SCY Youth Minister’s Weblog

Satan wants many of us to stay busy.  I enjoy the busy life, do you?  It always made me feel good to stay moving at a fast pace, accomplishing one thing after another.  Coming from a family that usually found themselves putting their name on a business, work can easily become my life.  And I’ve found that living differently than what has become second nature can be difficult.  It takes practice and preparation to change.

Some people will require practice and preparation to change from doing as little as possible.  Satan tempts them to relax by providing job, food, entertainment, living options that help them relax.  I’ve had plenty of friends that use most of their time taking care of themselves (or their kids).  Asking them to participate in other people’s lives seems to burden them. 

God’s will for our family is that we do something amazing for Him.  And all of us must change if we are to accomplish that goal.  All of us have to stop doing things that steal time from God.  We must commit to participate with God.  If we all commit to serving God there is tremendous hope for our future.  In either case, as is with human nature we tend to take care of ourselves before giving our days to God.  The sin is in loving our life/lifestyle and putting it before the life God has called us to live.  Set aside your own personal way to live and begin to Serve God.  For some the word “God” needs to be reflected upon because they usually busy themselves with stuff not from God.  For others the word “Serve” is crucial because they don’t spend their time and energy participating in the lives of others.

Let God have your life.  Put it down.  It is not worth having.  Mine either.  Pour out pride.  Pour in love.  The Spirit will guide you into a life of giving your day to God, forgetting what others think, accomplishing amazing things that glorify our Father, hearing his voice in daily service.  Make Him proud!

When you pray…. 

Do you know that God is listening intently to what you say, how you feel, and He knows how tuned in you are in your speaking and listening to Him?

Do you listen to God closely?  If not you aren’t even respecting Him.  If not you want even know the answer to questions or what to do for response to God.  If not, then why even pray because without loving him what good is it to SAY things that aren’t true or motivated by trust in God.

I’m not trying to teach a lot about prayer but just wanted this thought to get out there.

I can’t imagine praying without passion and being CONNECTED to God, expressing love for him and giving him time.  It’s his time. 

 I wouldn’t want anyone to pray that didn’t connect with God deeply and with certain belief that he is there, he cares, he has all the power, and he enjoys our time and prayers.

I really love what you are about to read.  It is from a book by Lanny Donoho titled “God’s Blogs” and is a creative way of looking at creation from God’s perspective.

Wow! I really started something this week.  I created a universe.  Yep, a whole universe with stars and planets, galaxies and big black holes, lots of movable parts and colors and everything.  It’s pretty cool.  I got a little bit carried away.  I started with just little pieces:  atoms or smaller protons and electrons.  Most of you know about those.  Some of you even know about the smaller pieces called neutrinos and quarks and subquarks.  There are even smaller pieces… but you haven’t found them… yet.  You will… and you’ll be amazed!

Anyway, I took these tiny little pieces and formed space and moons and solar systems and some things that you can’t imagine abut are bigger than anything you can get your head around.  I focused a lot of My attention on this one ball of dirt and water.  I made living creatures, the sky, clouds, grass, trees, oceans, elephants, whatles, insects, amoebas, slugs, frogs, hippos, kangaroos, pandas, opossums, skunks (that was fun), and the list goes on and on.

Sorry for the long list… I get carried away every time I think of it.  It was just a great fun week.  Then toward the end of the week… I made My most astounding creation.  [It’s amazing what God can do when He mixes some dirt and water and cells and then breathes some God-life into it.]  It’s the closest thing to Me I’ve ever created.

When My first human opened his eyes and took his first breath, we just stared at each other in the face.  Then I started laughing, and he didn’t know what to do (mainly because he had never done anything before).  But as he looked at Me and saw Me smiling… it was just natural for him to smile back (that’s the way I made him).

I was so excited and elated and laughing all over! For a while al I could do was just watch him.  Then we talked… and new synapses formed in his brain (just like I made them to) and he learned… and we both had experiences that had never existed before… even for Me.  It was great, but the whole time, I knew something was missing.  He felt it too. 

What happened next almost made Me surprise Myself!  I took part of that man and formed something… some One… that made both of us step back in wonder.  When the man stepped back, he almost fell into a canyon.  When I stepped back, I almost fell off the edge of eternity (metaphorically speaking).

