Head and Heart

Preached at Hallam and Martell UMCs, September 2, 2007.

Yesterday, I was a little bit worried. I was watching the football game and it looked like Nebraska had their hands full with Nevada. Nevada was moving the ball, had put together a pretty good scoring drive, and Nebraska seemed to be just...struggling a little. It was like they knew what they were supposed to do, but just weren't able to put it together. Or maybe it was just the other way around. Either way, it was obvious they needed to get fired up, and they needed to get their heads in the game.

Isn't it like that in worship sometimes? In some churches, the people raise their hands and sing with all abandon, eyes closed, tears running down their face. And there is something special in that. I have worshiped in churches where the worship music at the beginning of the service takes 40 minutes, and it begins with pumping, jumping music that make s you want to dance (and most people do), and ends with hands raised worshipful musical prayers. Te worship seems loose and free. Having your heart in worship is powerful.

Now, on the other hand, I have heard complaints from people who say that modern worship songs are sort of empty—without meaning. One of the most popular from recent years is “Lord I lift your name on high.” It goes something like, “Lord, I lift your name on high. I love to sing your praises, I'm so glad you're in my life, I'm so glad you came to save us. You came from heaven to earth to show the way, from the earth to the cross, my debt to pay, from the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky, Lord I lift your name on high.” Now I apologize if you happen to like that song, but to me, it seems a little simplistic and shallow. A real praise song is like any Charles Wesley hymn! There is praise, but there is still depth of meaning!

But you can take that too far, as well. In some churches, the worship begins with a classical prelude and everything is very polished and smooth and practiced. There is a choir, dressed in robes, who with the choir director leads the congregation in great hymns of the faith. Everyone knows their place and everything seems to be very closely directed. Having your head in worship is powerful as well.

There are battles that go on in churches over which way their worship should be. Should it be contemporary or traditional? Loud or contemplative? heart or head?

Whichever is more comfortable for us is where we seem to worship though, isn't it? If we don't like the hands raised high, swaying to the music, we tend to gravitate toward the other end. And if you prefer that style of worship, you feel worship is empty without it.

Doesn't it seem more appropriate to ask God—the object of worship—what kind of worship he prefers? Turn with me to Psalm 95.

It seems like the first few verses point to praise, maybe even shouting, and the next stanza calls for us to worship and bow down. There is a tension there, isn't there? Perhaps what David is describing is less tension, and more balance. Perhaps what God wants is not swinging from the chandeliers nor icy, somber worship. Let's go back to the passage from last week in John 4.
Jesus tells the woman at the well that God desires his people to worship in spirit and in truth. Let's put that in context of the conversation. The woman asked Jesus which place was correct for worship, Gerazim or Moriah. What's the difference? The Samaritans rejected most of the Old Testament, and had their own version of the Pentateuch, the first five books. You could say that their knowledge of God was deficient, because they didn't have the whole thing and what they did have was their own version. But the worship on Gerazim was passionate. It has been described as enthusiastic heresy—Plenty of spirit, but no truth.

On the other hand, on Moriah, the Jews worshiped with a barren, lifeless orthodoxy. They had truth, but no spirit. What Jesus was saying was that the location didn't matter, what mattered was the balance of worship.

When Jesus refers to worship in spirit, he is talking about the inner person, affirming that worship involves the emotions. You can go to church, wear the right clothes, say the right words, sing the right songs, stand, kneel, and sit at the right time—and still not worship. That's because worship is not on the outside action, but what flows from the inside spirit—it springs from the heart.

When Jesus refers to worship in truth, we need to know that we are worshiping in accordance with what the Bible says. True worship is not our version, but is grounded in, based upon, and is an expression of God's truth.

John Piper writes, “Truth without emotion produces dead orthodoxy, and a church of artificial admirers..but emotion without truth produces empty frenzy and cultivates shallow people who refuse the discipline of rigorous thought. True worship comes from people who are deeply emotional AND who love deep and sound doctrine.”

