A Nazi death camp doctor is behind the unusual number of twins born in a small Brazilian farming town, according to a new book.

 

Nazi 'Behind Brazil's Twin Town'

 Josef Mengele - known as the Angel Of Death - was commissioned by Adolf Hitler to artificially increase the Aryan birthrate in order to create a master race. He earned his nickname for his cruel human experiments at the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz, where he focused his research on twins. Now Argentine historian Jorge Camarasa believes Mengele continued his genetic experiments in South America, where he fled at the end of the Second World War.

 In the Brazilian town of Candido Godoi, one in five pregnancies produces twins, often with blond hair and blue eyes.

A road sign at the edge of the town welcomes visitors to a "Farming Community and Land of the Twins" where they can visit the "House of Twins" museum. Locals claim the Nazi physician made repeated visits there from his home in Paraguay in the 60s, first posing as a vet but then offering medical treatment to women.

 The birthrate of twins in the German farming community began to rise soon after, Mr Camarasa says in his book Mengele: The Angel of Death in South America. "I think Candido Godoi may have been Mengele's laboratory, where he finally managed to fulfill his dreams of creating a master race of blond-haired, blue-eyed Aryans," the Daily Telegraph quotes the author as saying. He goes on: "There is testimony that he attended women, followed their pregnancies, treated them with new types of drugs and preparations, that he talked of artificial insemination in human beings."

One local farmer reportedly told Mr Camarasa: "He told us he was a vet. He asked about illnesses we had among our animals, and told us not to worry, he could cure them. He appeared a cultured and dignified man." Another farmer, Leonardo Boufler, said: "He said he could carry out artificial insemination of cows and humans, which we thought impossible as in those days. It was unheard of." A former mayor and town doctor has also tried to solve the mystery of the town's twins, according to the Telegraph.

 Anencia Flores da Silva says he has interviewed hundreds of people and came across one figure who cropped up repeatedly - an itinerant medic calling himself Rudolph Weiss. Dr da Silva said: "In the testimonies we collected we came across women who were treated by him, he appeared to be some sort of rural medic who went from house to house."

Despite the "big" controversy fueled by the media about Rick Warren giving the inaugural prayer on Tuesday, few Americans seem to know about the selection, let alone disapprove of it.

More than half of Americans (52 percent) say they don't know enough about the decision to have an opinion, according to a Gallup Poll released on Monday. Among Americans that do have an opinion, only nine percent disapproved of the decision to have Warren give the invocation at the inaugururation.

In contrast, 39 percent approved of President-elect Barack Obama's choice of the "Purpose Driven" pastor.

Since December when it was announced Warren would give the invocation, media reports have highlighted the outrage and frustration of gay rights supporters over the decision.

Critics of Warren pointed out that he had supported the California measure Proposition 8 that defined marriage as between one man and one woman and essentially overturned the state's short-lived gay marriage ruling by the California Supreme Court.

Gay rights supporters held protests at Warren's Saddleback Church in Orange County, Calif. after Proposition 8 won the majority of votes. They again staged a demonstration this past Sunday in a last attempt to stop Warren from giving the inaugural prayer.

But despite these stories of anger and protest, the Gallup poll shows that less than a tenth of Americans in general disapprove of the megachurch pastor's upcoming role in the inauguration.

Even most Democrats and self-described liberals support Obama's choice of Warren. Among Democrats, 37 percent approved of Obama's selection compared to 10 percent that disapproved. A similar proportion was seen among liberals, 39 percent approving and 16 percent disapproving.

As expected, the approval rating was much higher among Republicans and conservatives.

Nearly half of Republicans (48 percent) approved of Obama's decision to have Warren give the inaugural prayer, compared to 9 percent that disapproved. The number was slightly higher among conservatives with 50 percent approving and 7 percent disapproving.

The Gallup Poll report concluded, "News media accounts of negative reactions to President-elect Barack Obama's decision to select Rick Warren to deliver the Inaugural prayer appear to reflect more of the vocal positions of interest groups than an opinion that is shared by the majority of the American public."

The results are based on telephone interviews with 1,046 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted Jan. 16-17, 2009.

THE HUMAN ENERGIZER Whether he's shaking hands and personally greeting everyone in sight – from members of the custodial staff to the highest-ranking corporate officers – or engaging in friendly, but fierce, competition with friends on the golf course, there's one thing that seems to define David Cagigal: energy. Because energy is not just what he does, it's who he is. It seeps from his pores. It emanates from his hands. Everyone he encounters, every project he handles, gets a jolt of electricity – a boost – as a result. And Alliant Energy Corporation reaps the benefits.

To get a better sense of what powers this successful IT executive, Lead IT posed a few questions about his background, interests, inspirations, and philosophies. The results were ... in a word: energizing.

Q. What job prior to Alliant best prepared you for your leadership role as it is today?
A. I went to Atlanta in 1979 with Amoco Container (a spin-off from the oil and gas division), which at the time was making McDonald's hinged containers. Basically, anything out of foam you could think of: plates, bowls, you name it. There were 12 of us who went down from Chicago to start up a $50-million company.
It was very challenging for me. I'd never had a leadership position and had just finished my MBA. I had to hire my own staff, build the computer room, establish a network, and transfer the order processing system in less than a year. It was challenging, as basically I was thrown into the deep water to see if I could swim. Then we acquired another company and went from three manufacturing plants to nine, bumping us from $50 to $200 million. To make it even more difficult, in addition to the acquisition and the challenge of starting a new business, was the convergence of technology. If you remember, the invention of the PC was in 1980. I was building my first local network when I saw my first e-mail traffic in 1980. I said, "Who would ever use that? More importantly, whom would I send it to if I was the only one who had a mailbox?" I learned a lot about working with people, vendors, contracts, building networks, and computer systems. I think it underscored the word "change" for me and reinforced the importance of interdependence between my fellow executives to make this successful.

To add another layer of complexity, my third child was born in April 1980, at the same time we went live with our new system.

Q. On a professional level, who inspires you?
A. A man by the name of Dan Delgrosso, a former General Manager of IT at Amoco, who was responsible for about 1,000 people in the Infrastructure division. He became representative of many other mentors in my life, in that he believed in me more than I did. I thought I knew what I was capable of doing, but Dan knew I could handle more. I've always advanced in my career because of the potential others saw in me. When I was asked to go to Atlanta, I agreed because I really didn't know what I was saying "yes" to. If they had told me exactly what I would've been doing month-to-month, I probably wouldn't have done it or would've had great concerns. Having mentors (who have more confidence in you than you do) is what helps you grow, and that encourages me. And guess what? I try to be that to others.

