Shepastor: "The Human Side of Jesus"

Jesus Prays for Himself

1After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

John 17: 1-5

Although many, if not most Christians espouse a belief that Jesus was both "fully human and fully divine," as He walked the face of the earth, some find it difficult to connect with the "human" side of Jesus. As we journey through this Lenten season, I'd like to challenge the fears that keep us from experiencing the comfort available to us as we embrace an understanding of Jesus' true ability to relate to our human condition.

Some Christians fear looking at, talking about or even imagining the human side of Jesus because they somehow feel such musings may diminish his divinity. But nothing could be further from the truth. "With His stripes, we are healed!" (Isaiah 53:5)

In our text for today, the human side of Jesus was beat up, bruised, rejected, doubted, falsely accused, disrespected, cast down and out. He was about to face dissertion by his closest companions, the disciples. His closest earthly ministry brother, Peter was about to deny he ever knew him. One in his inner circle, Judas, was plotting to betray him with a kiss. The crowds were gone. Those who claimed to know God were devising plans to destroy him. Unbelievable humiliation, extreme physical pain and the momentary separation from His heavenly Father (as He took on our sins) was looming.

It is in this context that Jesus utters the words, "And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began..." In our common vernacular, "Father, tell them who I am. Father, they have no idea who I am. Father, show them my identity even before the foundaton of the world..."

The bruised Jesus, the rejected Jesus, the betrayed Jesus, the disrespected and humiliated Jesus, the "human Jesus," in this prayer, shows us his vulnerable side, his pain, his longing for the Father to reveal not only to His disciples, but to the rest of the world, His true identity.

In ministry, as we strive to walk upright, to carry the Gospel, to love unconditionally, to glorify the Father, we too will have times when we want to cry, "Lord, tell them who I am!" Those with false humility may cry, "Shame on you! You should not care if they don't know who you are. It does not matter. All that matters is that they know Jesus."

But for those who know how to "keep it real," it is comforting to know that our big brother Jesus, loved us enough to show us His human side - the need to cry out in agony when His dignity was denied, His voice was muted, His human rites were stripped, His gifts were ignored, and His true identity was invisible.

If we find ourselves experiencing any of those emotions during the ministry journey, may we find comfort in knowing that Jesus can relate to our pain because of His human side. May we understand that it is ok to utter the prayer, "Lord, show them who I am that you may be glorified in me."

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris

Shepastor: "The Blessing of Trials"

Romans 5: 1-8 (God’s Word Translation)Now that we have God's approval by faith, we have peace with God because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done. 2 Through Christ we can approach God and stand in his favor. So we brag because of our confidence that we will receive glory from God. 3 But that's not all. We also brag when we are suffering. We know that suffering creates endurance, 4 endurance creates character, and character creates confidence. 5 We're not ashamed to have this confidence, because God's love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
6 Look at it this way: At the right time, while we were still helpless, Christ died for ungodly people. 7 Finding someone who would die for a godly person is rare. Maybe someone would have the courage to die for a good person. 8 Christ died for us while we were still sinners. This demonstrates God's love for us.


In today’s Shepastor, the Apostle Paul emphasizes that since we have been justified by faith, “we have peace with God.” No longer separated from God by sin (disobedience) that wars against our very souls, we are now united in Christ and given peace that surpasses understanding. We praise God for this victory! However, Paul goes onto say, that we not only praise, or as one version puts it, “brag” about this new peaceful relationship in Christ, but we can also “brag” when we face tribulation, or trials, or great difficulties, because, trials – difficulties do some things for us.

Paul says it like this…

We know that suffering creates endurance, 4 endurance creates character, and character creates confidence. 5 We're not ashamed to have this confidence, because God's love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

“The Blessing of Trials”

A few years ago as my son and I were driving home, the sun moved behind the clouds suddenly, and small droplets of rain began to fall upon the windshield. Earlier that week, he’d had a science project where he had to write a mock weather forecast. Remembering his assignment and his own predictions about what the weather in the coming days would be, our son looked at me and said, “Mommy, rain was not in my forecast.” As I thought about his innocent words I responded, “Son, rain was not in my forecast either.” He didn’t realize that I was referring to more than the physical elements of water droplets falling from overburdened clouds packed to capacity with water.