My challenge for you this morning is to ask yourself where you are in worship. Do you limit your emotions—worshiping without life or heart or spirit? Or are you on the other extreme, not grounded in scripture, with little interest in what the Bible has to tell us about Truth? Christ calls for us to worship in spirit AND in truth—not one or the other. At the same time, notice that Christ calls us to have both in our lives, for it is possible to exist without either—but we can't call it worship. Worship MUST have spirit and truth, expressed in heart and head, and it will bear fruit in our daily lives—our hands.

Oops, skipped a week!

How do WE Worship?

Preached at Hallam and Martell UMCs, August 19, 2007.

When I say the word worship, what comes to mind? Is it what happens at church? Is it a kind of music? Is it going to church? Is it studying and listening to the Word of God? Is it a noun or a verb? Over the next few weeks, I would like to explore our concepts of worship. Why? Because I believe our relationship with God directly affects every aspect of our life. Not just our church life, which I know that you would agree with me on, but every aspect of our lives. Our relationships with each other, our work, our financial decisions, even our recreation.

I want to challenge you a bit this morning by asking you to honestly evaluate your average Sunday morning. Do you roll out of bed with a sense of anticipation—or obligation? Do you fret about what you are going to wear to church—whether it is appropriate or not? Is the atmosphere in your car on the way here pretty tense, and then it suddenly changes when you walk into the church? Do you like the early service because it leaves you the rest of the day to do other stuff? Do you wonder what to pray about during silent prayer? Do you leave church without having sensed the presence of God?

I’d like to invite you to turn in your Bibles with me this morning to Isaiah, chapter 1. In this passage God calls out to the heavens and the earth and tells all creation that he has rejected the nation of Israel—his children, his chosen people. He then turns his address to the people of Israel and tells them why and what they must do to remedy the situation.

The problem is that we don’t have to stretch too far, theologically speaking, to put those who follow Jesus Christ—those who have been grafted into the vine, in the same position. We can look at what Isaiah refers to as the nation of Israel, and substitute our name or denomination or even church in the text.

Look with me at vss. 11-15. The people were doing everything they thought they were supposed to do. They were making sacrifices, on schedule, for all the things that they were supposed to. They were tithing! They were following the law laid down for them—why would God refuse their sacrifices? Because right acts from wrong hearts are never acceptable to God. Even the right form is unacceptable if they are merely forms—their sacrifices were not made from a repentant heart, their were to spare themselves the punishment of God—that’s nothing more than bribery, and you can’t bribe God.

They were observing the special holidays: for us that might be observing Lent or Advent, or even making sure we come to church most Sundays. Yet God was tired of it because they were simply following the law, not truly worshiping.

They were even praying. And God said Yet God wants more than just going through the motions. What God was rejecting here was mechanically responding to what we have been told that we are supposed to do.

God wants more.

God desires a change of mind. Look at vs. 16. Isaiah tells them to “stop all this evil.” They are to wash and make themselves clean. This isn’t a change in the order of worship—it was a change in them—on the inside—that makes their worship acceptable to God.

God desires a change in action—specifically to help those who are oppressed, to give orphans theirrights, and to defend widows—actions of justice. This is not just stop what you’re doing, it is stop doing evil, and do what is right and just.

God desires a change of heart. God said “Let’s settle the matter” You are stained with sin—deeper and darker than any dye or color. But God holds the door open and says “I will wash you clean.” Yet there is a change of heart required—The Good News Version says “If you will only obey me…,” but every other version out there adds more depth to it. God tells the people “if you are willing and obedient.” . In contrast, He tells them that they will not prosper if they “refuse and rebel.” Feel the difference there? Their hearts had to be right—not just their actions. Think about what Jesus said in Matthew 7:22—that many will say, “Lord, Lord, in your name we spoke God’s message, by your name we drove out many demons and performed many miracles!” But God will turn them away—I never knew you.

So its not the offering, the sermon, the music, or even the fellowship with each other that make what we do on Sunday morning worship. It is not the bulletin style, the order of worship, whether we pray the Lord’s Prayer, or anything like that. It is what is in YOUR heart. Worship is not a matter of what you do as much as it is a matter of who you are.

Look at it this way. If you were going to visit the President of the United States, you wouldn’t just show up would you? Wouldn’t you want to be informed, to ask good questions, be prepared to have a conversation? Well, you are meeting here with the Creator of the Universe—shouldn’t he get at least as much preparation?

