To my Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

We are living in very troubled times, and I'm shaken. My faith is not shaken, but I'm greatly disturbed of the manner of current human interaction. It is imperative that we, people of faith, rise to this occasion with compassion and understanding, with respect for one another and with the moral courage and clarity to address the wrongs of hate and violence.

How did we get here? Were we lulled into apathy and complacency? Have we become blind and callous to the needs of others driven by indifference and untruths? Do we "see" others contrary to the ways God in Christ "sees" them? Do we judge others by different standards than we "see" ourselves? have we lost the "fear" of God and turned in the direction of "fear" of one another?

We as children of God, as Sisters and Brothers in Christ, need affirm the love God in Christ has for us, a love not conditioned by borders and languages, of skin tone and ethnicity, of power and wealth, of age or creed. Therefore, as Christians, we must speak up and act according to the precious faith we have been given. The human dilemma we now find ourselves in is one not of the agendas of political preferences and opportunity; it runs much deeper. For far too long, sin has brewed to such large proportions, fueled by increasing hate and indifference, that the human family is broken and divided, a human family for whom Jesus was willing to die.

This isn't about "singling" out blame and cause. We are so far from the "roots" of and symbols of reinforcement utilized to divide and separate that we will not be able to make our way out of this "mess" by human tactics and effort alone. We need God's help, a help revealed truly in Christ Jesus, Our love and care for one another must be "rooted" in the unconditional love of Jesus that prompted the "haters" to lead him to the cross. But this "hate" did not have the last word on Jesus. He rose from the dead and is present with us, helping and guiding us into the way of life, life that surpasses the sin that promotes brokenness and death.

Before the Apostle Paul met up with the Risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, he too participated in the sin that divides and breaks. From that experience, Paul was able "change" and move into the way of God's love and grace in Christ Jesus. From there, he could witness: "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection... Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer... Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take though for what is noble in the sight of all... Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:9-21).

God in Christ has given us the gifts and the empowerment to get beyond this hate and hurt; therefore we need be "vigilant" in faith, love, and hope and not resort to the tactics of "vigilantism" which bear the marks of self-asserted divide and separation. Christ died for all of us so that none of us should ever again die at the hands of oppression and hate.

May God's love for us in Christ help to transform us into the kind of people God created us to be.  Pastor John

To my Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

We are living in very troubled times, and I'm shaken. My faith is not shaken, but I'm greatly disturbed of the manner of current human interaction. It is imperative that we, people of faith, rise to this occasion with compassion and understanding, with respect for one another and with the moral courage and clarity to address the wrongs of hate and violence.

How did we get here? Were we lulled into apathy and complacency? Have we become blind and callous to the needs of others driven by indifference and untruths? Do we "see" others contrary to the ways God in Christ "sees" them? Do we judge others by different standards than we "see" ourselves? have we lost the "fear" of God and turned in the direction of "fear" of one another?

We as children of God, as Sisters and Brothers in Christ, need affirm the love God in Christ has for us, a love not conditioned by borders and languages, of skin tone and ethnicity, of power and wealth, of age or creed. Therefore, as Christians, we must speak up and act according to the precious faith we have been given. The human dilemma we now find ourselves in is one not of the agendas of political preferences and opportunity; it runs much deeper. For far too long, sin has brewed to such large proportions, fueled by increasing hate and indifference, that the human family is broken and divided, a human family for whom Jesus was willing to die.

This isn't about "singling" out blame and cause. We are so far from the "roots" of and symbols of reinforcement utilized to divide and separate that we will not be able to make our way out of this "mess" by human tactics and effort alone. We need God's help, a help revealed truly in Christ Jesus, Our love and care for one another must be "rooted" in the unconditional love of Jesus that prompted the "haters" to lead him to the cross. But this "hate" did not have the last word on Jesus. He rose from the dead and is present with us, helping and guiding us into the way of life, life that surpasses the sin that promotes brokenness and death.

Before the Apostle Paul met up with the Risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, he too participated in the sin that divides and breaks. From that experience, Paul was able "change" and move into the way of God's love and grace in Christ Jesus. From there, he could witness: "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection... Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer... Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take though for what is noble in the sight of all... Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:9-21).