Q. What's the hardest thing about being a chief information technology officer?
A. Alignment of strategy and values is not easy, but is essential. I'm so enamored with the values of this company, and when I first came to Alliant Energy, understanding the culture and the values were the most important yet toughest challenge for me. They've helped me behave in a way that I can now be consistent with others. We want to service our three constituents: shareowners, consumers, and employees. From the shareowner point of view, we need to be prosperous; from the consumer point of view, we need to be reliable; and from the employee point of view, we need to provide opportunity. We're very proud of our five core values, which are hanging up for all our employees to see: 1) Safety – We're in a life-threatening business, not only regarding consumer safety but to make sure the partners with whom we work are safe; 2) Environmental – We strive to be good, trusted corporate citizens and stewards of our operating environment in our local communities; 3) Ethics – This defines how Alliant Energy and its family of companies treat employees, customers, suppliers, and the communities in which we live and work; 4) Diversity – We welcome all individuals' talents, ideas, and different perspectives that make Alliant Energy the employer of choice; connect us to all the communities we serve; and make us a stronger, more successful company; and 5) Efficiency – We need constant improvement.

Q. How is technology impacting the future of Alliant Energy?
A. Utilities need to start introducing a smart meter into homes to provide consumers with the intelligence and feedback to conserve. You either consume at the rate you can pay or consume at the rate you need, but you need to be aware of what you're consuming and its cost, which is what the smart meter is all about. This also continues to align the business strategy that our CEO has in mind for us. Then IT brings to the table the richness of the computing and network technology opportunities we have around advanced metering infrastructure and the intelligent grid. Our vision for the future is to offer better information to our customers so they can make informed decisions regarding their energy consumption after we've implemented incentive pricing. Further in the future, the intelligent grid will provide for net billing, where a customer can contribute to the grid and their fuel cells or solar panels, and get credit against their consumption. This will provide a win-win for everyone regarding the environment, conservation, and economics.

Q. Is IT pursuing environmentally conscious alternatives for technology?
A. We are a utility company [smiles], so, yes, we're certainly keeping an eye on this. We've started with our data centers, virtualized servers, storage, PCs and monitors, and the overall reduction of power consumption. Monitor manufacturers have reduced energy by converting to flat screens that consume less power, and we'd like to see the PC turn to Energy Star status (similar to home appliances), as well, which is occurring. We're also examining our work processes and behaviors. During our flood recoveries, we couldn't believe how many employees were still having their paychecks or pay advices delivered to their desks. We had to adopt other means due to our offices being closed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. We offer direct deposits, as well as online viewing of pay stubs. Some companies don't offer a choice: simply no paper. We still have a culture of people hanging on to paper.

Q. Who's the most impressive person you've ever met?
A. Bill Harvey (Alliant CEO), for having the courage to stand at the podium in front of 100 directors and tell everyone why he took the job after already having become a very wealthy man. He took the job because he believed in us, and he knew that he could turn the company into a profitable business again – which he has. Now, many of us feed off of his "can do" attitude.

Q. How do you self-educate?
A. I do a lot of reading: Wall Street Journal, trade magazines, CIO magazine, Fortune, Information Week online. I get paid for doing two things: communicating and exercising my judgment. When you read information, you have to ask yourself, "Why do I believe what I'm reading?" You need to understand the process of discerning certain information. The Internet sometimes is perceived as an authentic source of information, but we all know it requires greater evaluation skills than the formal media who edits and validates material that it provides. Do you believe their opinions and slant? The larger issue is the material NOT presented to you, accompanied by your desire to know. Where will you get it? This process forces you to examine things more thoroughly and develop the art of questioning. Business intelligence comes from asking questions. Our data is a goldmine for us, and everyone needs to ask more questions to validate more thoroughly all the information that's available to us.

Q. What early career advice would you have for anyone getting into IT today?
A. At Alliant Energy, every new employee should know two things: the strategic purpose and the five values that make Alliant unique. Understanding the governance process, technology, plans to budget, and building the business case are just a few things we review with new employees. The most important thing, however, is to understand how the relationship between the employer and employee can mutually benefit each other.

Q. If you could immediately impact the world to be a better place, where would you start?
A. I'd provide affordable energy resources to all.

Q. What's your poison when it comes to personal technology?
A. My BlackBerry; it's my connection to what's going on.

Q. What was your first job?
A. Working in a small restaurant with my dad while I was in high school. I worked as a cashier, waiter, and dishwasher. My dad always taught me to do things right the first time. Example: I cleaned off a countertop and took dirty dishes back to be washed. When I came back empty-handed, my dad told me to economize, be productive, and not waste any steps (as in, why I didn't bring out the clean dishes after dropping off the dirty ones). Lessons I practice still today.

Q. Your life is your life because …
A. My family and being married to Sande with our four children is why I do what I do (though I do get an adrenaline rush at work). My children have watched me enjoy my job over the years, and two of my sons even work in IT, so everyday I try to serve as a good role model of someone who loves his career and manages it well.

Q. Where do you feel most at home?
A. In my kitchen. I get home around 6:30PM, and then I reflect on the day. My wife doesn't particularly like this [smiles], but at work I don't get much desk time, as I try to have more face time with my employees. It's when I get home that I'll spend time on the laptop to catch up, but during work I like to have the human interactions. A dilemma we face in the workplace today is a lack of face time. The younger generation doesn't value it as much as the older generation does. At Alliant, we're doing things to encourage more face-to-face interaction and social networking. We'll need to balance this with the younger generation in the digital world.

Q. Favorite movie?
A. Casablanca. A classic.

Q. Hobby?
A. I enjoy playing a challenging round of golf with friends.

WASHINGTON – President-elect Barack Obama said Thursday the recession could "linger for years" unless Congress pumps unprecedented sums from Washington into the economy, making his highest-profile case yet on an issue certain to define and dominate his early presidency.

"I don't believe it's too late to change course, but it will be if we don't take dramatic action as soon as possible," Obama said in a speech set to be delivered at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., outside Washington. Excerpts from his prepared text were released in advance by his transition team.

