Awhile back I started thinking about Jesus.
It started partly because I’d met someone who seemed to know what Jesus is all about. And also- about that time I was visiting my sister and Jesus always seems to be present around her. Then too, Jesus’ birthday was coming and it all led me to look further into His story and of course that took me to the Bible.
When I was a kid I was pretty religious. Went to Church every Sunday, attended Sunday school and sang in the choir. I remember those times as good fun and happy days with lots of social functions, most of them built around the Church and Church activities.
But I never really got into the Bible very much except for memorizing all those Books and learning about Adam and Eve and sin and the Ten Commandments. I don’t think I ever really learned what a “Christian” was, although I did have a liking for Jesus.
During my high school and university years I pretty well put the Church and religion and the Bible on the back burner. Then I was too busy earning a living to give any of it much thought.
Over the course of my career I met so many religious charlatans like Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggert and saw so much fighting and bloodshed in the name of religion, I pretty well rejected it out of hand. But I never forgot my admiration for Jesus and his radical nature. And in my recent second look at the Bible, I was even more impressed.
Jesus’ rebellion against authority and the “rules” of his elders appeals to me a lot. I like the way he tipped over the tables of the money changers who were desecrating the temple and how he comforted the prostitute when the others all wanted to stone her to death. I like the way he defended the poor and the sick, the hungry and the helpless. I liked the way he forgave the men who found joy in killing Him.
Most of all though, I liked what I finally concluded was Jesus’ main message. Spread the love around. (Just like John Lennon, I thought). Over and over he calls on all people to love one another. “Love thy neighbour as thyself”, He said. “Love your enemy” he also said. For Jesus, that was the second most important Commandment, after loving God.
He makes it very clear that all of us are supposed to love the poor, the sick, the naked, and the hungry. He teaches that the last shall be first. That a rich man trying to get into Heaven is like a camel trying to get through the eye of the needle. His whole teaching is based on the over-riding principle of love.
Universal Love.
This Christmas let’s give gifts. But let’s also give some Love.
NB4ZOT
I'l love to know how long this is going to last.
Not exactly right.
How did I know that you signed up today.
BTW Jesus never promised world peace.
What's the frequency Kenneth?
You are so right....
Jesus will bring about world peace, when He returns.
Until then, we have Satan working overtime to promote all things evil.
Christians were never supposed to ignore this. We are to rise to the challenge and fight evil. Nothing more loving than that.
.
Praise GOD that...
...LOVE is the only reality and that...
...GOD is LOVE.
It has been my direct experience that the one thing the LOVE Itself needs more of in this world is...
...more LOVE.
This only comes when...
...people are FREE.
Making those who are now fighting for the FREEDOM of others around the world,
...and their loved ones who are waiting here for them to come home or not,
...the instruments of GOD's LOVE on the planet Earth.
HOLY-HOLY-HOLY, All.
Signed:.."ALOHA RONNIE" Guyer
Veteran-"WE WERE SOLDIERS" Battle of IA DRANG-1965
http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1085111/post
I thought that the text says "a rich billionaire trying to get into the White House...."
TROLL
Individuals are supposed to love everyone.
Nations are supposed to protect themselves. That means we have to protect ourselves from people who AREN'T christians.
"This Christmas let’s give gifts."
I bring theee... FIRE!
"But let’s also give some Love."
I also bring you news: You have an incurable STD.
I would be more than happy to let our enemies see the light... 150 times brighter than the sun.
