WWJD-

It has been a crazy week. Emotional, exhausting, troubling, concerning.....long.....
Sunday afternoon, we found out via social media that a young man in the Junior Class at our high school had taken his life.
You feel helpless in situations like this as you read of the sadness, confusion, guilt, and sometimes feelings of hopelessness coming from your computer screen.... your heart aches as you can feel the pain from their posts....because you have experienced pain like that and understand on many levels how they feel and what they are going through.
In an attempt to reach out and let the hurting young people you know that someone is there and cares for them, you invite them to a church service you attend that happens every Sunday evening specifically for youth in high school. You let them know that if they feel like church is a place they want to go, it is open and you can offer them a ride.
Before you know it, people are posting that there is a service at your church - a Memorial Service for this young man who is no longer with us.
It's OK....you say to yourself. People will come and they will be right where they should be- with people who love God and love others. You try to remind them this is just a regular church service, but you know that the young man and this situation will be talked about as many people who go to this service knew him....and there will be prayer and hugs if wanted.....
WOW.
We prayed before we walked out into the room- we prayed for God to be there and to use us and speak words through us.
We walked into a room that soon held over 100 people easily....including the young man's family.
What happened was amazing- the plans for the regular service went out the window. People were told that they mattered. That their feelings - as many emotions as they had- were relevant and that sometimes life is hard and things don't make sense but, they were LOVED. They were loved by God and loved by the people present from our church.
We sang a couple songs... we gathered as much tissue as we could for all those tears..... we hugged so long and so hard that our arms and shoulders were actually sore..... we shed our own tears with them.
We were all reminded that this is what our Bible teaches us- we mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice.
We got to hear from friends and family about their favorite memories and times with their loved one.
The principal and a football coach and two guidance counselors from the high school came. The principal and the coach shared from their hearts as they spoke to the students and the parents. The two guidance counselors spoke with individuals and gave out great big hugs......
This is so moving to me as I think this is exactly how Jesus would have done life with others..... he would have given up the "church plan" in a heart-beat for the people who were broken-hearted and hurting. He would have loved them right there and then and comforted them.
This is what Christians often profess to do- live life like Jesus..... in this particular case, I think they put those words into action- WWJD- DID IT!
I am so thankful to be a part of Rocky Mountain in Frederick Colorado. I am honored beyond measure that I get to serve in Thrive- our High School Ministry.

What The?

I am seeing so many posts from so many Christian friends I have this morning and even last night.... well, heck.... for weeks now.

Here is the thing, I get sick to my stomach sometimes reading the crap!

Judge-mental. Legalistic. Imposing.

No wonder people don't want to go to church. No wonder people don't like Christians.

As a Christian, you should know that God himself does not FORCE himself on people. He gives us FREEDOM. Love isn't really love if it is forced on someone. A choice isn't really a choice if it is forced on someone.

How about getting out of your church? Out of your home? Out of your little circle of friends? How 'bout going into the world and hanging out with people who don't think like you? Act like you? Believe like you?

Jesus and his disciples did that! They hung out with the people that the legalistic, judge-mental and imposing people said not to!

Here is the thing- man looks at the outward appearance of things- GOD LOOKS AT THE HEART.

Are you REALLY telling me you KNOW what is in the heart of another man or woman? What their motivation is? No, I don't think you can.

As a Christian our two greatest commandments are #1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart mind and soul. #2. Love your neighbor as yourself.

LOVE GOD/ LOVE PEOPLE.