SHE WAS INCREDIBLE!

I laughed again, and then I cried.  The man did the same thing I did; (he’s a lot like Me). He needed a word that wasn’t there yet.  I gave it to him:   thanks!  We’d never had gratitude before.  It was exactly as I’d hoped it would be.  I said, “Your’re welcome,” and then I stepped away for a while so he could bask… and I could be alone again.  Interesting feelings for Me:  much joy… huge elation about what I had just created… but I wanted to be able to not know what was getting ready to happen.

Like I said, I really started somehting this week.  And even though I know everything that’s about to happen, I’d still have to say… it was really, really good! 

There are times that I say a quick prayer for strength or guidance in my service to God.  I speak 5-12 times a week.  Lately it has been 5.  Last school year it was usually 12.  These are talks in front of different size groups; some very presentational, most to smaller groups, and many have discussion components.  Every time (unless I just get distracted) I ask God for guidance and to speak through me.  And it seems that He does.

I can say that because I know me.  I know what I have to offer and I like to be self critical and say “it ain’t much.”  But even though I tell the truth in saying God does guide me or help me I also know that He likes to work another way.

God works through those that give Him the Time and Control.  I can want Him to control me but he wants to always CONTROL me.  I can give Him the time to speak through me but He wants all of my TIME.  I know my God loves me and loves those around me enough to take over my life, my tongue, my abilities, but I also know Him enough that He expects more.

God wants me to give Him chunks of my life in prayer, hours of study, days of thinking about what says to His people.  Quiet reflection, reading books from God serving people, walking through my relationships and days with Jesus at my side, and feeling God’s presence with me are the ways God works in guiding me.

Make sure to pick up the Bible more than all other books, Make sure to pray until you’ve said all you’d like to say and then pray much longer.  Make sure to keep the Evil One out of your life.  Make sure to serve God in daily duty and in sacrificial effort.  Because if you don’t then God won’t ultimately work through you in your life the way he normally ejnjoys working through His children in their life.  Let God work through you by Totally CONTROLLING you and having all of your TIME. 

Going to Honduras was not a stretch.  Learning something from going to Honduras will be difficult.  Not just learning from God but accepting the teaching and applying it to my life.  The people lived without things.  But they didn’t have it figured out.  They weren’t spiritually deeper or in tune with God.  It doesn’t matter where you live or what you have or your education level, how much you eat, or what you’ve seen.  It matters (in Christ) how much you will dwell on and change to be like Christ.  Society in Honduras (males trying to have relationships with as many females as they can) (females trying to enjoy life and get things for their babies) is just as worldly as much of our society.  It is just different from our perspective because Honduras is easier to bless financially and physically which can be connected to our spiritual lives but we still need to be Spirit-led to bless them spiritually and they still need to be Spirit-led to accept the gifts as spiritual (from God).  It takes work and a relationship with God- in Honduras and in the U.S.  Go to Honduras and bless lives physically, Jesus did.  But also accept that we need to be changed or we can’t change anyone spiritually.  Grow closer to God before you go, and while there help others grow closer to God. 

Sticks and stones, and motorcycles and horses and wrestling moves and hard collisions do all break bones, but words break more.

Some of our best, brightest, strongest have been physically hurt recently.  I am proud they did it expressing themselves without fear- in doing what they love.  God makes some of us so excited to physically move fast, be aggressive, compete well that we must suffer great pain before we slow down.  For those called to live this way.  Say your prayers and do it all again, and as soon as you can.  In sports there is risk, but take it unless you feel you are being unwise.  Know your body.  And when you get hurt, don’t stop performing because of fear.  You must perform again until you know it isn’t because of fear that you don’t want to do it again.  People get hurt without doing what they love all the time- do what you love.  And when you come back from pain you can be better than ever because of the struggle to regain your footing in sport, and because of the built up hunger that has always driven you.

I’ve been hurt physically many times- concussions, fractures, breaks, sprains, pulls, tears, heat stroke, dehydration, cuts, scrapes, burns, etc.- and will again.  It’s cool, no problem.  Take the rest, work on another area of your life (something pleasing to God), heal up, and have more success in the future. 