God in Christ has given us the gifts and the empowerment to get beyond this hate and hurt; therefore we need be "vigilant" in faith, love, and hope and not resort to the tactics of "vigilantism" which bear the marks of self-asserted divide and separation. Christ died for all of us so that none of us should ever again die at the hands of oppression and hate.

May God's love for us in Christ help to transform us into the kind of people God created us to be.  Pastor John

To my Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

We are living in very troubled times, and I'm shaken. My faith is not shaken, but I'm greatly disturbed of the manner of current human interaction. It is imperative that we, people of faith, rise to this occasion with compassion and understanding, with respect for one another and with the moral courage and clarity to address the wrongs of hate and violence.

How did we get here? Were we lulled into apathy and complacency? Have we become blind and callous to the needs of others driven by indifference and untruths? Do we "see" others contrary to the ways God in Christ "sees" them? Do we judge others by different standards than we "see" ourselves? have we lost the "fear" of God and turned in the direction of "fear" of one another?

We as children of God, as Sisters and Brothers in Christ, need affirm the love God in Christ has for us, a love not conditioned by borders and languages, of skin tone and ethnicity, of power and wealth, of age or creed. Therefore, as Christians, we must speak up and act according to the precious faith we have been given. The human dilemma we now find ourselves in is one not of the agendas of political preferences and opportunity; it runs much deeper. For far too long, sin has brewed to such large proportions, fueled by increasing hate and indifference, that the human family is broken and divided, a human family for whom Jesus was willing to die.

This isn't about "singling" out blame and cause. We are so far from the "roots" of and symbols of reinforcement utilized to divide and separate that we will not be able to make our way out of this "mess" by human tactics and effort alone. We need God's help, a help revealed truly in Christ Jesus, Our love and care for one another must be "rooted" in the unconditional love of Jesus that prompted the "haters" to lead him to the cross. But this "hate" did not have the last word on Jesus. He rose from the dead and is present with us, helping and guiding us into the way of life, life that surpasses the sin that promotes brokenness and death.

Before the Apostle Paul met up with the Risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, he too participated in the sin that divides and breaks. From that experience, Paul was able "change" and move into the way of God's love and grace in Christ Jesus. From there, he could witness: "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection... Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer... Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take though for what is noble in the sight of all... Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:9-21).

God in Christ has given us the gifts and the empowerment to get beyond this hate and hurt; therefore we need be "vigilant" in faith, love, and hope and not resort to the tactics of "vigilantism" which bear the marks of self-asserted divide and separation. Christ died for all of us so that none of us should ever again die at the hands of oppression and hate.

May God's love for us in Christ help to transform us into the kind of people God created us to be.  Pastor John

To my Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

We are living in very troubled times, and I'm shaken. My faith is not shaken, but I'm greatly disturbed of the manner of current human interaction. It is imperative that we, people of faith, rise to this occasion with compassion and understanding, with respect for one another and with the moral courage and clarity to address the wrongs of hate and violence.

How did we get here? Were we lulled into apathy and complacency? Have we become blind and callous to the needs of others driven by indifference and untruths? Do we "see" others contrary to the ways God in Christ "sees" them? Do we judge others by different standards than we "see" ourselves? have we lost the "fear" of God and turned in the direction of "fear" of one another?

We as children of God, as Sisters and Brothers in Christ, need affirm the love God in Christ has for us, a love not conditioned by borders and languages, of skin tone and ethnicity, of power and wealth, of age or creed. Therefore, as Christians, we must speak up and act according to the precious faith we have been given. The human dilemma we now find ourselves in is one not of the agendas of political preferences and opportunity; it runs much deeper. For far too long, sin has brewed to such large proportions, fueled by increasing hate and indifference, that the human family is broken and divided, a human family for whom Jesus was willing to die.

This isn't about "singling" out blame and cause. We are so far from the "roots" of and symbols of reinforcement utilized to divide and separate that we will not be able to make our way out of this "mess" by human tactics and effort alone. We need God's help, a help revealed truly in Christ Jesus, Our love and care for one another must be "rooted" in the unconditional love of Jesus that prompted the "haters" to lead him to the cross. But this "hate" did not have the last word on Jesus. He rose from the dead and is present with us, helping and guiding us into the way of life, life that surpasses the sin that promotes brokenness and death.