It was the fourth day in a row that Obama has made a pitch for a huge infusion of taxpayer dollars to revive the sinking economy he will inherit from President George W. Bush.

Obama's events have increasingly taken on the trappings and air of the presidency, with the speech — coming a full 12 days before he takes over at the White House — a particularly showy move. Presidents-elect typically stick to naming administration appointments and otherwise staying in the background during the transition period between Election Day and Inauguration Day, but Obama has clearly made the calculation that a nation anxious about its economic outlook and eager to bid farewell to Bush needs to hear from him differently and more frequently.

"A bad situation could become dramatically worse," Obama said, painting a dire picture — including double-digit unemployment and $1 trillion in lost economic activity — that recalled the days of the Great Depression in the 1930s.

Indeed, the economic news is grim.

Consumers and companies are folding under the negative forces of a collapsed housing market, a global credit crunch and the worst financial crisis since the 1930s. The recession, which started in December 2007, already is the longest in a quarter-century.

A report that came out the same day as Obama's speech showed that the number of people continuing to draw jobless benefits unexpectedly rose sharply to the highest level since November 1982, demonstrating the troubles the unemployed are having in finding new jobs.

And unemployment figures due out Friday are expected to show that the U.S. lost a net total of 500,000 jobs in December. If accurate, that would bring 2008's total job losses to 2.4 million, the first annual job loss since 2001 and the highest since 1945, though the number of jobs has more than tripled since then.

Speaking a day after the release of a stunning new estimate — that the federal budget deficit will reach an unprecedented $1.2 trillion this year, nearly three times last year's record — Obama acknowledged some sympathy with those who "might be skeptical" of the stimulus. Vast sums already have been spent or committed by Washington in an attempt — largely unsuccessful so far — to get credit, the lifeblood of the American economy, flowing freely once again.

Such statements are coded to appeal to budget hawks in both parties, whom Obama wants to win over so that approval of a package draws wide, bipartisan support in the Democratic-led Congress.

To answer their concerns, he promised to allow funding only for what works. He also pledged a new level of transparency about where the money is going. A day earlier, he promised to tackle the out-of-control fiscal problem posed by Social Security and Medicare entitlement programs and named a special watchdog to clamp down on all federal programs.

Obama made broader arguments, too, saying that the private sector, typically the answer, cannot do what is needed now.

"At this particular moment, only government can provide the short-term boost necessary to lift us from a recession this deep and severe," he said.

Obama's transition team and Democratic congressional leaders are working daily to hammer out the still-evolving package, expected to total nearly $800 billion. The initial hope had been to have a new stimulus package approved by Congress in time for Obama to sign it upon taking office on Jan. 20. That timeline has slipped considerably, into at least mid-February if not later.

The package is expected to include tax cuts for businesses and middle-class workers, money to help cash-starved states with Medicaid programs and other operating costs, and a huge share for infrastructure building, investments in energy efficiency and a rebuilding of the information technology system for health care. Much of the latter portions of the plan are aimed at what Obama likes to talk about as the need for "reinvestment" and not just "recovery."

Obama also promised action to address the economy's ills beyond the package, such as tackling the massive wave of home foreclosures many experts expect, preventing the failure of financial institutions, rewriting financial regulations and keeping accountable the "Wall Street wrongdoers" who engage in risky investing.

A detailed look at the current recession.

It is clear that 2008 was not a very good year, and it is official that the current recession started in December 2007. So how far are we into this recession that has already lasted longer than the previous two (the 1990 and 2001 recessions lasted eight months each)? I believe the U.S. economy is only half way through a recession that will be the longest and most severe in the post-war period. U.S. gross domestic product will continue to contract throughout 2009 for a cumulative output loss of 5% and a recession that will last close to two years.

Let us look at the picture in detail:

 

Personal Consumption
The resilient U.S. consumer started to give up the ghost in the third quarter of 2008, when for the first time in almost two decades, personal consumption contracted. With personal consumption making up over two-thirds of aggregate demand, the outlook for the U.S. consumer is at the center of the dynamics that will play out in the real economy in 2009.

In my view, personal consumption will continue to contract quite sharply throughout 2009 as a result of negative wealth effects from housing and equity market losses, the disappearance of home equity withdrawal from the second half of 2008, mounting job losses, tighter credit conditions and high debt servicing ratios (the debt to income ratio went from 70% in the 90s, to 100% in 2000, to 140% now). This retrenchment of the U.S. consumer will result in a painful rebalancing in the economy that will eventually restore the savings rate of a decade ago.

The wealth losses for households related to the fall in home prices are roughly $4 trillion so far, and are clearly bound to increase further as home prices continue to fall--eventually reaching the $6-8 trillion range (compatible with a 30-40% fall in home prices peak to trough). With a negative wealth effect of 6 cents on the dollar, the reduction in personal consumption could amount to a whopping $500 billion. And negative wealth effect from fall in equity prices--on the wake of a bleak 2009 for corporate profits--will also contribute to the contraction in personal consumption by an estimated $100 billion (compatible with a 25% contraction in the stock markets).

Housing Sector
The fourth year of housing recession is well on course.

Total housing starts have plunged from the 2.3 million seasonally adjusted annual rate peak of January 2006 all the way to the 625,000 SAAR of November 2008 (the last data point available), an all-time low for the time-series that started in January 1959. Single-family starts built for sale are down 75% from their Q4 2005 peak.

Comment On This Story

On the demand side, new single-family home sales are down 65% from their July 2005 peak. Both demand and supply of homes are therefore still falling very sharply, which does not bode well for inventories. Inventories are the mortal enemy of prices for any goods-producing sector, including housing.

Starts need to fall substantially below sales so that the excess supply in the housing market is reabsorbed. Inventories persist at record highs and the gap between one-family starts (for sale) and one-family sales is at levels that cannot promote a fast work-off of inventories. To put these numbers in perspective, compare this with a measure of vacant homes for-sale-only. Vacant homes for-sale-only were at 2.2 million in Q3 2008, an all-time high. In the decade between 1985 and 1995, it oscillated around 1 million units on average and 1.3 million units between 2001 and 2005. This implies that we have to deal with an excess supply that ranges between 0.9 and 1.2 million units, of which roughly 85% are single-family structures.

The sharp and unprecedented fall of starts might not have reached a bottom yet. In this economy-wide recession, weakness on the demand side is bound to persist, and we believe that supply will have to fall further, given also the great wave of foreclosures that is adding to the excess of supply in the market. I see starts falling another 20% from current levels and believe that home prices will not bottom out until the middle of 2010.