I was referring to the rain that intermittently falls in life. I was referring to the misfortunes, mishaps, unexpected disappointments, and what we call inconveniences of life. I was referring to those unexpected events that come about when we were planning for sunny days, peaceful moments, relaxation, or just peace.

Rain was not in our forecast. The doctor coming out of the office after reviewing our labs and saying that the white blood count cell was too high or the psa level was too high and cancer may be looming. Rain was not in the forecast – That unexpected call from the school saying that your son or daughter was in an accident, you’d just seen them in the morning, happy, bright and bouncing and now you are wondering will they live – rain was not in the forecast – you thought you were being called in for a promotion and instead the boss looks across the desk with an apology and says they just can’t afford to keep you – rain was not in the forecast – the expectant mother going for an ultrasound, only to discover that there no longer is heartbeat in the ball of flesh developing in her womb – rain was not in the forecast!

Intellectually, we know, we understand that in every life some rain must fall, but we always hope that it will hold off at least for one more day. We know that all things work together for good to them that love God and are the called according to His purposes, but deep down within, we are just hoping, just praying, just standing with bated breath that our forecast – sunny skies with periodic overcast will only produce some droplets, but not a rain storm. Rain is not wanted in our forecast!

However, in every life, some rain will fall. Just as rain is necessary for the flowers to bloom and for the ground to grow grass and for our fields to be watered, the rain, the trials, the difficult circumstances that confront us in life are necessary to make us what God has created us to be.

Every now and then, God causes some rain to fall in our lives to make us strong. Every now and then God allows some tough situations to come into our lives so that we will be able to stand the storms that are coming on down the road. Storms help us to appreciate the good times. Storms help us to remain humble. Storms make us compassionate – if we will allow it. Trials can either make us bitter or better.

We have a choice. We can either trust God, cry out to Him in our pain and trials and seek His face and direction or we can recoil, become bitter, hateful, depressed, isolated and ultimately ball up and die.

The tree that never had to fight
for sun and sky and air and light
who stood up in the open plain
and always had its share of rain
never became a forest king
but lived and died a shrubby thing
good timber does not grow with ease
the stronger wind, the stronger trees
- Douglas Mallock

Walking with Christ does not shield you from the trials and struggles of life. Walking with the Lord does not immune you to the pain and toil that every child of God must face. Walking with the Lord will, however empower you to look for the lesson in whatever you face. It will give you hope, and strength and endurance to face each day and to praise the Lord at all times.

It will however transform you from the caterpillar to the butterfly. God will give you wings to fly, he will make your feet like hinds or deer feet so that you can walk upon the high places. Trials can be a blessing. Struggle can lift you to a higher plain. We can “brag” even when we are going through because we know that God loves us, that God is there with us, that God has great blessings in store for us.

Though others may look and wag their heads, some are hoping for your downfall, some are waiting to plan a party after (they hope) you fail or just give up – but the child of God, through faith, must endure hardship like a good soldier, remembering that we are not out to please man, but to please our enlisting officer, who is Jesus Christ.

“Harder yet may be the fight, right may often yield to might, wickedness a while may reign Harder yet may be the fight; right may often yield to might; wickedness a while may reign; Satan's cause may seem to gain. There is a God that rules above, with hand of power and heart of love; if I am right, he'll fight my battle, I shall have peace someday.”

Trials will come, rain will fall, but there is God who rules above, with hand of power and heart of love and He will fight your battles and give you peace. Rain may not have been in your forecast, but rain will fall The good news is that God has an umbrella!