Before the Apostle Paul met up with the Risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, he too participated in the sin that divides and breaks. From that experience, Paul was able "change" and move into the way of God's love and grace in Christ Jesus. From there, he could witness: "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection... Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer... Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take though for what is noble in the sight of all... Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:9-21).

God in Christ has given us the gifts and the empowerment to get beyond this hate and hurt; therefore we need be "vigilant" in faith, love, and hope and not resort to the tactics of "vigilantism" which bear the marks of self-asserted divide and separation. Christ died for all of us so that none of us should ever again die at the hands of oppression and hate.

May God's love for us in Christ help to transform us into the kind of people God created us to be.  Pastor John

To my Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

We are living in very troubled times, and I'm shaken. My faith is not shaken, but I'm greatly disturbed of the manner of current human interaction. It is imperative that we, people of faith, rise to this occasion with compassion and understanding, with respect for one another and with the moral courage and clarity to address the wrongs of hate and violence.

How did we get here? Were we lulled into apathy and complacency? Have we become blind and callous to the needs of others driven by indifference and untruths? Do we "see" others contrary to the ways God in Christ "sees" them? Do we judge others by different standards than we "see" ourselves? have we lost the "fear" of God and turned in the direction of "fear" of one another?

We as children of God, as Sisters and Brothers in Christ, need affirm the love God in Christ has for us, a love not conditioned by borders and languages, of skin tone and ethnicity, of power and wealth, of age or creed. Therefore, as Christians, we must speak up and act according to the precious faith we have been given. The human dilemma we now find ourselves in is one not of the agendas of political preferences and opportunity; it runs much deeper. For far too long, sin has brewed to such large proportions, fueled by increasing hate and indifference, that the human family is broken and divided, a human family for whom Jesus was willing to die.

This isn't about "singling" out blame and cause. We are so far from the "roots" of and symbols of reinforcement utilized to divide and separate that we will not be able to make our way out of this "mess" by human tactics and effort alone. We need God's help, a help revealed truly in Christ Jesus, Our love and care for one another must be "rooted" in the unconditional love of Jesus that prompted the "haters" to lead him to the cross. But this "hate" did not have the last word on Jesus. He rose from the dead and is present with us, helping and guiding us into the way of life, life that surpasses the sin that promotes brokenness and death.

Before the Apostle Paul met up with the Risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, he too participated in the sin that divides and breaks. From that experience, Paul was able "change" and move into the way of God's love and grace in Christ Jesus. From there, he could witness: "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection... Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer... Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take though for what is noble in the sight of all... Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:9-21).

God in Christ has given us the gifts and the empowerment to get beyond this hate and hurt; therefore we need be "vigilant" in faith, love, and hope and not resort to the tactics of "vigilantism" which bear the marks of self-asserted divide and separation. Christ died for all of us so that none of us should ever again die at the hands of oppression and hate.

May God's love for us in Christ help to transform us into the kind of people God created us to be.  Pastor John

To my Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

We are living in very troubled times, and I'm shaken. My faith is not shaken, but I'm greatly disturbed of the manner of current human interaction. It is imperative that we, people of faith, rise to this occasion with compassion and understanding, with respect for one another and with the moral courage and clarity to address the wrongs of hate and violence.

How did we get here? Were we lulled into apathy and complacency? Have we become blind and callous to the needs of others driven by indifference and untruths? Do we "see" others contrary to the ways God in Christ "sees" them? Do we judge others by different standards than we "see" ourselves? have we lost the "fear" of God and turned in the direction of "fear" of one another?

We as children of God, as Sisters and Brothers in Christ, need affirm the love God in Christ has for us, a love not conditioned by borders and languages, of skin tone and ethnicity, of power and wealth, of age or creed. Therefore, as Christians, we must speak up and act according to the precious faith we have been given. The human dilemma we now find ourselves in is one not of the agendas of political preferences and opportunity; it runs much deeper. For far too long, sin has brewed to such large proportions, fueled by increasing hate and indifference, that the human family is broken and divided, a human family for whom Jesus was willing to die.

This isn't about "singling" out blame and cause. We are so far from the "roots" of and symbols of reinforcement utilized to divide and separate that we will not be able to make our way out of this "mess" by human tactics and effort alone. We need God's help, a help revealed truly in Christ Jesus, Our love and care for one another must be "rooted" in the unconditional love of Jesus that prompted the "haters" to lead him to the cross. But this "hate" did not have the last word on Jesus. He rose from the dead and is present with us, helping and guiding us into the way of life, life that surpasses the sin that promotes brokenness and death.

