Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 7.3- I am indebted to Jason Nobles, the minister for Friendly Avenue Church of Christ in Greensboro, N.C. in his lesson of 6.25.22   Matthew 5. 43  “You have heard that it was said, ‘ You shall love your neighbor  and hate your enemy.’   44  But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,   45  so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on  the  evil and  the  good, and sends rain on  the  righteous and  the  unrighteous.   46  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors, do they not do the same?   47  And if you greet only your brothers  and sisters , what more are you doing  than others ? Even the Gentiles, do they not do the same?   48  Therefore you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Living in a world with enemies Tests our obedience. Tests our allegiance. Tests our courage. Test our pride. According to Jesus we have sp

 7.2- There have been many blessings that have come to me from surprising places in the last few years. Walking has turned into a chance to see things I never noticed before. I see a chameleon on my brown brick who looks a bit different than yesterday. Is he the same one or has he changed colors? When it comes to the subject of changing with surroundings there is a bit of a paradox. I need to adapt to the language and tone of people around me so I can communicate with them. I need to be careful about needlessly offending people when I am trying to build them up in good things. Yes, there are times and places to adapt. On the other hand there are core principles that I cannot move from and be who I really am. I have a friend who worked for a sales company and was asked to use what he considered manipulative tactics to make more sales. He told them that his method of selling was to treat others they way he wanted to be treated and he could not move from that position to get more

7.1- Walk into any room full of people. It doesn't matter how poor they are or how rich they are they are all people of infinite value to their creator. All humans are imperfect. If you focus on their flaws and desire to be someone who judges and criticizes them then you will find their faults. If you are looking for their good points and want to use that to help them become better people then you can partner with them to that end. Our world is made better when people enter a room to help everyone in the room. We are better served by humble self examination than by prideful looking down on others. 1 Cor. 13. 13  If I speak with the tongues of mankind and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.   2  If I have  the gift of  prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.   3  And if I give away all my possessions  to charity , and if I surrender m

 6/30- The sermons I have seen today. People being kind and gentle with each other. Old and young. Black, white and brown. Middle eastern and western. Highly educated and craftsmen. Lowering of anxiety. Peacefulness and calm being passed around in common greetings. People being very patient with each other. It was in the context of a hospital. Some were there for tests and others to get the results of scans that would determine the next set of challenges before them. A few were there to help get the next generation of children on the earth to a safe landing. Some with tubes bringing in O2 and some taking out body fluids. All needing the help of each other. There were nurses and doctors. There were policemen and security barriers set up to see why we were there and what was our business. This atmosphere I first noticed after 911. We were all so broken and wounded and crying about our nation. We have come back into the gentle atmosphere among civilized citizens because of the

 6.29- I like red letter Bibles where Jesus words are highlighted. His life was perfect and so were His words. Very few red letters outside of the first four books of the new testament, the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. One of the few places is Acts 20 "It is more blessed to give than receive."

 6.28- Stand up straight. Head up. Look people in the eye. Give a good firm handshake when you meet people.Chest up and spine straight, not stooped. You are as good as anyone and they are as good as you. Enjoy your work and have fun in your work. Walk like you are a confident person. These principles were never taught to me by some specific classes. They were taught to me by my Father mostly by his example. Once a man came to visit me in Denver. I was to meet him at church and he got there before me. He had never met me before or seen my picture. Several men arrived before I did. He walked right up to me and said, "You must be Reed's brother. You walk just like him." Happy fathers day in heaven to daddy and Reed. Malachi 4. 5  “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the  Lord .   6  He will turn the hearts of the fathers back to  their  children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will

 6.27- BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR A PROSTITUTE                              Matthew 9:1-13                                  Tony Campolo          Do we have an intense yearning for the souls of men and women who do not know God? Are we only concerned about the so-called respectable? How do we feel about drug addicts? How do we feel about prostitutes? How do we feel about alcoholics? The following story is told by Tony Campolo, professor of sociology at Eastern College, which illustrates the concern for the lost, even prostitutes.         He tells the story of his visit to Honolulu for a Christian conference. Early in the morning, he ventured out of his hotel to find a coffee shop. He found a tiny coffee shop and walked in and sat down. The following is his description of the events: The heavyset guy in a greasy apron behind the counter came over and asked me, “What do you want?” I told him I wanted a cup of coffee and a donut. As I sat there munching on my donut and sipping my coffee at 3:3