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris

Shepastor: “Jump at de Sun…” Excerpts from Beyond The Stained Glass Ceiling: Equipping and Encouraging Female Pastors”

All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet
none of them received all that God had promised. For God had
something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection
without us. (Hebrews 11:39-40, NLT)

This week, Shepastor highlights excerpts from Beyond The Stained Glass Ceiling: Equipping and Encouraging Female Pastors. Today’s focus is upon Chapter 5, “What Will We Find There?” This chapter discusses the decisions we must make as women in ministry to continue to blaze trails and pry open doors for others – doors that may not have opened for us…

In the words of the late Dr. Elton Trueblood, every generation has
the bittersweet task of “planting shade trees under which we
know full well we shall never sit.” To plant them with joy or resentment
is a choice. Pride, pain, regret, and bitterness at times prevent
persons with a wealth of wisdom and experience from helping
those who are coming after.

I remember a stinging experience I had as a seminary student. I was given an assignment to contact a prominent female pastor to speak with her about her church’s outreach ministry. To my surprise, she agreed to speak with me, but with great hostility she yelled over the phone,

‘I started this church when nobody wanted to have anything
to do with me! They didn’t believe in women
preachers. Why do they want to know how I do what
I do? Where were all of you when I was working hard
in the community and doing outreach to the poor?

Where were you when I started a food pantry and a
clothes closet?’

After going on and on for a few more minutes she abruptly
hung up. Clearly the pains of rejection had not healed. Even the
high level of success she had achieved did not assuage the
wounds she endured as a woman rejected and denied, having to
start a church because no church would give her a chance
despite her qualifications.

If individuals are honest, it can be hurtful to realize and accept
that some ceilings will not be broken during their lifetime. Women
in ministry are still blazing trails, as it were. Women can, however,
take the proverbial mallet in their hands, determine to join together,
and beat upon the glass ceiling to make a million cracks. They
must decide that the hardships they have endured will not embitter
them but instead will embolden them to help bring about a
change. Harlem Renaissance writer Zora Neale Hurston declared,

“Mama exhorted her children at every opportunity to ‘jump at de
sun.’ We might not land on the sun, but at least we would get off
the ground.”

They must decide that the hardships they have
endured will not embitter them but instead will
embolden them to help bring about a change. (Smith: Beyond The Stained Glass Ceiling…pp. 87-87)

The words of singer/song writer Ruben Studdard are powerful and drive our point for today home…

Take the trials that you been through and all the times life made you blue, search down deep within yourself, make it medicine for someone else someone else…

Share the joys you wish you’d known, hold on to the tears that you share, bottle them with care as though for yourself, make it medicine for someone else someone else…

You gotta go on and it's hard I know sometimes the way you see it go, wish for you not to take it personal cause it's not about yourself, yes it's hard to face when you suffer for someone else…

Share the battles good and bad the hardest trials you've ever had, take out the trophies - take them off the shelf, make it medicine for someone else someone else…

From: http://www.metrolyrics.com/medicine-for-somone-else-lyrics-ruben-studdard.html
Dear woman God, will you “take the trophies off the shelf and make it medicine for someone else?”

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

To order your copy of Beyond the Stained Glass Ceiling: Equipping and Encouraging Female Pastors, visit www.judsonpress.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris

Shepastor: "The Experiences of Female Pastors"

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58, KJV

Yesterday, during the C.D. Hubert Lecture Series (sponsored by the Interdenominational Theological Center, Baptist School of Theology, Atlanta, GA)at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, I was blessed to participate on a panel with three other female pastors. Our initial topic for discussion was "Women in the Community, the Academy and the Church." However, as we began to introduce ourselves and say a little bit about our experience as female pastors, several painful realities emerged:

- Many female pastors wrestle with loneliness due to the lack of support from their spouses, limited numbers of female colleagues and congregational insensitivity.

- Women frequently oppress other women for a myriad of reasons

- We are still looking for ways to confront and change these unfortunate truths

Despite all of these painful realities, God is still opening doors for women.