So how do we prepare? Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” Have you received Jesus Christ as your Savior for the forgiveness of your sins? That’s the washing Isaiah refers to, and because of Jesus we know what he meant. Second, closely examine yourself—better yet, ask God to reveal to you the things which separate you in worship. Pray the prayer of David (Psalm 139:23-24), “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Think about the songs you sing. Consider the words and make them the prayer of your heart. Join in the prayers of others. As you hear their requests, join with them in lifting them up to God. Show how you value God’s word—pay attention to what the Word says—in study, or even listening to a sermon, take notes. I’ve given you some other ideas that might take you a little deeper there on the bulletin. Consider your heart and live out your worship.

One final thing—don’t leave today without getting something out of worship—and remember you get out what you put in. Put in your heart.

Soaring to New Life with God

Preached at Hallam and Martell UMCs August 12, 2007.

Scoop: This week, we have been exploring wonderful Bible stories and the sport of hot-air ballooning. We have all been learning about soaring to new heights…with God! Now I know that you parents are anxious to hear about everything we learned this week, so I want to introduce to you someone the kids have been learning from all week. Please meet Skylar, the scampering, skimming, scholarly, skillful, and squealing sky squirrel!

(Skylar squeals and appears)

Skylar: Hello, friends! My name is Skylar the Sky Squirrel—I’m an expert at flying, floating, and having fun!

Scoop: I’m glad you’re here today, Skylar. There are a lot of people here today want to know what we have been talking about this week.

Skylar: Well, let’s get started! We’ve been learning about God’s love, folks!

Scoop: That’s a great place to start, Skylar! Soaring to new heights with God means having a strong relationship with God. What did we learn on our first day?

Skylar: Some of you have seen a hot air balloon in the sky. But I bet there is something you didn’t notice—something very important. There are people who follow the balloon in a car or truck. They are called the chase crew. Their job is to know where the balloon is at all times.

Scoop: That’s right, Skylar. We learned that following is very important. On our first day at VBS, we learned about Abraham and how he followed God. On the second day we learned…

Skylar: We learned that hot air ballooning requires us to trust something we can’t see—the air inside the balloon that lifts the balloon high in the air.

Scoop: We also learned that trust was a vital part of the story of Joseph. All through his life he always trusted God.

Skylar: On day 3, we learned that balloonists usually fly in the early morning hours—that’s when the wind is the calmest. And we learned that being calm and quiet and listening is important in our relationship with God.

Scoop: In learning to listen to Jesus, we learned about Mary and Martha, and how important it is to take time to listen. Now, on day 4, we learned how the pilot of the hot air balloon has to go around obstacles like trees, wires, mountains, or buildings.

Skylar: We also learned that the obstacles we face aren’t always on the outside—sometimes we need to repent of the things that separate us from God, and each other.

Scoop: Finally, on Friday, we learned about Peter and how he was called to serve.

Skylar: So this week we have learned that God wants us It would be great if we could do that every day! Hey Scoop, why don’t you talk to these folks a little more about Peter and what Jesus calls us to do?

Scoop: Alright, Skylar. Why don’t you just relax for a while, and maybe we’ll see you later?

Skylar: OK, Scoop! See you later, folks!

This past week at VBS, I have watched as the kids have been encouraged to follow, to trust, to listen, to repent, and to serve. And in some cases, I have even seen them put it into action!

You see, God has been working through those who have been ministering to the children all week. I have seen children learn in games and through stories, show creative streaks in crafts, rejoice and dance in song, and celebrate with snacks!

I have to share with you one particular story of God at work this week. A little girl was dancing during music time and fell, hurting her finger. The tears just rolled down her cheeks as she cried. I asked her if she would let me see her finger, if she wanted some ice, if she wanted to sit on the pew, all to no avail. All she was going to do, it seemed was cry. At this point, I called the other kids over to gather around her and told them that because we had been talking about prayer all week that it was time to pray right now for their friend. Together, we prayed that her finger wouldn’t hurt anymore and that she would know how special she was to all of us and to God. I said amen, and looked at her as she looked at her finger in amazement. She began to laugh and we celebrated together.