Labor Markets
With the continued credit crunch and significant cut-down in consumer and business spending, the monthly job losses will continue in the 400,000 to 500,000 and 300,000 to 400,000 range during the first two quarters of 2009 respectively, bringing the unemployment rate to 8% by mid-2009. The severe contraction in private demand until early 2010 will keep layoffs high and the unemployment rate elevated over 8%.

Economy-wide job cuts are expected, with big corporations and small enterprises, residential and commercial construction, financial services and manufacturing continuing to shed jobs at a strong pace. Moreover, with structural shifts in the economy since the last recession, job losses this time will be more severe in the service sector, including retail, business and professional services and leisure and hospitality. Unless the fiscal stimulus addresses the deficit problem for state and local government, job losses at the government level will also gain pace. In turn, income and job losses will further push up default and delinquency rates on mortgages, consumer loans and credit cards. Moreover, the loss of high-paying corporate and financial sector jobs will be a big negative for tax revenues over the next two years.

Layoffs are bound to continue thereafter as cost-cutting gains pace with the beginning of the (sluggish) recovery period in early 2010. Even as consumer demand might show some signs of recovery, firms, as in the past, will begin by hiring only part-time and temporary workers initially. The unemployment rate might peak at close to 9% in Q1 2010, almost two years after the recession began. However, the hiring freeze across industries that began in late 2007 will continue at least until 2010, causing discouraged workers to leave the work force and containing the extent of the spike in the unemployment rate. Further, the decline in labor utilization will add to the deflationary pressure in the economy. An aging labor force, lower capital spending and potential growth over the next few years might also result in lower productivity growth and an increase in the natural rate of unemployment.

Capital Expenditure
Firms have been drawing down inventories beginning in Q4 2008. As the slump in domestic and foreign demand and difficulty in accessing short-term credit persist over the next four quarters, business investment is bound to contract in double-digits throughout 2009. Industrial production, spending on equipment and durable goods will also remain in the red through 2009. Moreover, with a sluggish recovery in private demand even during 2010, firms will start building inventories and contemplate capital expenditure plans only at a slower pace.

Trade
Exports contraction that began in late 2008 will gain pace in 2009 as more and more emerging economies slip into slowdown following the G-7 countries. On the other hand, easing oil prices and secular downward trends in consumer spending and business investment will help imports to shrink. In fact, this might cause the trade deficit to contract in 1H 2009 since the contraction in imports might well exceed the decline in exports, thus containing any negative contribution of trade to GDP growth.

Dollar Outlook
The fate of the dollar in 2009 rests on the global growth outlook. After profit-taking on long dollar positions ends, and trading volumes pick up as investors return from their holidays, the dollar may temporarily recover its relative safe-haven status in H1 2009. Since markets have yet to fully appreciate the impact of the commodity slump and financial crisis on the rest of the world, risk appetite may collapse again on signs of a deeper- or longer than expected recession outside the U.S. Further de-leveraging of dollar-denominated liabilities could provide an additional boost to the dollar as a funding currency.

The bond-yield outlook could be a further source of strength: While the Fed is already at a zero interest rate policy, other central banks will cut rates further to stimulate growth, putting downward pressure on currencies like the euro.

Alternating with these upside risks to the dollar may be downside risks from 1) a supply crunch in commodities that lifts commodity prices and producers' economies, and 2) the inability of the market to absorb increased Treasury supply at low yields.

http://www.forbes.com/home/2009/01/07/recession-stimulus-spending-oped-cx_nr_0108roubini.html

Energy Security, Climate and Energy Economics, U.S. Economic Growth, U.S. Economy

Pietro S. Nivola, Senior Fellow, Governance Studies

The Brookings Institution

December 29, 2008 — Executive Summary

Some of us are old enough to remember Richard M. Nixon proclaiming that "our national goal" should be "to meet our own energy needs without depending on any foreign sources." All of us, old and young, ought to be startled that, thirty-five years later, it remains hard to find a leading American politician that does not champion more or less the same strange notion as Nixon’s. Regrettably, that included two of the nation’s most sensible political leaders, President-elect Barack Obama and Senator John McCain. Both of their campaigns repeatedly lamented the nation’s "dependency" on foreign oil.

One purpose of political campaigns is to win elections, but another is to educate and prepare the public for the policy challenges to be faced. The 2008 presidential election was uplifting in many respects, but alas, its treatment of the energy issue, was not among them. For all the persistent political fascination with "energy independence," the reasoning behind it is flawed. Policymakers ought to recognize that reality and start leveling with the voters about it.

The aim of this essay is to encourage a long-overdue change in the terms of what has otherwise become a repetitious and largely sterile debate

http://www.brookings.edu/papers/2008/1230_energy_nivola.aspx

Housing collapse and financial turmoil leads to steep rise in estimated budget shortfall for '09, congressional office says.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The U.S. budget deficit in 2009 is projected to spike to a record $1.2 trillion, or 8.3% of gross domestic product, the Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday.

The dramatic jump compares to a $455 billion deficit in fiscal year 2008 and $161 billion in 2007. The estimate does not account for the massive spending and tax cuts proposed in President-elect Barack Obama's economic rescue plan.

The CBO's deficit forecast for fiscal year 2010 is better, but still at historically high levels. The agency projects that the annual budget shortfall will be $703 billion, or 4.9% of GDP.

The agency - which provides the official estimates of the budgetary impact of legislation and events such as wars and recessions - cites the housing market collapse and the financial market turmoil as the main culprits for the shortfall. The federal government has tried to combat the crisis by so far committing $7.2 trillion in investments and loans primarily to financial institutions.

The CBO's estimates come as Congress will begin debating a record-size recovery plan intended to stem the steep economic downturn.

Whatever package lawmakers pass will likely add significantly to the deficit. On Tuesday, Obama suggested the country could see trillion-dollar deficits potentially for years.

Obama's economic advisers have said they are working on a stimulus proposal that could cost up to $775 billion. But several noted economists have recommended lawmakers pass a stimulus package worth between $800 billion and $1.3 trillion.  

http://promo.realestate.yahoo.com/americas-most-and-least-favorite-cities.html

Do you live in a city that you want to live in? If you're lucky, you already do—but many Americans would relocate at the drop of a hat if they could. This is the sort of thing that drives human resources people nuts. After all, their jobs are all about finding, and retaining, talent, so it helps to know where people are willing to move to—or away from. To find out where these places are, they commissioned a study—and were good enough to share their findings with us.

