June 2022

How much grace does it take to love our enemies and those who have hurt us? Well, that’s a good question. Tragedies occur all around us and it’s true we are heart-broken and disturbed, but what happens we are personally offended or our family and friends are harmed? I admit that I do not always have the character of Christ when I’m being threatened or attacked. Many times, my first reaction is to retaliate because it’s a part of our old nature, but I agree that people need to be punished for their evil deeds and acts of violence. However, the temptation to resent and be bitter is real. Life is filled with challenges and situations that lure us into bad attitudes but for the serious Christian, it’s the forgiveness of Christ that can teach us and lead us into the peace that passes all understanding.

At one point during his ministry Jesus asked the twelve, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They reported that some claimed he was John the Baptist or Elijah or one of the other prophets risen from the dead. Then he posed the question to directly to them, “Who do you say that I am?”

If you were around in the 80s you may have heard of the box office hit movie called “Top Gun.” This movie, according to Google, was “inspired by an article called “Top Guns,” written by Ehud Yonay for the May 1983 issue of California magazine, the film detailed the lives of pilots at the Navy’s elite Fighter Weapons. Well, so does the movie.”

Pentecost has always been a joyous celebration for Christians. After His ascension, Jesus’ disciples obeyed His command to wait in Jerusalem. Suddenly the Holy Spirit came upon them and they found the strength and inspiration to tell the world the truth about their resurrected Lord. They had been chosen to be His witnesses, to safeguard and transmit the teachings of Christ and to testify of His resurrection and its meaning.