draw where?

Jesus said to his disciples, “Things that cause people to trip and fall into sin must happen, but how terrible it is for the person through whom they happen. It would be better for them to be thrown into a lake with a large stone hung around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to trip and fall into sin. Watch yourselves! If your brother or sister sins, warn them to stop. If they change their hearts and lives, forgive them. Even if someone sins against you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times and says, ‘I am changing my ways,’ you must forgive that person.” (Luke 17:1-4, CEB)

We are going to trip and fall into sin, but if you intentionally do that to someone, it is better for you to tie a huge rock around your neck and throw yourself into the sea. If you intentionally cause someone to be drawn away from God you might as well drown yourself…

That is hard, but honestly, if we are loving everyone, then we are not trying to draw people away from God but towards God. We warn them that they are going in the wrong direction and try to help them. We do not take them to a place to walk away from God.

Love out loud, put others first and always try to send people towards God.

Loving People. Loving God.

without correctly understanding

Now I don’t praise you as I give the following instruction because when you meet together, it does more harm than good. First of all, when you meet together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and I partly believe it. It’s necessary that there are groups among you, to make it clear who is genuine. So when you get together in one place, it isn’t to eat the Lord’s meal. Each of you goes ahead and eats a private meal. One person goes hungry while another is drunk. Don’t you have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you look down on God’s churches and humiliate those who have nothing? What can I say to you? Will I praise you? No, I don’t praise you in this. This is why those who eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord inappropriately will be guilty of the Lord’s body and blood. Each individual should test himself or herself, and eat from the bread and drink from the cup in that way. Those who eat and drink without correctly understanding the body are eating and drinking their own judgment. Because of this, many of you are weak and sick, and quite a few have died. But if we had judged ourselves, we wouldn’t be judged. However, we are disciplined by the Lord when we are judged so that we won’t be judged and condemned along with the whole world. For these reasons, my brothers and sisters, when you get together to eat, wait for each other. (1 Corinthians 11:17-22,27-33, CEB)

You eat the Lord’s Supper to your own damnation is how I remember this passage from my youth. The people of Corinth were gathering when they could get to the place where worship was and ate as they arrived. Meaning the wealthy were there early and the working folks came later. And those who got there first would eat their fill of the Lord’s Supper and not leave any for those who would come later.

When you do not understand that the Lord’s Supper is grace for all, and when you do not share it with all as it was meant then you are taking it in a way that it was not intended and are therefore judging yourself.

But if we understand it isn’t only for us and not for us to get full on but to obtain grace, then we will wait and eat when we are all together.

Community is key.

Loving People. Loving God.

Women…

I praise you because you remember all my instructions, and you hold on to the traditions exactly as I handed them on to you. Now I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered shames his head. Every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered disgraces her head. It is the same thing as having her head shaved. If a woman doesn’t cover her head, then she should have her hair cut off. If it is disgraceful for a woman to have short hair or to be shaved, then she should keep her head covered. A man shouldn’t have his head covered, because he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is man’s glory. Man didn’t have his origin from woman, but woman from man; and man wasn’t created for the sake of the woman, but the woman for the sake of the man. Because of this a woman should have authority over her head, because of the angels. However, woman isn’t independent from man, and man isn’t independent from woman in the Lord. As woman came from man so also man comes from woman. But everything comes from God. Judge for yourselves: Is it appropriate for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Doesn’t nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him; but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? This is because her long hair is given to her for a covering. But if someone wants to argue about this, we don’t have such a custom, nor do God’s churches. (1 Corinthians 11:2-16, CEB)

I read this, and I read it again. I really don’t know what to say about this other than there seems to be a hang-up on heads being covered and uncovered and who should have long hair and who shouldn’t have short or no hair. And whose glory comes from who or whom.

The only thing here that really didn’t make me wonder is “But everything comes from God.” So then if everything comes from God why all the rules?

We think we can keep things nice and neat but sometimes the rules make it harder and push people away. Rules are good for order, but when we go too far it makes a mess of things.

The easiest and hardest thing to do is love. We should love as God loves us.

Loving People. Loving God.