Nothing I’ve written is new to anyone that likes sport, but there is a similar teaching we all probably need to hear again.  The Spiritual life is like a flower more than a bone.  They have occasions of bloom and beauty.  And the memory of those moments (for humans/ animals) does much to determine how they always feel.  A flower can be covered up for a few days and when it gets sunlight again the growth often never again reaches full speed.  It was not just hurt, it was hindered and hindered doesn’t always make you stronger- it makes you go slower.  When a flower, even a tough one, doesn’t get water it grows hard and tough- losing it’s color and appeal.

When I deal with the youth on the playground, we really play.  But in the classroom or with emotions and with their Spirit they need gentleness because every pain, every insult, every lack of care will affect more of life than we can imagine.  And in the business of doing God’s kind of stuff, it isn’t cool hindering other’s growth- especially in the spiritual matters.

Since we are all called to do God’s stuff.  Make sure you are treating others with the care they deserve.  I often fail in this, and (especially to adults) treat them how they treat others.  I have a mirroring personality that way.  But I never forget, even if it isn’t noticeable, how I am called to treat everyone.  Others deserve your gentle love, so they can bloom when God wills, so they can grow without a glass ceiling, so they can prosper despite a difficult world, so they can be free to experience God how HE desires they know him.   blessings   

Hey Youth,

when we have a party, let me know of someone you may be able to invite.  And I’ll let you know of the details of the event.  That way we’ll be able to get him or her here in case we think it will be a good event for them.  I really appreciate it when you are able to bring someone with you.  Something that is said or done may really benefit them even though it seemed really normal to you.  It could be that God is wanting you to bless them with your invitation and has a message or some hope in store for them through you. 

It is my constant desire that what you experience will help you in your life and help you be better for the lives of your friends and families.  Continue to do the hard job of treating people better than they deserve, giving the benefit of the doubt, as well as helping them connect to our church family.  It really does matter when you reach out and bless others.  Thanks for everything you do.

John

Should we love God more than life?

Do you?

Just looking for some responses.

Our WILDERNESS TREK journey provided a wide variety of experiences. We traveled, slept, ate, packed, prayed, worked, struggled, encouraged, and helped others as a team- depending on God for every step/ every breathe.-Our experience fell under important spiritual categories-

If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care– then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death– and the worst kind of death at that– a crucifixion.

service, worship, leading, teaching, living. You, me, your parents, the Bible, and most importantly God’s Spirit all need to come together to develop your faithful path (and future).1. Begin by praying about this transition every day.

2. Talk to your parents about it.

3. Read the Bible.

4. Start writing down your thoughts as God shares them with you.

5. Let’s talk about our plans as a group and individually.

Please be open to this adventure

Gorham B, Michael E, Michael B, Jake N and Lane T,I am so very proud of you guys. You are strong, courageous, and willing to honor God with your lives. You are leaders of tomorrow. As leaders all you must do is 1. follow God closely, 2. be open and honest in everything, 3. and gently serve others. We will help you find a way to be bold in life, to trust God, and yet put yourselves last; In other words, to be like Christ.

it feels like God loves this community of faith.  We must remember that none of us are perfect/ all of us are guilty.  Guilty of neglect of the Spirit, each other, our mission, our commitment, our love.  You are forgiven. 

Remember the blessings.  Blessings of health, sustinance, opportunity, family, and grace.  As we are convicted to get better, and reminded of the mercy/ gifts from God we will be changed.  And it is that changed (out of the worldness) state that God is in love with.  Pray that God will use what we have/ what you have experienced to grow into a perfectly lovable being. 

You have been loved, you are loved, and you will continue to be loved by the Creator God.  The judge is lenient but His love compells us.  Be compelled today to commit to a life of renewed faith.  Renew your purpose.  Renew your mission.  Renew your focus.  Renew your heart to put God in the pole position of your life.  I don’t know what that will look like for you, but I do know that you will be better for having done it.  Set all the worry aside and embrace Jesus.  Feel again the presence of the Spirit.  Dream again of the day you will have no more pain.  Imagine again what your life would be if God were in complete control- and live it. 

Take in God.  Breathe Him.  Be one with Him.  There is a better way to live than your current life.  And it helps with headaches too, John 

Since Avery can’t verbally tell me what he’s thinking, I have to watch for clues.  I can usually tell when he’s hungry, thirsty, tired, dirty, wants to go outside, or when Elijah has done something wrong (it brings Avery great joy to tell on (not great) and protect (makes me proud) his little brother).  But other things are more ambiguous.  Like when he sees something in the distance; that something can be so important he will not rest until I recognize it. 