Before the Apostle Paul met up with the Risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, he too participated in the sin that divides and breaks. From that experience, Paul was able "change" and move into the way of God's love and grace in Christ Jesus. From there, he could witness: "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection... Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer... Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take though for what is noble in the sight of all... Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:9-21).

God in Christ has given us the gifts and the empowerment to get beyond this hate and hurt; therefore we need be "vigilant" in faith, love, and hope and not resort to the tactics of "vigilantism" which bear the marks of self-asserted divide and separation. Christ died for all of us so that none of us should ever again die at the hands of oppression and hate.

May God's love for us in Christ help to transform us into the kind of people God created us to be.  Pastor John

To my Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

We are living in very troubled times, and I'm shaken. My faith is not shaken, but I'm greatly disturbed of the manner of current human interaction. It is imperative that we, people of faith, rise to this occasion with compassion and understanding, with respect for one another and with the moral courage and clarity to address the wrongs of hate and violence.

How did we get here? Were we lulled into apathy and complacency? Have we become blind and callous to the needs of others driven by indifference and untruths? Do we "see" others contrary to the ways God in Christ "sees" them? Do we judge others by different standards than we "see" ourselves? have we lost the "fear" of God and turned in the direction of "fear" of one another?

We as children of God, as Sisters and Brothers in Christ, need affirm the love God in Christ has for us, a love not conditioned by borders and languages, of skin tone and ethnicity, of power and wealth, of age or creed. Therefore, as Christians, we must speak up and act according to the precious faith we have been given. The human dilemma we now find ourselves in is one not of the agendas of political preferences and opportunity; it runs much deeper. For far too long, sin has brewed to such large proportions, fueled by increasing hate and indifference, that the human family is broken and divided, a human family for whom Jesus was willing to die.

This isn't about "singling" out blame and cause. We are so far from the "roots" of and symbols of reinforcement utilized to divide and separate that we will not be able to make our way out of this "mess" by human tactics and effort alone. We need God's help, a help revealed truly in Christ Jesus, Our love and care for one another must be "rooted" in the unconditional love of Jesus that prompted the "haters" to lead him to the cross. But this "hate" did not have the last word on Jesus. He rose from the dead and is present with us, helping and guiding us into the way of life, life that surpasses the sin that promotes brokenness and death.

Before the Apostle Paul met up with the Risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, he too participated in the sin that divides and breaks. From that experience, Paul was able "change" and move into the way of God's love and grace in Christ Jesus. From there, he could witness: "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection... Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer... Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take though for what is noble in the sight of all... Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:9-21).

God in Christ has given us the gifts and the empowerment to get beyond this hate and hurt; therefore we need be "vigilant" in faith, love, and hope and not resort to the tactics of "vigilantism" which bear the marks of self-asserted divide and separation. Christ died for all of us so that none of us should ever again die at the hands of oppression and hate.

May God's love for us in Christ help to transform us into the kind of people God created us to be.  Pastor John

To my Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

We are living in very troubled times, and I'm shaken. My faith is not shaken, but I'm greatly disturbed of the manner of current human interaction. It is imperative that we, people of faith, rise to this occasion with compassion and understanding, with respect for one another and with the moral courage and clarity to address the wrongs of hate and violence.

How did we get here? Were we lulled into apathy and complacency? Have we become blind and callous to the needs of others driven by indifference and untruths? Do we "see" others contrary to the ways God in Christ "sees" them? Do we judge others by different standards than we "see" ourselves? have we lost the "fear" of God and turned in the direction of "fear" of one another?

We as children of God, as Sisters and Brothers in Christ, need affirm the love God in Christ has for us, a love not conditioned by borders and languages, of skin tone and ethnicity, of power and wealth, of age or creed. Therefore, as Christians, we must speak up and act according to the precious faith we have been given. The human dilemma we now find ourselves in is one not of the agendas of political preferences and opportunity; it runs much deeper. For far too long, sin has brewed to such large proportions, fueled by increasing hate and indifference, that the human family is broken and divided, a human family for whom Jesus was willing to die.