One of our panelist Rev. Billie Cox, is the newly elected pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church in Conyers, GA - a historic African American Baptist Church.

Another panelist, the Rev. Dr. Valerie Tate Everett, serves as the University Chaplain/Director of Religious Life, Clark-Atlanta, GA. There she holds services througout the week and on Sunday mornings, reaching a crowd of students of over 500 weekly!

Another panelist, Rev. Anita Green, serves as a chaplain, ministering to individuals, families and scores of others in need of support during times of tragedy and life transitions.

Each of these women shared stories of triumph in the midst of struggle.
Certainly, "we have come over a way that with tears has been watered!"

I praise God for the opportunity to have met these powerful women who have persevered, stood through the storm and are coming out blazing trails and opening doors for other female clergy!"

This coming Friday (February 15th), Judson Press will release, Beyond the Stained Glass Ceiling: Equipping and Encouraging Female Pastors www.judsonpress.com . I was privileged to share themes from this my first book, during the panel.

Women of God, let us remain faithful to the call of God. Although the struggle can feel daunting, through Christ, we shall prevail.

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

Today begins the Lenten Season. As we prepare for the celebration of Easter morning, may we pursue ways to help lead individuals to walk in the power of the resurrected Lord.

Until Next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris

Shepastor Highlights the "Religious Experience and Journal of Mrs. Jarena Lee"

Religious Experience and Journal of Mrs. Jarena Lee

In honor of Black History Month, today Shepastor highlights Jarena Lee, preacher extraordinaire! In 1819, Jarena Lee became the first woman to be authorized to preach by Richard Allen, founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Below is an excerpt of her experiences in her own words… (Excerpts from PBS online series, "Africans in America")

I now began to think seriously of breaking up housekeeping, and forsaking all to preach the everlasting Gospel. I felt a strong desire to return to the place of my nativity, at Cape May, after an absence of about fourteen years. To this place, where the heaviest cross was to be met with, the Lord sent me, as Saul of Tarsus was sent to Jerusalem, to preach the same gospel which he had neglected and despised before his conversion. I went by water, and on my passage was much distressed by sea sickness, so much so that I expected to have died, but such was not the will of the Lord respecting me. After I had disembarked, I proceeded on as opportunities offered toward where my mother lived. When within ten miles of that place, I appointed an evening meeting.

There were a goodly number came out to hear. The Lord was pleased to give me light and liberty among the people. After meeting, there came an elderly lady to me and said, she believed the Lord had rent me among them: she then appointed me another meeting there two weeks from that night. The next day I hastened forward to the place of my mother. who was happy to see me, and the happiness was mutual between us. With her I left my poor sickly boy while I departed to do my Master' s will. In this neighborhood I had an uncle, who was a Methodist and who gladly threw open his door for meetings to be held there. At the first meeting which I held at my uncle's house, there was, with others who had come from curiosity to hear the woman preacher, an old man, who was a Deist, and who said he did not believe the coloured people had any souls -- he was sure they had none. He took a seat very near where I was standing, and boldly tried to look me out of countenance. But as I labored on in the best manner I was able, looking to God all the while, though it seemed to me I had but little liberty, yet there went an arrow from the bent bow of the gospel, and fastened in his till then obdurate heart.

After I had done speaking, he went out, and called the people around him, said that my preaching might seem a small thing, yet be believed I had the worth of souls at heart. This language was different from what it was a little time before, as he now seemed to admit that coloured people had souls, as it was to these I was chiefly speaking; and unless they had souls, whose good I had in view, his remark must have been without meaning. He now came into the house, and in the most friendly manner shook hands with me, saying, he hoped God had spared him to some good purpose. This man was a great slave holder, and had been very cruel ; thinking, nothing of knocking down a slave with a fence stake, or whatever might come to hand. From this time it was said of him that he became greatly altered in his ways for the better. At that time he was about seventy years old, his head as white as snow; but whether be became a converted man or not, I never heard…

What a powerful testimony of faith, determination and holy boldness! May we as clerygwomen gain strength and inspiration to persevere as we consider the paths that our forebearers tread to open doors for us today!