The last day we focused on the Bible passage you heard earlier. The children were told that Jesus told Peter to serve those around him with the words “Feed my Sheep.” I would like to suggest to you that those words take on particular meaning when you explore the Greek that this passage was originally written in.

In our English translation, we lose sight of the questions Jesus asked, Peter’s answers, and Jesus’ commands. Jesus told Peter to feed his sheep three times, but he uses a different word the first time. Instead of adult sheep – probaton – Jesus uses the word that describes a very young sheep, a lamb – arnion.

It has been suggested that Jesus asks this same question of whether he loves him three times in order to help Peter fully understand the forgiveness Christ has given to him. Remember Peter denied Jesus three times the night he was betrayed. Do you remember who asked him the questions? Peter’s denial begins in John 18:17 as he is asked by a slavegirl if he knows Jesus. The word translated slavegirl here refers to a very young girl, what we might consider a child. The other two times he is asked by others in the courtyard, and by the servant of the high priest.

But remember our focus on the command “feed my sheep?” I want to suggest to you that Jesus was forgiving Peter for the betrayals of that night, and further, giving him a mission of service. The first was to children and teens—the young girl who asked Peter first, to which Jesus replied “feed my young sheep.” The second is to those who are our peers—those who were gathered with Peter in the courtyard, and the third is to those whose status in society may be different from ours, the poor and the oppressed, the servant of the high priest. In reference to both of these groups, Jesus gave the command, “feed my sheep.”

So how do we apply that in our world today? How do we “feed his sheep?” As followers of Christ we are called to minister to each of these groups of people. The young—maybe that means VBS, or Sunday School, being an advocate for children, or simply helping them to grow in the right direction. Our peers?—that might mean meeting together for worship, or in a small group, discussing how God is working in your lives. Those other than our peers?—that might be ministries providing food for mission programs or sending care packages to service members.

No matter the ministry, we are called to participate and to pray. We are called to serve—to Feed His Sheep. And I promise that when you do, you will be exhilarated—you will soar to a new life with God!

Preached at Hallam and Martell UMCs August 5^th, 2007.

As most of you know, I spent last weekend in Chadron at the Walk to Emmaus. I had a wonderful time and God was active and moving while I was there. But I have to tell you about my trip there.

So there I was, in my pickup on the way to Chadron. I was focused on the trip, I knew where I was going, and I knew what time I had to be there. But, somewhere between Grand Island and Kearney, my pickup started sputtering. I decided to stop in Kearney and replace the fuel filter. While I was underneath, I noticed that the transmission was leaking severely. I had replaced a seal there some time ago, but since the output shaft was worn, it still leaked. I went back into the parts store, bought some grease and put it in, and was back on the road.

A little further down the road, west of North Platte, I heard a strange sound underneath my pickup. I pulled over to check it out and my exhaust pipe had fallen off and was dragging! I pulled it off, through it in the back of my truck and kept going—I was on a schedule!

Aren’t the problems I had with my pickup similar to life in the church? Sometimes it seems as though things and people keep falling off. You are sometimes afraid that you might not make it to the next destination. But you will make it, you just have to keep eyes focused on where you’re going. That’s what Paul said in his letter to the Colossians: So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4).

All the things that went wrong with my pickup could have been avoided with a little regular maintenance—just like the church, and honestly in our own personal lives. Think about the things that went wrong:

The fuel filter plugged. In order for the pickup to run right, you need a steady flow of fuel. We need a steady diet of Holy Spirit to run right. How do we get that? Through steady diet of bible study.

I had a bad seal on the transmission. In order to find out that the level of grease was low, I had to stick my finger in and poke around a little. In our own lives, we need to have a little self-examination. We need to open up our hearts and minds and ask the hard questions: do I spend enough time in prayer; Do I need to study more; have I wronged anyone; do I need to forgive someone, etc. Further, we need to have prayer in our life because it is the grease that makes life work—so add some today!

My exhaust fell off. The exhaust pipe makes sure all the noxious fumes from the engine are safely out of the vehicle—without it, poison builds up in the cab—and it will kill you! Paul addresses this as well: Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. But now you must get rid of all such things -- anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. (Colossians 3:5-10).