This isn't about "singling" out blame and cause. We are so far from the "roots" of and symbols of reinforcement utilized to divide and separate that we will not be able to make our way out of this "mess" by human tactics and effort alone. We need God's help, a help revealed truly in Christ Jesus, Our love and care for one another must be "rooted" in the unconditional love of Jesus that prompted the "haters" to lead him to the cross. But this "hate" did not have the last word on Jesus. He rose from the dead and is present with us, helping and guiding us into the way of life, life that surpasses the sin that promotes brokenness and death.

Before the Apostle Paul met up with the Risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, he too participated in the sin that divides and breaks. From that experience, Paul was able "change" and move into the way of God's love and grace in Christ Jesus. From there, he could witness: "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection... Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer... Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take though for what is noble in the sight of all... Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:9-21).

God in Christ has given us the gifts and the empowerment to get beyond this hate and hurt; therefore we need be "vigilant" in faith, love, and hope and not resort to the tactics of "vigilantism" which bear the marks of self-asserted divide and separation. Christ died for all of us so that none of us should ever again die at the hands of oppression and hate.

May God's love for us in Christ help to transform us into the kind of people God created us to be.  Pastor John

To my Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

We are living in very troubled times, and I'm shaken. My faith is not shaken, but I'm greatly disturbed of the manner of current human interaction. It is imperative that we, people of faith, rise to this occasion with compassion and understanding, with respect for one another and with the moral courage and clarity to address the wrongs of hate and violence.

How did we get here? Were we lulled into apathy and complacency? Have we become blind and callous to the needs of others driven by indifference and untruths? Do we "see" others contrary to the ways God in Christ "sees" them? Do we judge others by different standards than we "see" ourselves? have we lost the "fear" of God and turned in the direction of "fear" of one another?

We as children of God, as Sisters and Brothers in Christ, need affirm the love God in Christ has for us, a love not conditioned by borders and languages, of skin tone and ethnicity, of power and wealth, of age or creed. Therefore, as Christians, we must speak up and act according to the precious faith we have been given. The human dilemma we now find ourselves in is one not of the agendas of political preferences and opportunity; it runs much deeper. For far too long, sin has brewed to such large proportions, fueled by increasing hate and indifference, that the human family is broken and divided, a human family for whom Jesus was willing to die.

This isn't about "singling" out blame and cause. We are so far from the "roots" of and symbols of reinforcement utilized to divide and separate that we will not be able to make our way out of this "mess" by human tactics and effort alone. We need God's help, a help revealed truly in Christ Jesus, Our love and care for one another must be "rooted" in the unconditional love of Jesus that prompted the "haters" to lead him to the cross. But this "hate" did not have the last word on Jesus. He rose from the dead and is present with us, helping and guiding us into the way of life, life that surpasses the sin that promotes brokenness and death.

Before the Apostle Paul met up with the Risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, he too participated in the sin that divides and breaks. From that experience, Paul was able "change" and move into the way of God's love and grace in Christ Jesus. From there, he could witness: "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection... Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer... Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take though for what is noble in the sight of all... Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:9-21).

God in Christ has given us the gifts and the empowerment to get beyond this hate and hurt; therefore we need be "vigilant" in faith, love, and hope and not resort to the tactics of "vigilantism" which bear the marks of self-asserted divide and separation. Christ died for all of us so that none of us should ever again die at the hands of oppression and hate.

May God's love for us in Christ help to transform us into the kind of people God created us to be.  Pastor John

To my Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

We are living in very troubled times, and I'm shaken. My faith is not shaken, but I'm greatly disturbed of the manner of current human interaction. It is imperative that we, people of faith, rise to this occasion with compassion and understanding, with respect for one another and with the moral courage and clarity to address the wrongs of hate and violence.

How did we get here? Were we lulled into apathy and complacency? Have we become blind and callous to the needs of others driven by indifference and untruths? Do we "see" others contrary to the ways God in Christ "sees" them? Do we judge others by different standards than we "see" ourselves? have we lost the "fear" of God and turned in the direction of "fear" of one another?

We as children of God, as Sisters and Brothers in Christ, need affirm the love God in Christ has for us, a love not conditioned by borders and languages, of skin tone and ethnicity, of power and wealth, of age or creed. Therefore, as Christians, we must speak up and act according to the precious faith we have been given. The human dilemma we now find ourselves in is one not of the agendas of political preferences and opportunity; it runs much deeper. For far too long, sin has brewed to such large proportions, fueled by increasing hate and indifference, that the human family is broken and divided, a human family for whom Jesus was willing to die.