This survey on America's favorite and least favorite cities to work and live was completed mostly during the summer by about 2,500 employees and entrepreneurs across the country. The respondents were asked about 40 large cities. The questions asked were "Imagine you were offered your dream job that required you to relocate. Which region in the following list would you be most likely to choose? … and which city region … would you be least likely to choose?" The survey-takers were asked to choose the top three attributes for each city. The best and worst cities were then ranked based on the total number of first-, second-, and third-choice votes as a percentage of total votes. The median household income for each city is a 2007 U.S. Census estimate. The median home value for the third quarter and annual price change are estimates from Zillow.com.

Best Cities to Work and Live:

New York

New York, one of the world's great cities, is home to Wall Street, the Broadway theatre district, and many of the best bars, art movie houses, and restaurants in the world. The city's largest employers include New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System, and financial companies such as Citigroup and J.P. Morgan Chase. Top attributes include entertainment options, professional/personal opportunities, and ease of transportation. Entertainment was cited by 51% of respondents.

San Diego

Rank: 2
Workers who would like to move there: 11%
Median household income: $61,863
Median home value: $393,029
Annual home price change: -14.7%

San Diego, California's second-largest city, has 70 miles of beaches, a world-famous zoo, major scientific research institutions, and numerous military installations. The largest employers include the military, the state and federal government, the Sharp Healthcare hospitals, the University of California at San Diego, and major companies such as AT&T. Workers said the city's best attributes were its environment (climate, parks, natural features, etc.), its image, and entertainment options. The environment was cited by 77% of workers.

San Francisco

Rank: 3
Workers who would like to move there: 9%
Median household income: $68,023
Median home value: $766,985
Annual home price change: -5.5%

San Francisco is one of the most beautiful cities in the world (it's also one of the most expensive). It's a progressive city with a vibrant economy, a vibrant arts and cultural scene, and a busy seaport. The University of California, San Francisco is one of the nation's top medical colleges. The city has become a biotech and technology center like neighboring Silicon Valley. The city's top attributes, according to the survey, were the environment (climate, parks, natural features, etc.), entertainment options, residents' background, talents and perspectives, and professional/personal opportunities.

Las Vegas

Rank: 4
Workers who would like to move there: 8%
Median household: $55,996
Median home value: $195,825
Annual home price change: -25.2%

Las Vegas moved up the list this year, partly because—with home prices plunging—it has become more affordable to live here. Residents love the entertainment options, which go far beyond gambling. The city also has become a destination for foodies. Celebrity chefs have opened many expensive eateries. But delicious and affordable Asian and Latin-American restaurants have popped up in strip malls away from the Vegas Strip. Vegas' top attributes, according to the survey, are the entertainment options, affordability, and environment (climate, parks, natural features). The city's best attribute was its entertainment options, which 56% of respondents cited, followed by affordability, which half of workers cited.

Los Angeles

Rank: 5
Workers who would like to move there: 8%
Median household income: $47,781
Median home value: $466,630
Annual home price change: -17.8%

Los Angeles, probably best known as the home of Hollywood, is a great place for people hoping to break into the movie, television, and music industries. But it also is home to excellent universities such as the University of Southern California and large corporations such as aerospace contractor Northrop Grumman. Workers answering the survey said the city's best attributes are its entertainment options, personal and professional opportunities, and the environment (climate, park space, and natural resources). About 42% cited entertainment options as the city's best attribute.

Seattle

Rank: 6
Workers who would like to move there: 8%
Median household income: 57,849
Median home value: $416,028
Annual home price change: -7.5%

The Seattle area's largest employers include Boeing and Microsoft. But many people come here for the lifestyle. The city is surrounded by lakes and mountains and has a great music and arts scene. The city's best attribute by far, according to the survey, is the environment (including the climate, park space, and natural resources), which 62% of workers cited. "Community—connectivity and sense of place" was mentioned by 29% of respondents.

Denver

Rank: 7
Workers who would like to move there: 7%
Median household income: $44,444
Median home value: $206,669
Annual home price change: -6.7%

The Mile-High City, located near the foot of the Rocky Mountains, is a popular place for outdoor enthusiasts. It has a large park system, 300 days of sunshine each year, and opportunities for biking, skiing, rafting, and hiking. The city's largest employers include Qwest Communications, HealthOne, Lockheed Martin Corp., the University of Denver, and United Airlines. Environment (climate, park space, natural resources) is the city's best attribute (It was cited by 74% of workers in the survey). Also high on the attribute list: affordability and image.

Phoenix

Rank: 8
Workers who would like to move there: 6%
Median household income: $48,061
Median home value: $176,176
Annual home price change: -20.2%

Phoenix, one of the nation's largest cities, has become a popular place for retirees because of its warm climate and affordable housing, which keeps getting more affordable with the rising tide of foreclosures and plummeting home prices. The area also has plenty of opportunities for golfing, hiking, biking, and camping. Phoenix's top employers include Allied Waste Industries, the Apollo Group, and PetSmart. Environment and affordability are the city's best attributes, according to the survey.

Chicago

Rank: 9
Workers who would like to move there: 6%
Median household income: $45,505
Median home value: $234,643
Annual home price change: -8.9%

Chicago, hometown of President-elect Barack Obama, is the third-largest city in the U.S. and is one of its major financial centers. The city is known for its architecture, museums, shopping, and nightlife. The area's top employers include Jewel-Osco supermarkets, United Airlines, and J.P. Morgan. The city's best attributes, according to the survey, include entertainment options, affordability, and personal and professional opportunity.

Boston

Rank: 10
Workers who would like to move there: 6%
Median household income: $50,476
Median home value: $352,429
Annual home price change: -3.9%

Boston is one of America's oldest cities and home to some of the country's most venerated universities and hospitals. Many of Boston's residents work in finance, education, health, and law. The city's largest employers include Massachusetts General Hospital, Fidelity Investments, and Boston University. Respondents to the survey said the Boston area is a good place to raise a family, has nice outdoor features such as park space, and offers good entertainment options.