Love your enemies

“But I say to you who are willing to hear: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on the cheek, offer the other one as well. If someone takes your coat, don’t withhold your shirt either. Give to everyone who asks and don’t demand your things back from those who take them. Treat people in the same way that you want them to treat you. “If you love those who love you, why should you be commended? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, why should you be commended? Even sinners do that. If you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, why should you be commended? Even sinners lend to sinners expecting to be paid back in full. Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing in return. If you do, you will have a great reward. You will be acting the way children of the Most High act, for he is kind to ungrateful and wicked people. Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate. “Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good portion—packed down, firmly shaken, and overflowing—will fall into your lap. The portion you give will determine the portion you receive in return.” (Luke 6:27-38, CEB)

This passage and concept is the one thing that keeps many from joining a church or following after Jesus because the “followers” of Jesus they see are not doing this.

Just like a meme I recently saw and shared, it was a picture of Jesus saying “Love your enemies” at the top, and at the bottom, it said, “While I punish those who hate me eternally.”

We need to love people as they are where they are and not expect them to change before they come to worship. We are changed by being in the presence of God and being changed doesn’t mean everyone will be like us, because if we are truly present and open we will also be changed.

We need to love everyone as God has loved each of us.

Love out Loud.

Loving People. Loving God.

grace

And why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? As you are going to court with your accuser, make your best effort to reach a settlement along the way. Otherwise, your accuser may bring you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I tell you, you won’t get out of there until you have paid the very last cent.” (Luke 12:57-59, CEB)

We should be open to admitting when we are wrong and working out a settlement with the people we have harmed. If we don’t, it could be worse than we think.

God gave us a bargain when God accepted us as we are. Should we not also look to offer grace when and where we can?

Go in grace, and help those who are in need.

Loving People. Loving God.

Love the world

Little children, I’m writing to you because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus’ name. Parents, I’m writing to you because you have known the one who has existed from the beginning. Young people, I’m writing to you because you have conquered the evil one. Little children, I write to you because you know the Father. Parents, I write to you because you have known the one who has existed from the beginning. Young people, I write to you because you are strong, the word of God remains in you, and you have conquered the evil one. Don’t love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in them. Everything that is in the world—the craving for whatever the body feels, the craving for whatever the eyes see and the arrogant pride in one’s possessions—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world and its cravings are passing away, but the person who does the will of God remains forever. (1 John 2:12-17, CEB)

We are called to love the world but not love the world.

It is kind of like the Jedi loving. They are forbidden to make attachments to things that can be lost, but they are taught to care and stand up for everyone. SO they are to love unconditionally without forming attachment.

We are to love the world as God does, to help them see how much God loves them. But not to love the world so it takes the place of God.

So love the world but do not love the world.

Loving People. Loving God.

selfish

So now there isn’t any condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. God has done what was impossible for the Law, since it was weak because of selfishness. God condemned sin in the body by sending his own Son to deal with sin in the same body as humans, who are controlled by sin. He did this so that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us. Now the way we live is based on the Spirit, not based on selfishness. People whose lives are based on selfishness think about selfish things, but people whose lives are based on the Spirit think about things that are related to the Spirit. The attitude that comes from selfishness leads to death, but the attitude that comes from the Spirit leads to life and peace. So the attitude that comes from selfishness is hostile to God. It doesn’t submit to God’s Law, because it can’t. People who are self-centered aren’t able to please God. But you aren’t self-centered. Instead you are in the Spirit, if in fact God’s Spirit lives in you. If anyone doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, they don’t belong to him. If Christ is in you, the Spirit is your life because of God’s righteousness, but the body is dead because of sin. If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your human bodies also, through his Spirit that lives in you. (Romans 8:1-11, CEB)

Those who think about and look out for only themselves are hostile to God. Because God was not thinking about what was best for God when Jesus was sent here to earth. God was thinking about what was best for you.

We need to live in the spirit and follow where God is calling us. That will be focusing on the world around us and helping where needed and loving like God does, abundantly.

So love out loud and think about others before yourself.

