacrificial Service!

# 51 2023 Dev. Prov. 31:5 Christ Like Sacrificial Service! Read all of chapter thirty one first . We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Prov. 31:8,9 “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

Prov.31 This chapter, along with chapter 30 are appendixes to Proverbs. These are “The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.”

Vs.1-3 “Listen, my son!…son of my prayers. Do not spend your strength on women.” His mother warns him about women, beautiful opportunistic women, not to suggest all beautiful woman are opportunistic. Later on the king describes the kind of women his mothers tells him to seek out.

Vs.4-7 She further advises him to go easy on the beer and wine. “It is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget…” what the king is supposed to do. Beer and wine is for the suffering and perishing to comfort. As Scripture teaches us, all things in moderation!

Vs.8-9 “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” As important the description of the ideal woman is in verses 10-31, verses 8,9 is the heart of this chapter. This is what the radical left might reject as conservatism but in truth, this is the way of Jesus, the way of Christianity!

Vs.10-31 “The Wife of Noble Character.” As we see from the notes this is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

“ A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm all the days of her life… Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”

While verses 8-9 speak to the actions of Jesus and Christianity; Verses 10-31 shows us how to actually live out being like Jesus, living out Christianity and displaying sacrificial service and leadership. May God bless us and our country this Christmas season!

God’s Provision!

# 50 2023 Dev. Ge. 42:1.God’s Provision! Read all of chapter forty two first . We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ge.42:1 “When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, ‘Why do you just keep looking at each other?’ 2 He continued, ‘I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.’”

Ch.42 continues the story of Joseph in Egypt. God placed Joseph where He needed him to be to fulfill God’s purposes. Now, Joseph had been in Egypt for ten years or more. He had spent 3 years as a slave, he spent the next seven years collecting grain and now he is selling the grain.

Vs.1-7 As we saw in the former chapter, “all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph…”, that included Joseph’s brothers. Jacob sent all his sons to buy grain in Egypt but he kept Benjamin at home. It becomes obvious that Benjamin replaced Joseph in Jacob’s estimation. The ten brothers arrive in Egypt and present themselves to Joseph whom they did not recognize. Joseph, however, did recognize his brothers.

Vs.8-17 Joseph accuses his brothers of being spies, they do everything to try and convince Joseph otherwise, telling him about their family and that one brother was still at home. That motivated Joseph to test them by demanding they bring their younger brother. Joseph locked them up for three days, one day for every year he was a slave.

Vs.18-26 “On the third day, Joseph said to them, ‘Do this and you will live, for I fear God:’” Joseph sent them back to Canaan with grain but he locked up Simeon. The brothers started to discuss their situation and blamed each other for selling Joseph, which caused their problems now. They did not realize Joseph could understand what they discussed. Even so Joseph filled their bags and sent them on their way, with the promise that they would return with Benjamin. Actions have consequences, both good and bad!

Vs.27-38 When they found that their silver was returned to them they feared for their lives. “Their hearts sank and they turned to each other trembling and said, “What is this that God has done to us?” They all saw what was happening to them was punishment, more than likely these events were teaching them the awareness of what they put Joseph and their father through. They told Jacob all that transpired, But “Jacob said to them, ‘You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!”’

It sounds as though Jacob had suspected that Joseph was lost through their actions. “Jacob said. ‘My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left…”’ yes the only one of his mother, Jacob’s favorite wife. Jacob had not yet learned one thing about the detriment of favoritism. God uses our shortcomings to bring about His purposes. Praise the Lord!

God, Our Refuge!

# 49 2023 Dev. Prov. 30:5 God, Our Refuge! Read all of chapter thirty first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Prov. 30:5 “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Prov.30 This chapter and chapter31 are an appendix to Proverbs. Chapter 30 are the sayings of Agur son of Jakeh who is speaking to Ithiel and Ukal. This is the only place in scripture these four men are mentioned and we know nothing about them. They probably are not Hebrew, but more like Job and friends.

Vs.1-4 He starts out with a concern and addresses God directly “I am weary, God, but I can prevail.” He continues to address God: “Surely I am only a brute, not a man… nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One.” He is starting to sound like Job and speaks much like him in verse 4, “ Who has gone up to heaven and come down?” But Agur confirms what he knows about God; “Whose hand…” holds the wind, “Who has wrapped up the waters… who has established… the earth. What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know!” This sounds a little like Job 19:25 “I know that my redeemer lives and…he will stand upon the earth.”

Vs.5-9 Agur praises God, “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words…” He then continues with a prayer, the only prayer we find in Proverbs. “Two things I ask of you, Lord… Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches…Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you… Or I may become poor and steal…”

Vs.10-14. Do not slander…” do not curse your father and bless your mother. Do not be self-righteous, do not “devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among mankind.” The poor and the needy turn to God!