Worst Cities to Work and Live

New York

Rank: 1
Workers who would not like to move there: 15%
Median household income: $48,631
Median home value: $584,761
Annual home price change: -2.18%

Americans have a love/hate relationship with New York. It does have loads of high-paying jobs, Central Park (one of the largest urban parks in the nation), a great public transportation system, and one of the best restaurant, bar, music, and art scenes in the world. But people sacrifice to live here, paying sky-high rents for tiny apartments, and enduring long, crowded subway commutes. And by the way, the city's top restaurants sometimes require customers to make reservations months ahead of time. The high cost of living is an unattractive attribute of New York, according to 72% of respondents. Health and safety was also listed as a negative attribute by 45% of respondents.

Detroit

Rank: 2
Workers who would not like to move there: 14%
Median household income: $28,097
Median home value: $80,140
Annual home price change: -9.3%

Detroit has a bit of an image problem. The population is dwindling, many of the city's residents are in poverty, the auto industry housed here is near collapse, and former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick went to jail last month for perjury in a sex scandal. The top two negative attributes of the city, according to the survey, were health and safety (55%) and image (49%).

Los Angeles

Rank: 3
Workers who would not like to move there: 12%
Median household income: $47,781
Median home value: $466,630
Annual home price change: -17.8%

Like New York, Los Angeles is a city that brings out strong feelings. It's an exciting place to live. But it's expensive, polluted, and traffic-clogged. The top negative attributes, according to the survey, were affordability (61%), health and safety (42%), and environment (36%).

New Orleans

Rank: 4
Workers who would not like to move there: 11%
Median household income: $38,614
Median home value: $135,128
Annual home price change: 13.7%

New Orleans has seen its population shrink, its murder rate increase, and tourism suffer since Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. The job market has gotten a bit of a boost from the heavy investment in rebuilding the city. But its image is suffering. The top negative attributes, according to the survey, were health and safety (55%), image (49%), and environment (45%).

Chicago

Rank: 5
Workers who would not like to move there: 8%
Median household income: $45,505
Median home value: $234,643
Annual home price change: -8.9%

Chicago has a lot of jobs, entertainment, and culture to offer, but for many people, winters in the Windy City are simply too cold. The city also has a tough image that dates back to the era of Al Capone. Among the city's worst attributes, according to the survey: environment (including climate), community (connectivity and sense of place), and affordability.

Washington, D.C.

Rank: 6
Workers who would not like to move there: 7%
Median household income: $54,317
Median home value: $354,069
Annual home price change: -14.0%

The nation's capital has a reputation for expensive home prices and high crime rates. Last year, murders increased 7% to 181 from 2006. The top negative attributes, according to the survey, were affordability (67%) and health and safety (60%).

Las Vegas

Rank: 7
Workers who would not like to move there: 7%
Median household income: $55,996
Median home value: $195,825
Annual home price change: -25.2%

Las Vegas' economy has taken a hit with falling home prices and struggling casinos. Clark County, which includes the city of Las Vegas, recently estimated that its population dropped for the first time in a decade. The top negative attributes, according to the survey, were environment, including climate, park space, natural resources (45%); image (44%); and affordability (44%).

Cleveland

Rank: 8
Workers who would not like to move there: 6%
Median household income: $28,512
Median home value: $120,259
Annual home price change: -1.4%

Cleveland's population has been falling at a dramatic rate. The city has lost 8% of its population—about 40,000 people, since 2000. Like many rust-belt cities, Cleveland is feeling the impact of a weak manufacturing industry. The top negative attributes, according to the survey, were environment—climate, park space, natural resources (58%); health and safety (45%); and image (42%).

Dallas

Rank: 9
Workers who would not like to move there: 5%
Median household income: $40,986
Median home value: $123,248
Annual home price change: -3.3%

Dallas' economy is doing better than many other parts of the country partly because of Texas' robust energy industry. But the city has a reputation for traffic, crime, and sprawl. The top negative attributes, according to the survey, were the people—their backgrounds, talents, and perspectives (49%); environment—climate, park space, natural resources (39%); and image (38%).

Miami

Workers who would not like to move there: 5%
Median household income: $29,075
Median home value: $238,708
Annual home price change: -23.9%

Miami, like much of South Florida, is facing a foreclosure crisis. Home prices are plunging and the economy has problems. The city also has a reputation for crime that hasn't completely dissipated since the Miami Vice television show spotlighted the city's drug and gun problems. The top negative attributes, according to the survey, were environment—climate, park space, natural resources (47%); affordability (41%); and image (40%).

We began our study of Paul's letter to the Galatians 45 weeks ago today, the first Sunday in January
2008. So today when I say, "Let's wrap this up" I really mean the whole thing—all 6 chapters and 149
verses.
Galatians, one of the earliest or oldest of the 27 New Testament books, was written only about 25
years after the death of the Lord Jesus. And, for me, it is and has been a life-changing book because it has
called me to a fresh look at and reflection on the glorious doctrine of free and limitless grace.
You will recall that it is also Paul's passionate defense of the gospel of grace against false teachers
who were troubling these new Christians, not by denying the work of Christ and faith in Him, but by insisting
on the necessity of additional works for salvation, notably circumcision. And Paul is angry, very
angry with them, and confronts them and their perversion of the gospel with what John Stott calls "hot
indignation."
In his summary of the letter Stott notes that
There were three main points at issue between Paul and the Judaizers,
and they are still vital issues in the church today. The first is the
question of authority: how do we know what and whom to believe or
disbelieve? The second is the question of salvation: how can we get right
with God, receiving the forgiveness of our sins and being restored to His
favour and fellowship? The third is the question of holiness: how can
we control the sinful desires of our fallen nature and live a life of righteousness
and love?1
That's what I want to talk about this morning, but first
LET'S PRAY ABOUT IT!
Gracious and merciful Lord, we thank You once again for the life-changing message we have seen
and heard in our study of Galatians. We ask You to grant us the love of the gospel that Paul had and the
same anger when it is perverted and destroyed by false teachers who undermine the grace of our Lord
Jesus by adding anything to His finished work. As we prayed at the beginning of our study last January,
we again praise You for Your patience with us and confess once again that because of Your holiness You
cannot bear with us forever. Help us to pray with the unnamed Puritan when he prayed:
BLESSED LORD JESUS,
No human mind could conceive or invent the gospel.
Acting in eternal grace you are both its messenger and message,
lived out on earth through infinite compassion,
giving your life to insult, injury, and death
that we might be redeemed, ransomed, and freed.
Blessed are you, O Father, for planning this before time began.
Eternal thanks to you, O Lamb of God, for opening the way
of salvation.
Everlasting praise to you, O Holy Spirit,
for applying the gospel to our hearts.
Glorious Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—impress the
gospel on our souls until its virtue
touches and shapes every part of our being.
Let us hear, acknowledge, profess, and feel its message of grace.
Help us to give up every treasured lust,
to submit our hearts and lives to every command of the gospel,
to have it control all our affections and
mold our understanding.
Lord, take us to the cross to draw grace from its disgrace.
Strip us of every pretense of righteousness by
our own effort or goodness.
O gracious redeemer,
we have neglected you too long,
often crucified you by our attitude and behavior,
crucified you afresh by our impenitence,
and put you to open shame.