It works best for me to stand really close to him, his level, look his direction, put my face against his, and look down his little finger (which does not point very accuarately).  Not only are my chances of knowing his thoughts and seeing his sights increased, he also gives me more time.  He appreciates communicating with me as I appreciate being told.

When you look at a landscape, a setting, a day’s worth of events, a newsclipping, a job, a person, or a group of people, you see your perspective of it or them.  It is impossible to see another person’s perspective.  Through communication (talking about how they see it), compassion (you caring how they see it), and commitment (you working to have common experiences or doing mental excercises to see like them) we are able to stand closer to them in their view.  If you look at a view from the other side you will see a different picture (Christ always came near).  You can’t occupy the same space but you can stand near a person to see what they see.  In going to Juarez we will have a chance to see a little of what they see.  We will see life a little like a Mexican citizen living in Juarez that needs others to build him or her a home sees.

In labeling our future friends ‘they’ I’ve already made a mistake in seeing what someone else sees.  I’ve started a pattern of seperation from them.  In showing up with possessions I am making a mistake.  There is no way we will be able to live the full experience, but we could do more to improve our understanding, it’s not always convenient, it’s not time conscience, but it is just what Christ would do.

Make this trip about seeing through other’s eyes, and make your life about seeing others through Jesus’ eyes.  Christians have chosen to think about others more than I think about theirself.  Called to trust God, and be less selfish than natural animals and non-Christians.  Put the future in God’s hands and allow his type of work fulfilled through you. 

Define who your others are.  Mine are the youth in the region of Tyrone.  And when you take yourself out to help those unlike you (Juarez) remember to let Jesus’ sight control your own. 

As our summer schedule begins, my prayer is that our events and scheduled times will bring the youth (sometimes families) together as well as change them into more Christ-like bodies (communally and individually).

I plan for moments and memories to be made that form Christlikeness.  What I mean is that your youth will have aha moments of clarity into how Christianity works- what it calls you to do and what it proclaims.  What I mean also is that your youth will face the future with a storehouse of lifechanging brainwaves and heartpaths that will divert them from bad decisions and satan’s schemes.  I hope to help you empower your youth to give their lives to Christ even more than you or I are able to do with our own.  Together we can do it.  And together our community will be made fresh to feel the presence of our Creator individually and communally.  When the youth are changed all will be changed.

On the flip side, and more importantly up front, is that as our adults go so will our youth.  I know very little about your relationship with one another, but I do know that among the youth there is discomfort with one another.  Most of your youth have told me that they don’t like other youth- I would never be specific- but it is true that MOST have told either Kathleen or I that they don’t like others in the group.  I’d like for us to work on this.

So far in our group work we have spent a small amount of time talking about this problem.  I am asking for home support in dealing with it.  Our Sunday morning class is divided at into three groups- breaking up much of the tension.  Throughout the summer we will be dealing with some of the problems, even individually.  The community is more important than the individual anyway.  Our future is more important than today.  Thank you for your support and for your prayers. 

I ask that you speak positively about your brothers and sisters and other youth at church in front of your youth so that they will learn from watching you.  Some of our summer events will bring your youth to uncomfortable places (an important part of an individual faith) with uncomfortable relationships (an important part of communal faith).  I hope that this will help the healing process and develop lasting relationships that will form a core in our youth ministry.  A strong core is needed before anything else will work.

Thank you for your help.  This should make a big difference in everything we do at S.C.  The youth don’t read this blog, but if they do it wouldn’t hurt because they know I love them anyway.  And they know how special they are just as I know how special I am and how special every member is to the community and family we have.  God brought us all together.  The moment we forget that is the moment everything we stand for is deminished.  Our dreams as gifts to God will not be fulfilled if we don’t work together.

