You can hear an audio recording of the third scripture reading and my sermon entitled,
“ How Many Licks Does It Take to Get to the Tootsie Roll Center of a Tootsie Pop? ”
being preached, by CLICKING HERE.
You can hear an audio recording of the second scripture reading and my sermon entitled,
“ Pentecost Is Not Just a Day ...Pentecost Is a Way of Life! ”
being preached, by CLICKING HERE.
You can hear an audio recording of the second scripture reading and my sermon entitled,
“ Not Judging the Book By Its Cover; Not Getting the Cart Before the Horse--And Other Lessons on Not Standing and Looking Up Toward Heaven ”
being preached, by CLICKING HERE.
You can hear an audio recording of the second scripture reading and my sermon entitled,
“ Invitations to Participation ”
being preached, by CLICKING HERE.
You can hear an audio recording of the second scripture reading and my sermon entitled,
“ Sticks and Stones ”
being preached, by CLICKING HERE.
Dear Love People,
John’s
gospel reminds us about Jesus’ purpose:
“ Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. ” John 13:1
Jesus’ love
…is his legacy.
We know
that the Easter story is the story of God’s love—the extent to which God loves
us—in that God raises Jesus, and we believe God raises us. …That’s at least part of it! The other part is Jesus’ love, and his loving
us through to the end.
When we
love …we emulate Jesus. Jesus, both
loved us and was God’s love. When we
love, we become what Jesus was and we are also God’s love.
Easter …is
about resurrecting Love.
The Apostle
Paul, writing in response to reports of bickering and infighting among
believers in Corinth said that if one doesn’t have love, one is a noisy gong
and a clanging cymbal, that if one doesn’t have love, one has nothing. …Easter has to do with Love.
I think Love
is sometimes one of the things or ideas that gets lost as we often focus mostly
on “believing in Jesus. We want so badly
to be delivered to salvation and heaven we try and make it transactional. “Yes Lord, I believe, help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). If “believing” can punch our ticket, then, “we
believe!” So, while we busy ourselves in
believing, the things that Jesus did in loving people, gets moved to the back
burner. Easter …is about resurrecting
Love.
Jesus,
knowing the Love of God …changes the world by loving it!
Jesus
doesn’t change the world; the Love of God …changes the world. Jesus allowed God’s Love to flow through
him. When we Love …it happens, too. This isn’t about semantics; its
actionable. When we choose Love it
activates and transforms—us …and others.
As Paul
testifies, “Love never ends.” We don’t
get “finished,” it’s not “completed,” Love and life never end. It’s not a thought in our head, or a trust,
or a knowing …it’s a doing thing—Love.
Love is doing something.
In our
world of “might makes right,” Love is out of place, out of step, out of
practice. Love …lifts up. Love …doesn’t insist on its own way, isn’t
arrogant or rude …Love is patient and kind.
I believe
our world can use this …Love. Jesus-people
can provide it. I believe others can,
too; but for Jesus-people, it’s clear, isn’t it? It’s supposed to be written in our DNA.
Love
People: Easter should be an empty tomb filled with Love …in each of us! …And our job is giving it away! Unlike possessions or wealth, we will never
run out of it! Love never ends and Love
won’t fail. With the love of God already
in us …neither do we.
Love is Jesus’
legacy. It must also be ours.
You can hear an audio recording of the second scripture reading and my sermon entitled,
“ Following A Long Lost Voice of Jesus ”
being preached, by CLICKING HERE.
You can hear an audio recording of the second scripture reading and my sermon entitled,
“ Resurrection AND a Jail-Break! ”
being preached, by CLICKING HERE.
You can hear an audio recording of the second scripture reading and my sermon entitled,
“ Be Afraid! Be Very Afraid! ”
being preached, by CLICKING HERE.
You can hear an audio recording of the third scripture reading, the Passion Narrative, and my Meditation on the reading
being preached, by CLICKING HERE.