We thank you for your patience that has borne with us so long,
and for the grace that now makes us will to be your own.
Lord, unite us to yourself with inseparable bonds or chains,
that nothing can ever draw us back from you,
our Lord, our Savior.2
Guide us now as we conclude our study that we will remember what You would have us learn. I ask
this in Jesus' name, for His sake, and by His merit alone. Amen.
Let me remind you that this is the only letter of Paul's New Testament letters without a greeting and
without any commendation of his readers because the very gospel is at stake. Look at the text 1:6-12, 15-
17 (Page 1141)
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you
in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but
there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you
than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have
said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to
you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now
persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased
men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. 11 But I make known to
you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according
to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it,
but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb
and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might
preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh
and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles
before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
The first of the three main points at issue with the Galatians and, as we said earlier, the church today,
is the issue of authority and it is the fundamental or basic issue. You will remember that Paul and Barnabas
had planted the Galatian churches on their first missionary journey. And they seemed to have been
doing well until some time after Paul and Barnabas moved on when a new group of teachers arrived on
the scene—teachers who claimed to represent the Jerusalem church and were undermining the teaching
of Paul. Remember, there was no New Testament at this time since it had been no more than 25 years
since the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus. Who and what were the Galatians to believe? Again, I like the
way Stott put it.
Here were two sets of teachers, each claiming to bring God's truth,
but contradicting one another. Which were the Galatians to listen to and
believe? Both seem to have good credentials. Both were holy, godly, upright
and intelligent men, and both were plausible, winsome and dogmatic.
Which were they to choose?3
Paul answers by asserting his authority as an apostle of the Lord Jesus. Look at verses 11-12. Paul
makes three denials of possible sources of his gospel—charges about his gospel being made by the Judaizers.
First, he denied that his gospel came from others—from men or human authority. Second, he
denied that his gospel was the result of a declaration or memo from headquarters—Jerusalem. Third, he
denied that he was taught the gospel or learned it through years of formal study, thought, and reflection.
This may be the way most of us receive the gospel, but not Paul.
Bottom line what Paul is saying and what must not be missed is this. He expected the Galatians to
receive the gospel not simply because it was true but because of him, because of his superior authority.
The Judaizers claimed ecclesiastical or church authority, to speak on behalf of and authority from the
church in Jerusalem.
Paul's message, on the other hand, came not from the church but from God Himself. Look at the text,
verses 15 -17, and what is declared about his apostleship and authority. First, God set him apart before he
was born just as He chose Jacob before he was born instead of his twin brother Esau (Romans 9:10-13),
and like Jeremiah who before he was born was appointed to be a prophet. It was God's work and God's
alone.

Second, God affirmed His prenatal choice of Paul by calling him to His service or as he says in verse
15, called me through His grace. This is glorious! Remember, Paul was fighting against God, Christ, and
men by hounding Christians to prison and death. He saw no need of mercy, didn't deserve mercy, and
certainly didn't ask for mercy but God reached out in undeserved love and grace and called him.
Third, God was pleased or took delight in revealing His Son Jesus Christ to Paul. Remember, Paul
was convinced that Christ was an imposter, deceiver, charlatan or quack who fooled people with tricks
and stories. But God made it clear to him that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God and Savior of the
world. God chose to reveal his Son to Paul so that He could reveal Him through Paul.
By the way, although he was not called by the church, when he consulted the church it enthusiastically
endorsed Paul, his message, and his mission.
Now Paul expects the Galatians to accept his authority as they did when he came to them on his first
missionary journey. And how did they receive him? As an angel of God, as Christ Jesus (4:14)! As further
proof of his authority he declared that the gospel he had preached to them, and that they had received
(1:8-9) was the standard and that if anyone, including angels, preached a gospel contrary to this
they were to be ‘accursed.'
Sadly, we live in a time when even in the church, truth is a moving target and every man's "truth"
though subjective is as true as the next man's truth. These things ought not to be. Paul's answer to the
question of authority is Jesus Christ through His apostles.
Look at the text (2:15-21).
15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 knowing
that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus
Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified
by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works
of the law no flesh shall be justified. 17 "But if, while we seek to be justified
by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a
minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I build again those things which
I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law died
to the law that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ;
it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now
live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave
Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness
comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."
The second issue that Paul addresses in this letter is the question of salvation or justification. How
can sinners be justified, accepted in the sight of God, and treated as if they had never sinned? How can a
holy and righteous God forgive the offenses of sinful men, reconcile them to Himself, make peace and
restore them to favor and fellowship?
Today, some who consider themselves Christian see no need of reconciliation as seen in this statement
from a teacher in a new church movement who considers himself Christian:
I don't believe making disciples must equal making adherents to the
Christian religion. It may be advisable in many (not all!) circumstances
to help people become followers of Jesus and remain within their Buddhist,
Hindu or Jewish contexts. . . Rather than resolving the paradox
via pronouncements on the eternal destiny of people more convinced by
or loyal to other religions than ours, we simply move on. . . . To help
Buddhists, Muslims, Christians, and everyone else experience life to the
full in the way of Jesus (while learning it better my self), I would gladly
become one of them whoever they are, to whatever degree I can, to embrace
them, to join them, to enter into their world without judgment but
with saving love as mine has been entered by the Lord.4
Paul is narrower and more straightforward. This is the heart of the gospel. Salvation—forgiveness
and reconciliation—is possible only through the atoning death of Christ on the cross. Do away with the
cross and you do away with Christianity. Listen! Jesus didn't give up the glory He shared with His Father
to take on human flesh and become one of us, and poor at that, to set a good example or to become a
great teacher. The Lord Jesus came into this world under the sentence of death. The cross was ever before
Him and the cross fills this little letter to the Galatians. Paul described his ministry in 3:1 as setting forth
Christ crucified as plainly as if it were on a billboard and his ministry was characterized by ‘glorying' or
4 David Kowalski, "Appropriate Response to the Emerging Church Movement,"
www.apologeticsindex.org/290-emerging-church

