In the midst of the our world's focus on nearly all things medical and disease related, it is a bit enlightening to review the writings of Hippocrates. Hippocrates was a Greek physician and 'father of modern medicine.' In addition to being well known for his namesake - the Hippocratic Oath - Hippocrates is also credited with coining the phrase that "desperate times call for desperate measures". This concept along with the Hippocratic Oath really speak to the time in which we find ourselves. Below is the Hippocratic Oath as translated by Ludwig Edelstein from the original Greek in 1943:

"I swear by Apollo Physician and Asclepius and Hygieia and Panaceia and all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will fulfill according to my ability and judgment this oath and this covenant:
To hold him who has taught me this art as equal to my parents and to live my life in partnership with him, and if he is in need of money to give him a share of mine, and to regard his offspring as equal to my brothers in male lineage and to teach them this art - if they desire to learn it - without fee and covenant; to give a share of precepts and oral instruction and all the other learning to my sons and to the sons of him who has instructed me and to pupils who have signed the covenant and have taken an oath according to the medical law, but no one else.
I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice.
I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art.
I will not use the knife, not even on sufferers from stone, but will withdraw in favor of such men as are engaged in this work.
Whatever houses I may visit, I will come for the benefit of the sick, remaining free of all intentional injustice, of all mischief and in particular of sexual relations with both female and male persons, be they free or slaves.
What I may see or hear in the course of the treatment or even outside of the treatment in regard to the life of men, which on no account one must spread abroad, I will keep to myself, holding such things shameful to be spoken about.
If I fulfill this oath and do not violate it, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and art, being honored with fame among all men for all time to come; if I transgress it and swear falsely, may the opposite of all this be my lot."

While we do not swear by anything in heaven or on earth (Matthew 5:34-37), the principles of seeing our fellow men and women as equals in God's eyes (Romans 12:3-8), of freely giving as we have freely received (Matthew 10:6-8), of seeking to assist others according to our ability and means (Deuteronomy 26:1-15), and of maintaining the confidence of our brothers and sisters for the sake of their reputations (Proverbs  25:2 & Proverbs 10:12) are all very much concepts that are rooted in God's way of thinking.

As we watch world events and see the times become ever more desperate, it is fitting that we should take more desperate actions. ...imagine the effective Gospel that would be preached through our examples if we were to adhere to our Christian Oath of loving our Father with all of our heart, soul, and mind and our neighbors as ourselves! Now is the time to take desperate measures to ensure that we are being built up by our Father into the cities on a hill that He can use as a light to the world. 

I pray that you have a truly inspiring Sabbath Day.

Your brother-in- Christ,
Nathan Ekama