People say, well, why is there sin and death if there's a God and God is good?

I say because our work is not done.

We're making some progress.

Absolutely. My message is not one of We're making some progress. Absolutely.

My message is not one of doom and gloom because I believe this is the best time in human history to be alive.

Does that mean that there isn't still lots more to do?

There is tons to do.

Feels like an infinite amount of things to do.

But the message of Jesus and I think the prophets in the Old and New Testament, is to

keep pushing forward, to redeem, to save, to heal, as many people as possible, and not to

find ways to excuse ourselves for not healing them. Ho, ho, ho, and happy holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah.

Welcome to the Commune podcast, where every week we explore the ideas and practices that

bring us together and help us live healthy and purpose-filled lives.

A brief personal note of thanks and gratitude to all of you listeners who have supported this

podcast and given us the fuel to try and create engaging episodes every week. Thank you. Today,

we talk about the man of the hour. That's right, the one and only J.C. We know that Jesus urged

us to love thy neighbor, that he performed miracles on behalf of the poor and lame.

He was a trailblazer.

Just by sitting down to dinner, a deeply meaningful ritual in biblical times with women, tax collectors, sinners, lepers, and the ill.

He also had a sense for the dramatic political performance, but is it fair to think of Jesus as a political activist?

For this special Christmas episode,

we sat down with our good friend from the United Church of Christ

...