‘boasting' in the cross alone. He gloried in, trusted in, reveled in, and lived for the cross alone. Why?
Because of what Christ accomplished on the cross! And what did Christ do on the cross?
Consider these three statements in Galatians: He ‘gave himself for
our sins to deliver us from the present evil age' (1:14); ‘the Son of God . . .
loved me and gave himself for me' (2:20); and ‘Christ redeemed us from
the curse of the law, having become a curse for us' (3:13). . . . the sense
in which He gave Himself for us is that He gave himself for our sins, and
the sense in which He gave Himself for our sins is that He became a curse
for us. This phrase can mean only that God's ‘curse' (His righteous displeasure
and judgment), which rests upon all who break His law (3:10),
was transferred to Christ on the cross.5
What must we do to be saved, is the consuming question for Paul and the Galatians. And the resounding
answer, in one real and true sense, is nothing! And by this we mean, as Paul meant, that the
Lord Jesus has done it all through His sin-bearing and curse-bearing death on the cross. Our part is to
believe that Jesus is who and what He claims to be: the Son of God and savior of sinners; that we are sinners
in God's sight justly deserving His disfavor and without hope save in His sovereign mercy; and to
trust wholeheartedly that Jesus will apply to us personally the benefits of His death in our place. And for
this we should say, "Hallelujah! Praise His holy name!"
The Judaizers, on the other hand, insisted that faith was not enough, that Christ's life, death, resurrection,
and ascension were not enough, and that one had to be circumcised and keep the law. They didn't
deny the work of Christ they simply claimed that it was not enough. If that were true, Paul contended,
then Christ died in vain or for no purpose at all (2:21). Listen! This is the heart of the gospel. Salvation is
by grace alone through faith alone plus nothing else. So, Paul's answer to the question of salvation is Jesus
Christ through His cross.
Look at the text again,
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and
do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. . . . 7 You ran well.
Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not
come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind;
but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. . . .
13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty
as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your
neighbor as yourself." 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware
lest you be consumed by one another! 16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit,
and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts
against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary
to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if
you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
The third issue that Paul addresses in Galatians is the issue of holiness or how to control the sinful
desires of one's fallen nature and live a life of righteousness and love. The Judaizers had hinted that if
good works did not contribute to salvation then one could live any way he wished. Paul denies this as
you see in the text. Christian liberty is not license or freedom to break the law. Far from it, we are to fulfill
the law by loving and serving each other. Those who belong to Christ make progress in holy living as
they crucify the flesh with its passions and desires (5:24). It is part of our daily repentance, what John
Stott calls the disciplined habits of thinking and living so that Jesus' ‘fruit' (love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) will appear and ripen in our lives. This is
the Christian way of holiness. And for this we should say, "Hallelujah! Praise His holy name!"
Let's wrap this up. The first issue today is that of authority and we, just as the Galatians, are faced
with many contradictory views and pronouncements by teachers claiming authority to speak to the
church. Who is to be believed? How can we know which to choose and whom to follow? The answer is
straightforward and unchanged from Paul's day. All teachers must be tested by the teaching of the apostles.
Again Stott's comments are right on the money.
. . . Indeed, this is the only kind of apostolic succession we can accept—
not a line of Bishops stretching back to the apostles and claiming
to be their successors (for the apostles were unique in both authorization
and inspiration, and they have no successors), but loyalty to the apostolic
doctrine of the New testament. The teaching of the apostles, now permanently
preserved in the New Testament, is to regulate the beliefs and
practices of the church of every generation. This is why the Bible is over
the church and not vice versa.6
Listen! Truth matters and we are to be as concerned for the purity of the gospel and truth as Paul
was. And the timeless truth is found today, as in Paul's, in the Word of God written, the Holy Scriptures!
The second issue with Paul and the Galatians was the issue of salvation and the great question the
Philippian jailer asked Paul is still the great question: "What must I do to be saved?" And the answer is
the same as it was 2,000 years ago, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ!" Believe, trust, and cling to Jesus
and what He has done.
Every time we look at the cross Christ seems to say to us, ‘I am here
because of you. It is your sin I am bearing, your curse I am suffering,
your debt I am paying, your death I am dying.' Nothing in history or the
universe cuts us down to size like the cross. All of us have inflated
views of ourselves, especially in self-righteousness, until we have visited
a place called Calvary. It is there, at the foot of the cross that we shrink
to our true size.
. . . (Men) resent the humiliation of seeing themselves as God sees
them and as they really are. They prefer their comfortable illusions. So
they steer clear of the cross. . . And if preachers preach Christ crucified,
they are opposed, ridiculed, persecuted. Why? Because of the wounds
which they inflict on men's pride.7
There is a continual temptation for the church to turn the gospel into the cross plus something else,
whether that something is a deed or duty, a sacrament or a special cause, the problem is always the
"plus." We must learn to always say, "I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, trusting only Thee."
The third issue with Paul, the Galatians, and us is that of holy living. Listen! For the born-again
Christian there are no meritorious works—works that earn God's favor and our salvation. But there is a
world of necessary works—works that necessarily or naturally flow out of redeemed and regenerate
lives—works of love, kindness, mercy, trust, service, obedience, etc., etc., etc. And it is fair to say that the
absence of these works, the absence of these fruit is evidence that one is not born-again regardless of his
claims to the contrary.
Paul said that he bore the marks of the Lord Jesus in his body. Do we? Do you? Can you, do you,
are you saying:
Take my life and let it be
Consecrated Lord to Thee;
Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure-store;
Take myself and I will be
Ever only, all for Thee.
SHALL WE PRAY
Gracious Lord, Father of all mercies, and giver of life, we thank You today for the Lord Jesus who left
the glory He shared with You to seek and save the lost. Thank You for Paul's letter to the Galatians and
the glorious gospel of Christ alone plus nothing else. Draw us near to Yourself and keep us. I ask this in
Jesus' name, for His sake, and by His merit alone. Amen.