Loving People. Loving God.

do not know

While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee invited him to share a meal with him, so Jesus went and took his place at the table. When the Pharisee saw that Jesus didn’t ritually purify his hands by washing before the meal, he was astonished. The Lord said to him, “Now, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and platter, but your insides are stuffed with greed and wickedness. Foolish people! Didn’t the one who made the outside also make the inside? Therefore, give to those in need from the core of who you are and you will be clean all over. “How terrible for you Pharisees! You give a tenth of your mint, rue, and garden herbs of all kinds, while neglecting justice and love for God. These you ought to have done without neglecting the others. “How terrible for you Pharisees! You love the most prominent seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces. “How terrible for you! You are like unmarked graves, and people walk on them without recognizing it.” One of the legal experts responded, “Teacher, when you say these things, you are insulting us too.” Jesus said, “How terrible for you legal experts too! You load people down with impossible burdens and you refuse to lift a single finger to help them. “How terrible for you! You built memorials to the prophets, whom your ancestors killed. In this way, you testify that you approve of your ancestors’ deeds. They killed the prophets, and you build memorials! Therefore, God’s wisdom has said, ‘I will send prophets and apostles to them and they will harass and kill some of them.’ As a result, this generation will be charged with the murder of all the prophets since the beginning of time. This includes the murder of every prophet—from Abel to Zechariah—who was killed between the altar and the holy place. Yes, I’m telling you, this generation will be charged with it. “How terrible for you legal experts! You snatched away the key of knowledge. You didn’t enter yourselves, and you stood in the way of those who were entering.” (Luke 11:37-52, CEB)

Is it best to know all of the things the scriptures tell us to do or to live a life of love that flows and helps others?

It is not enough to know what we should do and do the minimum to get by. It is not enough to know we should tithe and give a tenth of our crops, but not love those who are in need and give out of our abundance.

We need to give as God gave to us. Abundantly!

Loving People. Loving God.

integrity

We have conducted ourselves with godly sincerity and pure motives in the world, and especially toward you. This is why we are confident, and our conscience confirms this. We didn’t act with human wisdom but we relied on the grace of God. We don’t write anything to you except what you can read and also understand. I hope that you will understand totally since you have already understood us partly. Understand that in the day of our Lord Jesus, we will make you proud as you will also make us proud. Because I was sure of this, I wanted to visit you first so that you could have a second opportunity to see me. I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and then come to you again on my way back from Macedonia, at which point I was hoping you would help me on my way to Judea. So I wasn’t unreliable when I planned to do this, was I? Or do I make decisions with a substandard human process so that I say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? But as God is faithful, our message to you isn’t both yes and no. God’s Son, Jesus Christ, is the one who was preached among you by us—through me, Silvanus, and Timothy—he wasn’t yes and no. In him it is always yes. (2 Corinthians 1:12-19, CEB)

Let your yes be yes and your no be no. Live a life of integrity.

The one who tells the truth doesn’t need to have a good memory. You see if you are always spinning a tale and telling everyone things that aren’t always true, you have to remember what you told each person, but if you are always telling the truth you do not need to remember what you told someone because you have told them what you tell everyone.

Always be the same. that is how God made you and that is the best you to give to the world!

Loving People. Loving God.

light

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead. He’s the first crop of the harvest of those who have died. Since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead came through one too. In the same way that everyone dies in Adam, so also everyone will be given life in Christ. Each event will happen in the right order: Christ, the first crop of the harvest, then those who belong to Christ at his coming, and then the end, when Christ hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he brings every form of rule, every authority and power to an end. It is necessary for him to rule until he puts all enemies under his feet. Death is the last enemy to be brought to an end, since he has brought everything under control under his feet. When it says that everything has been brought under his control, this clearly means everything except for the one who placed everything under his control. But when all things have been brought under his control, then the Son himself will also be under the control of the one who gave him control over everything so that God may be all in all. Otherwise, what are those who are getting baptized for the dead doing? If the dead aren’t raised, then why are they being baptized for them? And what about us? Why are we in danger all day every day? Brothers and sisters, I swear by the pride I have in you in Christ Jesus our Lord, I’m facing death every day. From a human point of view, what good does it do me if I fought wild animals in Ephesus? If the dead aren’t raised, let’s eat and drink because tomorrow we’ll die. Don’t be deceived, bad company corrupts good character. Sober up by acting like you should and don’t sin. Some of you are ignorant about God—I say this because you should be ashamed of yourselves! (1 Corinthians 15:20-34, CEB)

Jesus is in charge until all enemies are put under his feet, and then God is in charge.

So God is in charge of all things. So live in a way that shows the life that God gave you to the world.

Be with all people and be the same at all times. Do not let people change you from the creation God made you be and shine the light of God’s love always.

Loving People. Loving God.