In our personal life, there are things like Sin, and foul thoughts and attitudes that, if we don’t get them out of our lives, will build up and kill us. In the church, we have the same things: our attitudes, actions, if they are not in check, guided by the Holy Spirit, will build up and kill the church! Confession makes sure all the poisonous thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and words are safely out—you are forgiven, alive and free.

This morning you have an opportunity

- To change the filter - commit to dedicate time to study

- To check the transmission - spend time in prayer

- To make sure the exhaust is secure - to confess and repent

The opportunity for all of this is right here, at the table of our Lord.

Come Away

Preached at Hallam and Martell United Methodist Churches July 22, 2007.

The Hog roast yesterday, I believe, was a success! We served a lot of people and made a few dollars. There was good music, good fellowship, and good food. Every single guest seemed to have a good time. But did the people of the church?

The preparation for this event seemed to all come in a flurry at the end. There was meat to cook and pull apart, salads and desserts to make, setup to be done for seating. A lot of work went into this event. And how many of us thought that, at some point along the line, this thing isn’t going to work—the tickets are too pricey, nobody knows about it, the food isn’t good enough, the band is too expensive or too secular, there’s not enough toilet paper in the ladies room, whatever? I have to admit that I felt that way at many times the whole week before.

Then, this morning’s scripture is about Mary and Martha. Talk about appropriate! Now before you think I’m pointing fingers, you need to know that I didn’t pick it, it is part of the lectionary, a listing of passages to be read on any given Sunday, chosen many years ago and planned for years in advance.

Martha was doing all the preparation for the meal that had to made while Jesus was there. Everything had to be made from scratch—there was a lot to do—and Mary was just sitting on her butt listening to Jesus! If it wasn’t for Martha, nothing would have been done and dinner would have been terrible. At least that is how Martha felt. I’m sure that many of us can identify with Martha. There were things that had to be done, and she was the only one who was going to do them—if she didn’t do it, it wouldn’t get done.

Our culture looks at Martha and asks, “What’s the problem?” She is productive, she is hard-working, dependable, conscientious—all admirable traits—especially to us as Americans. We look at Mary and call her a slacker—she’s not getting anything done! We think that maybe Jesus was a little hard on poor Martha. We hear Jesus words as a rebuke to Martha, and it goes right over our heads as o why we think that.

Perhaps Jesus’ words were not a rebuke. Perhaps they were nothing so harsh and stinging. They seem to me to be gentler, a calling rather than a rebuke.

Jesus is concerned about Martha—Jesus described her as “worried” and “distracted.” --words that can describe us almost any given day. We rush about our lives accomplishing one task after another, all while looking ahead to the next. Many of my days could be described as worried and distracted.

Oh, I want to be less distracted and worried, like Mary. Yet so much would go undone! Worse yet, I find myself jealous of Mary—oh, for the luxury of sitting at Jesus feet! That would be just another thing on my long list of things to do!

Worse yet, we know we need to spend that time with Jesus. So we come up with quick devotionals—we read the Upper Room—spending five minutes or less in the practice of being close to God, thinking that we are being fair to Jesus and ourselves, yet really only checking an item off our lists.

How many of us know we need to spend some time at the feet of Jesus—yet think we don’t have the time? Worse yet, how many of us think that time would be…wasted? Friends, I believe that Jesus calls each of us to spend some time with him…not a token 5 minutes, but real time—time to know, to understand, to simply be.

How can we do that? There are a lot of things.

First, let’s establish some time before church, or sometime during the week—either early or late—to get together and talk, encouraging each other and praying together, growing deeper in fellowship and sharing our burdens and joys with God.

Second, I want to recommend the Walk to Emmaus. There is something special about getting away for a weekend with God. I promise you that you won’t regret it. I’ve heard all the excuses, but the most common is, “I don’t have time.” By the way, the worst excuse I’ve heard is, “I don’t need it.” …We all need to spend that time with God.