This isn't about "singling" out blame and cause. We are so far from the "roots" of and symbols of reinforcement utilized to divide and separate that we will not be able to make our way out of this "mess" by human tactics and effort alone. We need God's help, a help revealed truly in Christ Jesus, Our love and care for one another must be "rooted" in the unconditional love of Jesus that prompted the "haters" to lead him to the cross. But this "hate" did not have the last word on Jesus. He rose from the dead and is present with us, helping and guiding us into the way of life, life that surpasses the sin that promotes brokenness and death.

Before the Apostle Paul met up with the Risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, he too participated in the sin that divides and breaks. From that experience, Paul was able "change" and move into the way of God's love and grace in Christ Jesus. From there, he could witness: "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection... Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer... Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take though for what is noble in the sight of all... Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:9-21).

God in Christ has given us the gifts and the empowerment to get beyond this hate and hurt; therefore we need be "vigilant" in faith, love, and hope and not resort to the tactics of "vigilantism" which bear the marks of self-asserted divide and separation. Christ died for all of us so that none of us should ever again die at the hands of oppression and hate.

May God's love for us in Christ help to transform us into the kind of people God created us to be.  Pastor John

To my Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

We are living in very troubled times, and I'm shaken. My faith is not shaken, but I'm greatly disturbed of the manner of current human interaction. It is imperative that we, people of faith, rise to this occasion with compassion and understanding, with respect for one another and with the moral courage and clarity to address the wrongs of hate and violence.

How did we get here? Were we lulled into apathy and complacency? Have we become blind and callous to the needs of others driven by indifference and untruths? Do we "see" others contrary to the ways God in Christ "sees" them? Do we judge others by different standards than we "see" ourselves? have we lost the "fear" of God and turned in the direction of "fear" of one another?

We as children of God, as Sisters and Brothers in Christ, need affirm the love God in Christ has for us, a love not conditioned by borders and languages, of skin tone and ethnicity, of power and wealth, of age or creed. Therefore, as Christians, we must speak up and act according to the precious faith we have been given. The human dilemma we now find ourselves in is one not of the agendas of political preferences and opportunity; it runs much deeper. For far too long, sin has brewed to such large proportions, fueled by increasing hate and indifference, that the human family is broken and divided, a human family for whom Jesus was willing to die.

This isn't about "singling" out blame and cause. We are so far from the "roots" of and symbols of reinforcement utilized to divide and separate that we will not be able to make our way out of this "mess" by human tactics and effort alone. We need God's help, a help revealed truly in Christ Jesus, Our love and care for one another must be "rooted" in the unconditional love of Jesus that prompted the "haters" to lead him to the cross. But this "hate" did not have the last word on Jesus. He rose from the dead and is present with us, helping and guiding us into the way of life, life that surpasses the sin that promotes brokenness and death.

Before the Apostle Paul met up with the Risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, he too participated in the sin that divides and breaks. From that experience, Paul was able "change" and move into the way of God's love and grace in Christ Jesus. From there, he could witness: "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection... Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer... Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take though for what is noble in the sight of all... Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:9-21).

God in Christ has given us the gifts and the empowerment to get beyond this hate and hurt; therefore we need be "vigilant" in faith, love, and hope and not resort to the tactics of "vigilantism" which bear the marks of self-asserted divide and separation. Christ died for all of us so that none of us should ever again die at the hands of oppression and hate.

May God's love for us in Christ help to transform us into the kind of people God created us to be.  Pastor John

To my Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

We are living in very troubled times, and I'm shaken. My faith is not shaken, but I'm greatly disturbed of the manner of current human interaction. It is imperative that we, people of faith, rise to this occasion with compassion and understanding, with respect for one another and with the moral courage and clarity to address the wrongs of hate and violence.

How did we get here? Were we lulled into apathy and complacency? Have we become blind and callous to the needs of others driven by indifference and untruths? Do we "see" others contrary to the ways God in Christ "sees" them? Do we judge others by different standards than we "see" ourselves? have we lost the "fear" of God and turned in the direction of "fear" of one another?