To read more about Jarena Lee, visit the PBS website at

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part3/3h1638.html

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris

Shepastor: "The Special Mother"

19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:19 NIV

No, this is not Mother's Day. However, today Shepastor would like to highlight the unique struggle of women chosen by God to be "Special Mothers." In addition to being a daughter, sister, wife and pastor, some are also mothers of children who, let's say, dance to the rhythm of a different song.

May we lift these women in our prayers, give them tangible support and encourage them to keep on keepin on in their service to the Lord and their families...

Enjoy...

The Special Mother -Adapted from
Erma Bombeck
Motherhood The Second Oldest Profession

There are two ways to live your life.
One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as if everything is.
-Albert Einstein (fellow preemie)

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures and a couple by habit. This year thousands of mothers will give birth to a premature baby. Did you ever wonder how mothers of preemies are chosen?

Somehow, I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting His instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger.

“Armstrong, Beth, son. Patron saint, Matthew.
“Forest, Majorie, daughter. Patron saint, Ceceila.
“Rutledge, Carrie, twins. Patron saint... give her Gerard. He’s used to profanity.

Finally, He passes a name to an angel and smiles, “Give her a premature baby.”
The angel is curious. “Why this one, God? She’s so happy.”

“Exactly, “ smiles God. “Could I give a premature baby a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel.”

“But does she have patience?” asks the angel.
“I don’t want her to have too much patience, or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she’ll handle it.

“I watched her today. She has that sense of self and independence that are so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I’m going to give her has his own world. She has to make it live in her world and that’s not going to be easy.”

“But, Lord, I don’t think she even believes in you.”
God smiles, “No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness.”

The angel gasps, “Selfishness? Is that a virtue?”
God nods. “If she can’t separate herself from the child occasionally, she’ll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child who comes in a less than perfect way. She doesn’t realize it yet, but she is to be envied.

“She will never take for granted a spoken word. She will never consider a step ordinary. When her child says ‘Mommy’ for the first time, she will be witness to a miracle and know it. When she describes a tree or a sunset to her blind child, she will see it as few people ever see my creations.

“I will permit her to see clearly the things I see - ignorance, cruelty, prejudice - and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side.”

“And what about her patron saint?” asks the angel, the pen poised in mid-air.

God smiles. “A mirror will suffice.”


Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until Next Wednesday
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance
Pastor Chris

Shepastor: "Remembering Martin, Hearing Jesus"

Love For Enemies
43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor' and 'hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be like your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? The tax collectors do that too, don't they? 47 And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do? The Gentiles do that too, don't they? 48 So then, you be perfect, as your heavenly Father is
Matt 5:38-48 (NET)

In 1963, the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., sat in a Birmingham jail and wrote a response to 8 white clergyman who published in a local newspaper, a letter called, "A Call For Unity." In A Call for Unity, the writers urged an end to the Negro demonstrations "directed and led in part by outsiders" that were taking place in the area at the time, recommending that Negros engage in local negotiations and use the courts if rights are being denied.

The term "outsider" was a thinly veiled reference to Martin Luther King, Jr., and King replied with his "Letter from Birmingham Jail," arguing that forceful civil action was indeed necessary. In his response, King declared,

“I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial "outside agitator" idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds.”


Dr. King recognized that the Gospel called for preachers and prophets who would step out of the comfort zone, who would put on the whole armor of God and challenge those ugly realities in society that marginalized, oppressed and denied anyone of their God endowed, “certain unalienable rights.” We are in this thing together. What affects one will ultimately affect another.

