Friday: Do Unto Others 5

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Goooood Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, it is Friday, the day we pray for all God's workers. Are you on that prayer list today?? You should be, you know. Also today I want you to pray for the family of a dear friend of mine, Leslie. This wonderful Christian lady needs prayers for her family. I am not going into details on this, I do know the problems, so trust me and just take the family of Leslie to prayer. And folks, you can do the same thing for Vicki and her family. Things are different, but the family needs prayer. Also for a teen group from Newport Assembly of God as they start their journey home after a week long retreat. Please also pray for Jennia Wyslocky who has severe pain to the point she can't even walk. Also pray for husband and wife, John and Hilda Bernard both with cancer. And while we are at it please pray for Pastor Charles Idler who had a stroke and is recovering at the Bridges. Please pray for him to be able to walk, and although retired to be able to preach again.

Do Unto Others 5: John 3: 16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (NIV)

As we talk about doing unto others all this week and most of all showing love to all, including your enemies, our Father in Heaven giving His only Son and our Lord Jesus going to the cross for all of us, for everyone, is the best, the very best example of Doing for others that I can find. Over the years we have also had many, many, thousands of men and women who have signed up for our military and went out to lay it all on the line for the freedom of us who live in the Great Nation we call America. You know, if it were not for Jesus who gave us our personal freedom, freedom from our very own stupid sins and shortcomings, to our brave fighting men and women from past wars, we might all be slaves, or we might all be speaking German, or Japanese. I want you to all think about that. Now I've been telling you all week to patch it up with family, really trying to, and if you are having trouble then let us have your names so we can start really praying for this, as we are the families today.

In the city of Harrisburg right now, the Capitol City of the State of Pennsylvania, they are having a rash of shootings. It is all over the city and not just at night. Just today our governor announced that he is sending our fine Pennsylvania State Troopers into the city to help the men of blue in town. Also a bus load of Guardian Angels from York Pennsylvania came to Harrisburg to help the neighbors.

It is so sad when we see the hate that has come into our cities and towns and even into the suburbs. People robbing, stealing, breaking into homes, even with people at home. Yesterday in the city five teens were arrested for kicking and beating up and robbing a homeless man and breaking up their cardboard city under a bridge in Harrisburg. The motive, robbery... What did they expect to get from someone who is living in a box under a bridge? Folks, we get concerned about the wars we are in, but forget that our cities have become a battlefield for most of the young people.

Why? Why? Why is this going on? I will tell you why!! In my opinion it is because we have turned our backs on God. People want things for nothing, they want to get handouts from our government, they want to ride the system. I am not talking unemployment here for those who have lost a job and are looking, I am talking those who just do not go to work. I have driven through the city and there is litter and trash that people will not pick up in front of their own house. And the dear sweet people who are trapped there are afraid to sit on their porch. Maybe it is time when these young ones face the judge that they are sentenced to GO TO CHURCH, AND A GOOD ONE, one that still teaches and preaches the truth. Jesus stands for Love and over the years He has been kicked out of schools, government buildings, even parks and places that are owned by the government. Yes, what we are lacking is the love that Jesus taught us, and the reason is people are not going into the fields of harvest to teach it.

Years ago big city churches would not open the doors for changing neighborhoods. They did not go out and greet people of other colors or from other counties because they were different. Then the big city churches started to close because nobody came.

Folks it is time to get back to the basics. Love your Lord God and Love your neighbor.. It is time to get back to Jesus, for if we soon do not get back to Jesus. It is time we take it serious about spreading the good news. And when Churches start talking about mission trips, maybe, just maybe, instead of heading to some far off country, they just need to CROSS THE STREET!

IS SOMEONE GOING TO YELL OUT AMEN ... I am ready to preach this one folks. We, you and me, us, all of us, we need to pray and then get to work for Jesus. We need to share our blessings, and the love of Jesus. We need to work for Jesus. If we had Jesus on the streets, meaning His word on the streets, the State Police would not need to be called into the cities. Jesus is the answer ... and believe it or not, BELIEVE IT OR NOT ... HE IS STILL ON THE THRONE, HE IS STILL IN CONTROL, AND HE IS STILL LOVING ALL, INCLUDING HIS ENEMIES. Listen to these very, very good and some of the last words He spoke on the cross as He was facing those who had hung Him on the cross ... From John 23: 34 - Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (NIV) We know what we are doing, right or wrong, we know what we are doing, let's get it done right, let's get it done for Jesus and let's start getting it done today ... LOVE THEM NEIGHBORS.

Dear Father in Heaven, please heal the families of Vicki and Leslie, and please Lord, touch Pastor Charles and heal him to preach again. And Lord, help us to get busy working the fields for You and help us learn the fields might just be in our own neighborhood. Lord, bless the workers with their needs and keep them safe. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

Go forth sharing those blessings, and really caring about your neighbors. Llove them, love them even more if they do not like you ... Can you do that, not for me, but for yourself and for Jesus?
I Love you folks ... Pastor Dan.