Vs.15-17 “The leech has two daughters. ‘Give! Give!’ they cry. There are three things…” No, “four that never say, ‘Enough!’: the grave, the barren womb, land…” needs water, “fire…”needs wood. “The eye that mocks a father, that scorns an aged mother…” repeated from v.11 indicating its importance. They cannot and will not see the blessing of parents or the blessings of God! Parents are the voice of God in a child’s life.

Vs.18-20 “There are three…” No, “four that I do not understand: “the way…” birds fly, “the way…”a snake moves, “the way of a ship…” on water. “The way of a man with a young woman.” Four mysteries better understood today, but not completely. “This is the way of an adulterous woman…” (and man) ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’” The whole world is saying that today!

Vs.21-31 “Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up”: when leadership is given to the unwise and the inexperienced at every level of society. The earth trembles today!

Vs.24-28 “four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise…” Ants plan ahead. Hyraxes find their homes in unlikely places. Locusts are able to organize. Some lizards live in palaces. Creation is the word of God, it is all around us, displaying God’s wisdom and power.

Vs.29-31 “There are three things… No, “four that move with stately bearing: a lion, mighty…” never retreats. “A strutting rooster, a he-goat, and a king secure against revolt.” Self-confidence is an important part of life but over-confidence assures failure.

Vs.32-33 “if you play the fool and exalt yourself. Or if you plan evil…”, if conflict and crime is ignored, it is inevitable that “stirring up anger produces strife.” Lack of prosecution and the lack of security will destroy our country! We trust and thank God because He is in control of our lives and our world.

Trust And Faith!

# 48 2023 Dev. Ge. 41:15-16. Trust And Faith! Read all of chapter forty one first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ge.41:15-16 “Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it. I cannot do it,’ Joseph replied to Pharaoh, ‘but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.’”

Ch.41 continues the story of Joseph in Egypt. God placed Joseph where he needed him to be to fulfill God’s purposes. But Joseph had to wait two more years after the cup bearer was restored to Pharaoh’s staff. We may be sure Joseph was discouraged as any one of us would be. But, like what we should do, Joseph trusted that God had a purpose for him. Trust and faith comes to bear in this chapter.

Vs.1-8 Pharaoh’s dreams; seven fat cows and seven emaciated cows. seven full heads of wheat and seven withered heads of wheat. All the wise men in Egypt could not tell Pharaoh what his dreams meant.

Vs.9-14 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings…” and he told Pharaoh that Joseph had interpreted his and the chief bakers dreams and they came out as he had interpreted them. “So pharaoh sent for Joseph…”

Vs15-16 “Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it. I cannot do it,’ Joseph replied to Pharaoh, ‘but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.’” Joseph did not take credit for himself but honored God!

Vs.17- 24 Pharaoh tells Joseph his dreams.

Vs.25-32 “Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, ‘The dreams are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years… The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.’”

But Joseph was not done interpreting. He repeats “God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do” There will be seven years of great abundance and the seven years that follow will be severe and the good years will be forgotten.

The Spirit moved Joseph to convince Pharaoh that this will actually happen, he adds what we all have learned when reading scripture; when something is repeated it is more important. So God sent Pharaoh two dreams and as Joseph points out: ‘The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.’”

Vs.33-40 The Spirit was not done with advising Pharaoh; Joseph goes on: “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.

They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”

So Pharaoh asked them, his officials, “Can we find anyone like this man, one In whom is the spirit of God?”

Vs.41-56 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” God had been preparing Joseph all this time; honing his management skills in Potiphar’s household, and teaching him humility and trust in jail. All this time Satan was tempting him and trying to kill him, first his brothers and then being accused of rape. But God was in control and protecting Joseph and preparing him. God always protect and prepares us because for all of us, serous followers of Jesus, God has a plan and a purpose for our lives. Count on it!

Pharaoh, renamed him and gave him a wife, Asenath, daughter of Potiphara priest of On (Heliopolis). Was this an attempt on Pharaoh’s part to influence Joseph? There is no indication that Joseph was influenced by the religion of Egypt. During the years of plenty Joseph collected so much grain he was no longer recording it. The famine that followed was so severe that “all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph…” It is hard to know why God allowed an extreme famine, but we know that God wanted to build up His people into a nation. God did so in isolation, until they were ready to possess the promised land. God’s Grace and Salvation today mirrors what happened in Egypt. We have a lot to be thankful for!

Trust And Faith!

Vs.17- 24 Pharaoh tells Joseph his dreams.

So Pharaoh asked them, his officials, “Can we find anyone like this man, one In whom is the spirit of God?”

Justice!

# 47 2023 Dev. Prov. 29:7. Justice! Read all of chapter twenty nine first . We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Prov. 29:7 “The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.”

Prov. 29 continues with the proverbs of Solomon. In this chapter he uses couplets comparing the just and the unjust and the righteous with the wicked.

Vs.1-9 The stubborn are “without remedy” The righteous are wise. They “thrive” and “the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.”Righteousness brings joy. “By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy…tear it down.” Yes, we see it happening today! “Those who flatter” can’t be trusted. “Evildoers are snared by their own sin, but the righteous shout for joy”. “The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. Mockers stir up a city, but the wise turn away anger.” Don’t go to court with a fool. We see what is happening with the lack of prosecution, “and there is no peace.”