IN Christ, John      

Since mid Jan. we have completed 8 chapters from the Gospel of John.  Those that know me best would say, “how deligent”,” nice goal setting”,”uncanny speed”,”strong discipline” or maybe “so what”.  But it did take 7 months to cover 16 chs. of Mark so this is a step up.  We are on pace to finish John’s 21 chapters in 28 weeks, or 75% a chapter a week and completion on the last Sunday of July.  Mark’s gospel clip was 50% a chapter per week.  I pray that, even though we could spend a year on each chapter and not be able to apply Christ’s teaching fully, we will be more like Christ for having spent time with the Glory of our Savior.

Christ is the center of our Christian faith and the Gospel of John is another powerful witness we need to absorb.  In Chapters 5 through 8 Jesus is challenging the people.  He challenges the religious rulers to stop studying and notice what God is doing.  He challenges his followers to trust then ask and receive.  He challenges the people to believe difficult teaching and not walk away.  He challenges the Jews to forget what they thought was right about Yahwehism and believe that He and the Father are one. 

In the chapters we also see the power of Jesus to control the world in a supernatural way.  He took important Jewish festivals and gave them new meaning.  He drew the line in the sand and said, “If you follow me you will never die.”  Not following Jesus meant death.  His teachings were too hard yet too easy, they were too forgiving yet too specific.  They expected a total commitment, but not to streneous rules.  And His words made people more equal than than the special people would ever feel comfortable admitting. 

Jesus was bold, harsh, loving, and giving.  Let’s listen to Him and believe what He says.  Guess what?  His words aren’t going to be easier to swallow as the book progresses.  But as a whole the story is better (more complete) when you’ve heard it all.  See you Sunday.

Remember we have started dividing up into three groups Sunday for a discussion time.  Have a great rest of the week.  Walk in confidence with the Leader today!  

Thoughts on “Praction- prayer action.” If you’ve not heard the message check out the sermon video for 1-14-07.
1. When we pray heaven is engaged.
2. When we pray our family will be changed/ used/ Christlike

I thought this sermon was important- it was practical, encouraging, and forward thinking as our family recommits to being and doing what God calls us to do, individually and as a team.

Often, I’ve felt that my time is wasted in ministry when prayer is my most consistent daily duty. I think that if I can’t see someone face to face then I can at least improve myself for when I can see them, and then if I can’t do either of these things then I can help someone outside of our family, and then if I can’t do any of those three things then I can at least pray. But I am wrong. To pray for someone is to do the best part of ministry. How can you or I do anything in the presence of someone comparatively to what God can do with our requests, praise, thanks, contemplative and meditative prayers without us? Very little. It is the Spirit of God through us that does anything holy or worthy in life and it is the Spirit of God that does anything holy or worthy through our family and it is the Spirit of God that does anything holy or worthy in others apart from us. In all things the Spirit is active, and in all things our requests for it’s action are heard. I recently read an article in “Leadership” magazine about prayer. The article teaches that prayer is our chief work. It is the most important thing that we as Christians do and should be thought of as something of a service. Time and energy should go into our prayer.
Another article says that God likes to be asked. Like any good loving parent would, God listens closely to a child with needs and understands what they want. He desires our expressions of pain or sadness and consoles us. He wants us to have joy and will honor our requests for it. I will continue to put prayer before everything else in my ministry- you deserve it. Please pray, Thank you! What are your thoughts on prayer? What is your practice in praying?

The flip side is action.  I will write less about this than prayer because I believe you understand this well.  Christian action has and will change this world.  It will change the actor, the audience, the rescepiant, and the church.  Today we live in a post-modern world where religious words are interchangeable and even service is misunderstood as self-improvement, but being continually active for Christ cannot be mistaken for selfishness.  When we are a community that gives, cares for, heals, rebuilds, loves, honors, and blesses others with all we’ve got- no one can mistake our Christlikeness.  And we do it for His glory He will intervene and fill in the gaps. 

God filling in the gaps is what praction is all about.  We will never know the impact our ministry has on the world around us.  God does great things with great effort.  If we give little effort God will still need to teach us a lesson, but when we give great effort, whatever the result, God shows His blessing.

Be about prayer.  Be about action.  Trust in God.

This last Sunday we heard lots of things that inspire us to act out in our faith. “Let us use teamwork to carry out the Goodnews” is something the Spirit used Todd to proclaim Sunday morning. The team concept will help us be healthy. As we get healthy this year let’s;

1. Start with prayer. Consider fasting. Admit giftedness and weaknesses. Commit to let God use you in any way He wants. Get accountable for somene and give accountability to someone.