A few years ago, a singer named Norah Jones came out with a love song called “Come Away with Me.” Now, she intended it to a song between two lovers. But friends, I believe that this song is appropriate for us to consider. Jesus calls us to spend time with him, and OUR hearts long for the time spent with Jesus, just as we long to be loved and accepted by others,

Come away with me in the night
Come away with me
And I will write you a song

Come away with me on a bus
Come away where they can't tempt us
With their lies

I want to walk with you
On a cloudy day
In fields where the yellow grass grows knee-high
So won't you try to come?

Come away with me and we'll kiss
On a mountaintop
Come away with me
And I'll never stop loving you

And I want to wake up with the rain
Falling on a tin roof
While I'm safe there in your arms
So all I ask is for you
To come away with me in the night

Christ calls for us to set aside our worries and distractions, to simply “come away” for a moment—to love and to be loved. Won’t you respond to the calling? Let’s pray…

Good Samaritan Time

Preached at Hallam and Martell UMCs, July 15, 2007.

This morning’s passage about the Good Samaritan is very familiar to many people. We have all likely heard that story many times. Even people who have never read the Bible know about the Good Samaritan. There are Good Samaritan Hospitals, Good Samaritan churches, Good Samaritan care centers, even Good Samaritan insurance.

It starts out with a man trying to trap Jesus. He knew the commandment to love his neighbor, so he simply asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” He wanted to know who it was that he had an obligation to love. There are two things obviously wrong here: First, asking “who is my neighbor” implies that there are those who are not my neighbors. It’s not “who should I love” as much as “who can I NOT love?”

The second problem here is also implied by the question, and deals with the obligation to love someone. Now I’ve met a lot of people, some of whom I found delightful, and others…well, let’s say I found them harder to love. In fact there have been many I didn’t even like. I have heard people say, “I don’t like that person, but Jesus tells me I have to love them.” It seems as though there is something wrong about that—and I think it’s the obligation.

Jesus took the man’s question and answered it with a story. His story transformed the man’s question, “who am I obligated to love,” and changed the focus from the person to the act—love is not focused on the person, it is selfless.

Some of the early church fathers, including Irenaus and Clement of Alexandria, saw this parable as an allegory for how Christ saves a fallen humanity. The traveler walking down the road is humanity, the robbers are the devil, and the wounds are sin. The Samaritan is Jesus, the donkey is his body, and the inn is the church. And the fact that the Samaritan promises to return is Jesus promise to come again.

When we forget about WHO we are to love and simply love those who need to be loved, we follow in the footsteps of Christ.

What would that look like today? Imagine you are driving to California to see some friends. You happen to be traveling along I-80 through Wyoming. There is a long stretch of that highway which is pretty isolated—there are cattle guards on the exits, and you are far more likely to see an antelope than anything else living.

As you drive along, somewhere out past the 27^th billboard for Little America, you see a car stopped on the side of the road. As you drive past, you notice that the driver is slumped over the wheel. You decide to stop and see if he is alright. You back your car up the shoulder till you get to where his is and get out and tap on his window. He sits up slowly and you can see that he has been badly beaten—the blood that ran from a nasty cut on his scalp has dried on his face, and the swelling and bruises are beginning to show.

You ask what happened and he tells you that his friends, or who he thought were his friends, were coming back from a wedding. Last night they pulled a knife on him and told him to pull over. They beat him and took all his money, then another car pulled up and they got in that car and left him there. He had been trying to figure out what to do, when you pulled up.

You offer to take him the next 40 miles on to Rawlins to get help, and he accepts. You help him into your car and drive on. You take him to the emergency room and wait while they patch him up, and then you find a hotel in Rawlins and go in. You hand the person behind the counter your credit card and tell them that you need a room for three days, and explain that it is not for you, but for your friend. You tell them that he has some things to straighten out and whatever he needs, tow truck, doctor, meals from the café, whatever, take care of it. You tell them that when you come back through next week you’ll settle the bill with them. You help the man to his room, and go on to California.

You see friends, the parable of the Samaritan is not about whether the traveler was a neighbor. He didn’t get to choose who was on the road or who he would care for. He simply loved.

Would the right thing to do have been to turn him over to the system? Or to love him? Friends, we are called to love—regardless of how much time it takes out of our day, or what kind of sacrifice we have to make. We are called simply to love and show compassion.

Let us pray…