Vs.10-18 “The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity and seek to kill the upright.” That was going on then and is going on today! “Fools…rage but the wise bring calm… If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.” We all have this in common, “The Lord gives sight to the eyes…” What do we see?

“If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will be established forever. A rod and reprimand impart wisdom…” lack of discipline “disgraces its mother,” and father. “When the wicked thrive, so does sin… Discipline your children, and they will give you peace… Where there is no revelation, (God’s Word) people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.”

Vs.19-27 “Servants (People) cannot be corrected by mere words…” wages are required. For slaves, in the day, good treatment is required. Do not “speak in hast… A servant ( a child or slave) pampered from youth will turn out to be insolent. An angry person stirs up conflict, and… commits many sins. Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.”

“The accomplices of thieves… dare not testify.” Do not fear man “but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe,” not from leaders, “but it is from the Lord that one gets justice. The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright.” Righteousness and wickedness are in a constant battle, good and evil are opposed to each other, they have to be; one brings peace and the other brings chaos.

But Jesus says: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 Amen and Amen

Dreams!

# 46 2023 Dev. Ge. 40:8b. Dreams! Read all of chapter forty first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ge.40:8b “Then Joseph said to them, ‘Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.’”

Ch.40 continues the story of Joseph in Egypt. God placed Joseph where he needed him to be to fulfill God’s purposes. God needed Joseph to be in this particular jail where he would meet two of Pharaoh’s officials who got in trouble with the Pharaoh. At this time and in the third world today dreams, have meaning. Some Africans I know converted to Christianity because of a dream they had.

Vs.1-4 “Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt.” He locked up both of them in the house of the captain of the guard and Joseph was assigned to them.

Vs.5-8 “After they had been in custody for some time,” This I think was longer than shorter, six months or so. It appears Joseph had been locked up for possibly a year. One night, both the baker and the cup bearer had dreams. It appears they were very depressed by their dreams. “Then Joseph said to them, ‘Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.’”

Vs.9-15 The cup bearer tells his dream, three branches appeared, the blossoms immediately produced grapes, I squeezed them into the king’s cup and put the cup in the kings hand. Joseph interprets, the branches are three days and Pharaoh will restore you to your former position.

But Joseph makes an appeal, “please remember me to the Pharaoh because I have done nothing to deserve being locked up.” From my experience, doing ministry in jail, in prison everyone claims to be innocent.

Vs.16-19 “When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation, he said to Joseph, ‘I too had a dream:’” He dreamed to have three baskets on his head, full of different breads “but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.” The interpretation was not positive. The baker would be executed in three days.

Vs.20-23 “Now the third day was Pharaoh birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials.” During the feast Pharaoh restored the cup bearer and executed the baker, “just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation. The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.”

We imagine Joseph was disappointed and dejected. Like us he would expect something to happen, like us he was disappointed, but like us sometimes we have to wait. God’s timing is not our timing. Amen! Joseph had to wait for two more years!

Understanding Right and Wrong!

# 45 2023 Dev. Prov. 28:5. Understanding Right and Wrong! Read all of chapter twenty eight first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story! Do you believe that this is also our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Proverbs 28:5 “Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.”

Proverbs 28 continues with more proverbs of Solomon. This chapter continues using couplets mostly in opposites. This chapter is about the result of doing right and the effect of doing wrong.

Vs.1-5 The righteous and the wicked! “The wicked flee…but the righteous are bold… but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.” O, Lord! We desire order!

Those who oppress the poor are like a destructive storm! “Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked… Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.”

Vs.6-16 The rich and the poor! “Better poor… and blameless, than rich… and perverse. A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.” Exploiting “the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor. If anyone turns a deaf ear to my (God’s) instruction, even their prayers are detestable.”

Leading good people astray, comes back on them. “But the blameless will receive a good inheritance.” The rich think they are wise, the poor know the truth. “When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.” Is it time to hide and to vote?… Whoever conceals their sin…” loses“who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” Amen!

“Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.” A wicked ruler, destroys “a helpless people.” A wicked ruler extorts “but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.” We need to pay more attention to whom we vote for to be our leaders.

Vs.17-28 Practical advice. Unrepentant murderers seek death. “Let no-one hold them back. The one blameless… is kept safe, but…whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.” Is that Gahanna?

“Partiality” is bad, a person does wrong when in need, is also bad. Anyone “eager to get rich are unaware that poverty awaits them. Whoever rebukes…gain favor, rather…a flattering tongue. Whoever robs their father or mother and says, ‘It’s not wrong.’” Is partner to one who destroys.”

“The greedy stir up conflict, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe. Those who give to the poor will lack nothing., but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses. When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.” Amen, don’t we know it? Where is our human empathy, or has our basic human love gone cold?