Jesus’ teachings on the manner of true love was no less radical. As we delve into this passage of scripture, we find Jesus’ teachings on the true nature of Christian Discipleship. Understanding true Christian discipleship, Dr. King was determined that he would not lead God’s people in hating and retaliating in violence and anger, but through disciplined, non-violent, civil-disobedience, he would compel the nation to look hard and long at its brutal, inhumane treatment of God’s children of a darker complexion.

Hate is not stronger than true love. Hate destroys. Love heals. Hate tears down. Love builds up. Hate corrodes. Love repairs. Hate divides. Love unites. Love certainly is the road less traveled. For the disciples, as well as us, this is a radical new concept of love. This love is rooted in the nature and action of God – the kind of Love that is spoken of by Jesus when he declared in the Gospel of John, For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him shall have everlasting life. For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might have life. (John 3: 16-17).

Therefore, our model and motivation are not the tendencies of others around us or impulses within us, but the Holy Spirit of God flowing to and through us. In these verses, the underlying principle is that love is something to be initiated by us, not simply a response made by us. Jesus’ suggestions are shocking! They are radical. The term radical means extreme. Remember, Jesus is speaking to a crowd of people who had been taught all of their lives, an “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth!”

In our terms, Jesus was talking to a group of folks who’d been taught all of their lives – “get them before they get you – if they hit you, hit back, hit hard, and make them know that if they ever attempt to mess with you again they may as well start
making funeral arrangements!” These teachings were radical! Jesus was teaching his followers that love is not given on the basis of love received or expected, but as those called to share love regardless of receptivity or consequence. These teachings suggest that we should love not to obtain love, but simply out of the privilege and desire to love. This might correspond to Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s concept of “tough love” that is the Christian calling.

You have to be tough in order to give this radical love Jesus was speaking of because it’s not easy to love your enemies. It’s not easy to turn the other cheek. It’s not easy to show unconditional love to those who have hurt and rejected you. It’s tough because this kind of love requires you to look beyond a person’s faults and see their needs. It’s tough because this kind of love causes you to go into deep introspection and earnest prayer. It’s tough because this kind of love causes you to have to sacrifice your right to tell the person off, to get in the next best lick, to fight with all your human power and strength. It’s tough because it says release the person to God and truly ask the Lord to have mercy upon them.

Jesus was despised and rejected because he chose to have radical love.
In his book entitled, Strength to Love, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. declared that the
the universe is on the side of right…the universe is on the side of justice…the moral arc of the universe is long but it bends toward justice. Dr. King asserted further that it is “faith in the future that enables the nonviolent resister to accept the suffering without retaliation.” Radical love accepts the fact that we may not see the results of our decision to love unconditionally. The person you choose to pray for and treat with kindness may never change in your lifetime.

You may never experience reciprocated love. But something greater will happen. Those persons around you will see your steadfast example of a Godly witness and testimony of faith and will be inspired by your love. Dr. Elton Trueblood declared, “A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit.” When we elect to love radically, we are planting shade trees for our children, for the next generation. When we love radically, we break the bondage and the cycle of retaliation and hate. We teach by example that there is a better way, a brighter way –a healing way, a delivering way.

If you and I will make the decision today to have radical love – to continue to treat others with kindness even when they have elected to treat us with meanness – I believe that if we will determine to have radical love, to bless those who curse us – if we will have radical love, to pray for those who abuse and despitefully misuse us – if we will have radical love – to give and expect nothing in return – if we will have radical love – to turn the other cheek – if we will have radical love – agape love, unconditional love, unfailing love – We will be called the sons and the daughters of God – we will win the lost to Jesus Christ – we will gain the advantage over the enemy satan, we will be able to move mountains by our faith.

For love is stronger than hate – love is stronger than death, love is greater than sin, love is God and God is love. Love, radical love will carry us into a new dimension of Christian living that will tear down and devastate the strong holds of the enemy. Love will lift those who are sinking deep in sin.
May we choose to love radically today!

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepsator1@hotmail.com

Until Next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris