A holy kiss

Is this a picture of people leaving a church or people leaving a public building like a school?

Most likely it's the latter, but I think it illustrates sometimes what happens in congregations if we're not careful. Out of fear, resentment, or bitterness we can become unwilling to talk and interact with certain people.

Paul encourages us to "greet one another with a holy kiss" (2 Corinthians 13:12). We can't do so with masks on our faces...or invisible barriers between us. Holy kiss is figurative...it indicates a willingness to engage and bless instead of distance and curse those within the community of Christ.

Take the masks off. Attend the Ambassadors for Reconcilliation Peacemaker seminar at All Saints on May 16 from 9-3:30pm. Lunch is provided and it's free.

Together with you in Christ,
Mike

Pandemic and peacemakers

The world is holding its breath waiting to see if the swine flu becomes a pandemic. All of us are hoping for the best. The latest...

-Deaths: 149, all in Mexico, 20 confirmed as swine flu and rest suspected. 1,995 people have been hospitalized with pneumonia but government does not yet know how many were swine flu.

-Sickened: Forty confirmed in U.S., 28 at one New York City school. Elsewhere, 6 confirmed in Canada; 13 suspected in New Zealand; 1 confirmed and 17 suspected in Spain; 1 suspected in France; 1 suspected in Israel.

-Confirmed cases in U.S.: 28 in New York, 7 in California, 2 in Kansas, 2 in Texas and 1 in Ohio.

We pray for God's healing for those who suffer, comfort for those who mourn, and intervention that it doesn't get worse.

This isn't anything new. Since the beginning of time humanity has faced threats of various pandemics, not all physical. Some are emotional like unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment, self pity, and blame. They sicken and destroy relationships. How many lives have been destroyed by such sickness? How many marriages and families have been broken apart? And, we pass the sickness on from one person to another, to friends, and even to our children.

It doesn't have to be this way. God provides a way by showing us love and being the source of love and forgiveness. As John writes, "We love because he first loved us." As we love, we embrace God's call to each of us to be peacemakers.

Build your and your families immunity to emotional pandemic that wreaks havoc in our lives by attending the Blessed Are the Peacemakers seminar on May 16 at All Saints. Details are on the All Saints website, www.saintsonhigh.org Hope to see you there.