We as children of God, as Sisters and Brothers in Christ, need affirm the love God in Christ has for us, a love not conditioned by borders and languages, of skin tone and ethnicity, of power and wealth, of age or creed. Therefore, as Christians, we must speak up and act according to the precious faith we have been given. The human dilemma we now find ourselves in is one not of the agendas of political preferences and opportunity; it runs much deeper. For far too long, sin has brewed to such large proportions, fueled by increasing hate and indifference, that the human family is broken and divided, a human family for whom Jesus was willing to die.

This isn't about "singling" out blame and cause. We are so far from the "roots" of and symbols of reinforcement utilized to divide and separate that we will not be able to make our way out of this "mess" by human tactics and effort alone. We need God's help, a help revealed truly in Christ Jesus, Our love and care for one another must be "rooted" in the unconditional love of Jesus that prompted the "haters" to lead him to the cross. But this "hate" did not have the last word on Jesus. He rose from the dead and is present with us, helping and guiding us into the way of life, life that surpasses the sin that promotes brokenness and death.

Before the Apostle Paul met up with the Risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, he too participated in the sin that divides and breaks. From that experience, Paul was able "change" and move into the way of God's love and grace in Christ Jesus. From there, he could witness: "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection... Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer... Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take though for what is noble in the sight of all... Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:9-21).

God in Christ has given us the gifts and the empowerment to get beyond this hate and hurt; therefore we need be "vigilant" in faith, love, and hope and not resort to the tactics of "vigilantism" which bear the marks of self-asserted divide and separation. Christ died for all of us so that none of us should ever again die at the hands of oppression and hate.

May God's love for us in Christ help to transform us into the kind of people God created us to be.  Pastor John

To my Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

We are living in very troubled times, and I'm shaken. My faith is not shaken, but I'm greatly disturbed of the manner of current human interaction. It is imperative that we, people of faith, rise to this occasion with compassion and understanding, with respect for one another and with the moral courage and clarity to address the wrongs of hate and violence.

How did we get here? Were we lulled into apathy and complacency? Have we become blind and callous to the needs of others driven by indifference and untruths? Do we "see" others contrary to the ways God in Christ "sees" them? Do we judge others by different standards than we "see" ourselves? have we lost the "fear" of God and turned in the direction of "fear" of one another?

We as children of God, as Sisters and Brothers in Christ, need affirm the love God in Christ has for us, a love not conditioned by borders and languages, of skin tone and ethnicity, of power and wealth, of age or creed. Therefore, as Christians, we must speak up and act according to the precious faith we have been given. The human dilemma we now find ourselves in is one not of the agendas of political preferences and opportunity; it runs much deeper. For far too long, sin has brewed to such large proportions, fueled by increasing hate and indifference, that the human family is broken and divided, a human family for whom Jesus was willing to die.

This isn't about "singling" out blame and cause. We are so far from the "roots" of and symbols of reinforcement utilized to divide and separate that we will not be able to make our way out of this "mess" by human tactics and effort alone. We need God's help, a help revealed truly in Christ Jesus, Our love and care for one another must be "rooted" in the unconditional love of Jesus that prompted the "haters" to lead him to the cross. But this "hate" did not have the last word on Jesus. He rose from the dead and is present with us, helping and guiding us into the way of life, life that surpasses the sin that promotes brokenness and death.

Before the Apostle Paul met up with the Risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, he too participated in the sin that divides and breaks. From that experience, Paul was able "change" and move into the way of God's love and grace in Christ Jesus. From there, he could witness: "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection... Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer... Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take though for what is noble in the sight of all... Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:9-21).

God in Christ has given us the gifts and the empowerment to get beyond this hate and hurt; therefore we need be "vigilant" in faith, love, and hope and not resort to the tactics of "vigilantism" which bear the marks of self-asserted divide and separation. Christ died for all of us so that none of us should ever again die at the hands of oppression and hate.

May God's love for us in Christ help to transform us into the kind of people God created us to be.  Pastor John

To my Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

We are living in very troubled times, and I'm shaken. My faith is not shaken, but I'm greatly disturbed of the manner of current human interaction. It is imperative that we, people of faith, rise to this occasion with compassion and understanding, with respect for one another and with the moral courage and clarity to address the wrongs of hate and violence.

