Called to Love.
On Wednesday James blogged about what he believes we are called to do.
He came up with: “Love God, love others, heal the sick, raise the dead, drive out demons, freely give, make disciples, teach people to obey God.”
I agree! Awesome. But, similar to the criticism I had of the Jesus Culture conference, where is “Feed the hungry, clothe the naked” etc etc? Aren’t there a few missing?
James jumped back - and rightly so - with “these things are simply loving people”. so under “love others” comes; “Feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, invite strangers in, clothe those who need clothes, look after the sick, visit the prisoners. However you treat people is how you are treating God, so treat people like the king of Kings.”
His observation though, was that we’ve forgotten that this is what love actually looks like. That, as blessed people in a blessed country, with a western lifestyle, we simply don’t see that there are people who need feeding, or inviting in. Or maybe we do see it as plane as day… but we leave it to ‘The Salvos‘*. It’s not our job, someone else will do it.
No. That won’t do.
Invite someone over.
Give someone your left over food. Better yet, cook someone a meal and have the leftovers yourself.
Give your clothes away. And not just the old ones.
Visit Gaol, and Hospital.
Love on people whether you know them or not. Because even if you don’t think you know them, you’re doing these things for Jesus.
And don’t worry, I’m talking to myself as much as I’m talking to anyone else.
* The Salvos, The Govt., St Vinnies, Mission Australia etc etc. who all do a GREAT job, but only because we fall severely short.
* AND if you’re a soldier or officer then remember YOU ARE The Salvation Army, so start loving. Or keep loving. But just do it!
Blessed.
So blessed, I can’t contain it.
So much I’ve gotta give it away!
I have had the most blessed 2 weeks.
I have been blown away by the power and love of Jesus.
Jesus is LORD.
Jesus is my LORD.
Do you want to get a person?
A friend of mine sent me a link to this article today: It talks about a new book that Benjamin Skinner has written A Crime So Monstrous: Face-to-Face with Modern-Day Slavery.
Read this: Article
There are lots of books about now, talking about similar things. It certainly seems like people want to make sure that we don’t forget that the slave trade hasn’t actually been abolished.
I watched a video recently which is along similar lines. This one especially has a huge emphasis on the fact that WE can end slavery. There ARE things that we can do to bring about its end.
Watch this: Slavery in the New Global Economy
Speaking of things we can do; FREEDOM Day is coming up in WA. We’re screening “The Jammed”. If you haven’t seen it, or even if you have, get along and bring all of your friends. It’s on the 19th of April (NB: New Date) in the Evening at Perth Fortress Corps of The Salvation Army. There will be fairly traded tea and coffee served and some nibblies provided by a great organic food company.
Go here: The Jammed Website
p.s. read James Thompson’s blog.
ACT NOW for Australia.
For people who want to “Act Now” on the Australia 2020 Summit, the online community created a wiki so people across Australia could post, discuss, and vote on the best ideas for the country. It’s totally a grassroots effort. It’s free, can be anonymous, and isn’t being sponsored by any political party, business, union, or special interests. It’s just people who want to encourage an online national brainstorming session.
From Jim, the wiki creator;
The site is at ozideas.wetpaint.com. There are pages for over 20 different issues and even an online petition to get the best ideas heard at the actual Summit.
The more people know about it, the more ideas are submitted, and the better the discussion. It’s a great way for everyone to participate in the summit.
Also check out ACT NOW, an amazing website bringing together GREAT ideas from passionate Revolutionaries.
Mother Teresa
I was reading an article about Mother Teresa today.. and one small paragraph caught my eye:
She was a Catholic fundamentalist who opposed the Vatican Council reforms of the 1960s, and tried to intervene in an Irish referendum on abortion. The Church accepted her only because she attracted new believers.
Now, I don’t know much about the things she was fighting for, it didn’t go into it, and I don’t know enough about her life, but I’m sure she probably made a habit of causing a stir. I’m sure that she was being obedient to God no matter what the “rules” were. She was fighting for something.*
But, I think the greatest thing about this passage is that they liked her too much because of it. Haha! I think it’s sometimes the same for the “Salvos” that you hear about that are a little “wacky” or “out-there”. They’re fighting for things that matter, and saying things or doing things here and there, that maybe haven’t been approved by the PR department… But, generally those are the ones who are in Corps and Out-posts who are getting people saved, seeing souls won for the Kingdom. Hallelujah!
Bring it on LORD! 
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* Quote of the Week: “The difference between people that do something and people that don’t do something, is that the people that do something, do something.” Banning Leibscher (find him at JesusCulture.org)
one+two+three+four+five+six
So a few things:
1. Jesus is amazing. And He told me some things tonight that made me cry but in a good way. If I seek Him, He will be found by me, if I seek Him with all my heart. Praise the Lord. He loves us. Oh, How he loves us.
2. We are the light of the world. Read: YOU are the light of the world. And your light CANNOT be hidden. Not, SHOULD not, CAN NOT be hidden. The Darkness has no choice but to run. So STOP putting the basket over your head! (I’m yelling this to myself really loadly)
3. Come down to JESUS CULTURE tomorrow at 9.30am to do some City Invading, or if you have no money but wanna get in on the Holy Spirit dance party action, come down at 5.30pm. 171 Rooks Rd, VERMONT (Just off Canterbury Rd - Victoria that is..)
4. The WA Police don’t like our ideas about Freedom Day, which means we’re going to have re-think our strategy a little. God grant us some more super-amazing ideas. Or tell those Police men & women to be nice to us. Plus, isn’t there something in the old rules that says The Salvation Army is allowed to gather in public anywhere they want to?
5. Our WA Social Justice group were talking about how we might need a bit of a budget for things we wanna tackle this year, even if for printing costs and the like.. I thought a nice starting figure would be $5000, so I put it out there, everyone thought it was a crazy optomistic number. Found out today the DC is willing to honour the $5000 for the year. Bring it!! I should make crazy suggestions all the time. So, $5000 isn’t that much, but God - please multiply it, so that we can to do our bit so that Your Justice can be seen.
6. Jesus is LORD.
Pleasing to Him.
I listened to some great teaching by Rob Bell today. I podcast the sermons from his church - Mars Hill Bible Church. Check it out, his teachings (and those from others who preach there) are refreshing, and normally the perfect length for the train ride to Uni!
Life has been a little messy lately, but I was reminded today that God is good (Hallelujah! - although it sucks that I needed reminding). And just because I generalise things, and universalise circumstances, doesn’t mean that things will not, turn out for my deliverance.
Thanks to your prayers, and the magnificent power and provision of the Spirit - they will. Check out Philippians 1:19.
On another note, I’m heading to Melbourne very early Wednesday morning. If anyone wants to catch up while I’m over there drop me a line, or an email kathleenpearce[at]gmail[dot]com
And I’ll leave you with my new favourite benediction…
Hebrews 13:20-21 (NIV)
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