2. The “Becoming a Contagious Christian” will help our evangelism. Classes like this will explore our giftedness and develop a plan of action in our expressing our Good News to others.

3. Teamwork makes healthy families. Every person performing their function. Every person believing in their role. Challenge yourself to define your role at S.C., write it down, find others to help you perform.

4. Develop compassion for the rest of the family. If you have a gift and note someone like you, encourage them to work beside you. Some are not healthy enough to perform. We need to help those as we move along.

5. We aren’t together enough. Use the new website to connect. Be part of a small group and challenge the group to be a workout more and a hangout less. Both are important but small groups are usually the most important part of a small group congregation.

These are just thoughts. What are your thoughts?

Freedom is something you have when you have it. What I mean is- you control you. You set your pace, your expectations, your schedule. You accept limitations or put in place limitations. You have made decisions and acted on them to become the kind of, the act like, the seem like, the abled, the capable, the likely person that you are. Certainly, your childhood situation and upbringing have set patterns in you that you either continue in or break from but I teach even children that they can mostly be who they want to be. But who does God want you to be?

Yesterday is gone; Praise God for the good and bad in your previous journey. Now, Give God Control! From this moment till the end of your time on earth and into eternity is… Spirit led. Are you (moment by moment) what God wants? Things change in the Spirit. Let God remake you.

As a Christian you may want to reflect on the words of the Apostle Paul. “My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don’t you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?” Galations 5:16-18

Self-interest verses God’s Spirit. You will always have both. We get to choose the control level. High control or freedom to let God’s Spirit Motivate Your Life.

When others think of you what do they think? What personality traits? What is your schedule? My thought is- If you’ve got to sell a house, give away your stuff, quit your job, make new friends, clear your schedule, become joyful, or whatever! DO IT. Praise God with your life! Do not make barriers for yourself that keep you from living freely in Spirit at any moment.

John

Feel free to share your thoughts. I write these as if I were praying from start to finish. Please feel free to add your thoughts, struggles, disagreements, whatever.

Sacrifice is another word that defines Christ. Following Christ requires us to sacrifice. Not only did Jesus sacrifice by coming to earth, as well as sacrifice his life here for our failures, he also made daily sacrifices for people around him.

A King isn’t normally expected to make sacrifices for his subjects, but our King made it a daily habit. When you walk around observing life Jesus is with you seeing what you see. Make it your habit to look for moments where you can sacrifice yourself for the benefit of others- the Spirit will guide you. You will become more in tune with Christ and the Spirit’s guidance of you with each sacrifice. Others may not appreciate it, so don’t expect them too. Remember! other people can speak for God and Satan, so care much less what they say than what the Spirit is telling you to do.

As you read the Gospels, think about how it must have seemed to Jesus as he sacrificed for other people. Imagine how he viewed other people. Also, think about how Jesus’ actions would have seemed to those around him. His friends and other observers didn’t always understand his sacrifices. People may not understand your sacrifices but the sacrifices will be a blessing to some- those that God is wanting to bless through you.

God is calling you to live a more sacrificial life. In time you will notice the sacrifices God’s people make for Him. Praise those around you who make sacrifices, honor those who live a consistent sacrificial life, and give all Glory to Jesus who constantly sacrifices for all of us. Living more like Christ is the best way for you to honor Him, and sacrificing for others is living more like Christ.

John

Let’s start with compassion. Followers of Christ (of the teachings, the man, the God/man, the savior of the world) know that Jesus Christ was compassionate. Dictionary. com: Compassion- a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

When Jesus encountered someone (anyone/even the dead) that had been hurt by the fallenness of this world or by sin he had compassion on them. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and other writings all show us that Jesus was amazingly compassionate. He cared about people that others would rather forget about. He cared for people unlike him (he knew we were all alike). He cared for people that were weird, smelly, poor, crazy, handicaped (or whatever label we put on people we dislike the most). Jesus has passion and love for all people. When you don’t even love who you are, he loves you. When you wish harm on the worst people in the world, he doesn’t.

This year I am praying that you and I will all have compassion like Jesus Christ. We can have his compassion. It isn’t just because Jesus is the savior that he can do it, it is because on earth he chose to do it. 2007, a year of compassion?

John