How did we get here? Were we lulled into apathy and complacency? Have we become blind and callous to the needs of others driven by indifference and untruths? Do we "see" others contrary to the ways God in Christ "sees" them? Do we judge others by different standards than we "see" ourselves? have we lost the "fear" of God and turned in the direction of "fear" of one another?

We as children of God, as Sisters and Brothers in Christ, need affirm the love God in Christ has for us, a love not conditioned by borders and languages, of skin tone and ethnicity, of power and wealth, of age or creed. Therefore, as Christians, we must speak up and act according to the precious faith we have been given. The human dilemma we now find ourselves in is one not of the agendas of political preferences and opportunity; it runs much deeper. For far too long, sin has brewed to such large proportions, fueled by increasing hate and indifference, that the human family is broken and divided, a human family for whom Jesus was willing to die.

This isn't about "singling" out blame and cause. We are so far from the "roots" of and symbols of reinforcement utilized to divide and separate that we will not be able to make our way out of this "mess" by human tactics and effort alone. We need God's help, a help revealed truly in Christ Jesus, Our love and care for one another must be "rooted" in the unconditional love of Jesus that prompted the "haters" to lead him to the cross. But this "hate" did not have the last word on Jesus. He rose from the dead and is present with us, helping and guiding us into the way of life, life that surpasses the sin that promotes brokenness and death.

Before the Apostle Paul met up with the Risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, he too participated in the sin that divides and breaks. From that experience, Paul was able "change" and move into the way of God's love and grace in Christ Jesus. From there, he could witness: "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection... Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer... Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take though for what is noble in the sight of all... Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:9-21).

God in Christ has given us the gifts and the empowerment to get beyond this hate and hurt; therefore we need be "vigilant" in faith, love, and hope and not resort to the tactics of "vigilantism" which bear the marks of self-asserted divide and separation. Christ died for all of us so that none of us should ever again die at the hands of oppression and hate.

May God's love for us in Christ help to transform us into the kind of people God created us to be.  Pastor John

To my Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

We are living in very troubled times, and I'm shaken. My faith is not shaken, but I'm greatly disturbed of the manner of current human interaction. It is imperative that we, people of faith, rise to this occasion with compassion and understanding, with respect for one another and with the moral courage and clarity to address the wrongs of hate and violence.

How did we get here? Were we lulled into apathy and complacency? Have we become blind and callous to the needs of others driven by indifference and untruths? Do we "see" others contrary to the ways God in Christ "sees" them? Do we judge others by different standards than we "see" ourselves? have we lost the "fear" of God and turned in the direction of "fear" of one another?

We as children of God, as Sisters and Brothers in Christ, need affirm the love God in Christ has for us, a love not conditioned by borders and languages, of skin tone and ethnicity, of power and wealth, of age or creed. Therefore, as Christians, we must speak up and act according to the precious faith we have been given. The human dilemma we now find ourselves in is one not of the agendas of political preferences and opportunity; it runs much deeper. For far too long, sin has brewed to such large proportions, fueled by increasing hate and indifference, that the human family is broken and divided, a human family for whom Jesus was willing to die.

This isn't about "singling" out blame and cause. We are so far from the "roots" of and symbols of reinforcement utilized to divide and separate that we will not be able to make our way out of this "mess" by human tactics and effort alone. We need God's help, a help revealed truly in Christ Jesus, Our love and care for one another must be "rooted" in the unconditional love of Jesus that prompted the "haters" to lead him to the cross. But this "hate" did not have the last word on Jesus. He rose from the dead and is present with us, helping and guiding us into the way of life, life that surpasses the sin that promotes brokenness and death.

Before the Apostle Paul met up with the Risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, he too participated in the sin that divides and breaks. From that experience, Paul was able "change" and move into the way of God's love and grace in Christ Jesus. From there, he could witness: "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection... Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer... Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take though for what is noble in the sight of all... Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:9-21).

God in Christ has given us the gifts and the empowerment to get beyond this hate and hurt; therefore we need be "vigilant" in faith, love, and hope and not resort to the tactics of "vigilantism" which bear the marks of self-asserted divide and separation. Christ died for all of us so that none of us should ever again die at the hands of oppression and hate.

May God's love for us in Christ help to transform us into the kind of people God created us to be.  Pastor John