Love God, Love Others

I recently received a forward email from a group of friends that was really disappointing. Here is the email and my response. And yes I still love them :)

[the email]
I didn't watch this, but this article about the Rick Warren presidential forum was interesting:http://www.gopusa.com/theloft/?p=760

How an evangelical like Warren can side with Obama is beyond me...But per this article author, that's the way she interpreted what she saw... If Rick Warren is for that pro-baby killer, I'm not interested in anything else he has to say....He's said all he needs to say... TL

PS If McCain picks a pro-baby killer for his veep, he ain't gettin' my vote either.He's already p!$$ed me off with his pro-illegal immigration stance, but he'll step way over the line if he goes pro-'Choice' for VP.He's a really old 72 - I doubt that he'll last 4 years. So his veep choice is really important to me too....I'll go for that Constitution Party guy (I don't even know his name, but I'll find out if I have to) before McCain if he picks a 'Choicer'...

[my response]
Good morning friends,

I am concerned about the content of any email that is part of the Christian community and carries such critical and judging language. For so long the Church of Jesus Christ has pretended to be perfect and point fingers at the not perfect and the non-Christian community. If we all were truly honest with each other…the reason that we came to faith in Christ is because of our brokenness and need for the Master. The church community as we know it carries a hypocritical tag simply because we think we have arrived and the rest of the world...well you get the picture. We have grown up reciting, teaching, and even leading John 3:16. We have proclaimed that “God so loved the world” from the roof tops but forgot the second greatest commandment…”Love your neighbor”.

What saddens me is that we have failed to read on in the Gospel of John…particularly John 3:17. John 3:17 is clear “God did not come into the world to judge the world but save the world”. If the master “Jesus” did not come to judge the lost but save them then what right do we have. We have no authority to judge someone else or their motives (Matthew 7:1). Does that mean that we should not be responsible and form a Biblical world view? I think not! God has given us the Holy Spirit for discernment and the freedom to choose. When we lash out and speak negatively about a person, a group (Ephesians 4:29), point fingers (Luke 6:42) as the body of Christ I believe we miss the mark that God has called us to follow.

In conclusion agree or disagree with Obama, McCain or even Rick Warren…let’s work out our differences between ourselves and God. What if we began to pray for people instead of judging and condemning people? What if we began to pray for our leaders? What if we simply trust God “who is absolute” with the next presidential office. What if?

Check out this link http://www.theworkofthepeople.com/index.php?ct=store.details&pid=V00244

Pastor Joe

Teens Engage in Sexting

A funny picture or a flirty message on your phone may seem innocent enough, but what is your teen really saying when they send a text."Teenagers are having sex by the phone, sending flirty messages, meeting up to have sex," says 16 year old Rochellie Garcia."

On the one hand it can be kind of fun to get an erotic message over your email or on the phone," says Certified Sex Therapist Joyce Joseph. "But on the other hand none of that is really safe or private."It's known to teens as sexting, and though it doesn't always lead to a physical act, Joseph says it can confuse teenagers emotionally."

They're experimenting with sex but they aren't integrated in a holistic way that would be better for their self-esteem if they really understood what love was," says Joseph.

Teens who text may not have the chance to discuss those feelings with an adult, because one of the appeals of sexting is the ability to hide the behavior from parents. "I don't wanna talk on the phone that much, because my mom will ask me questions," says a teenage boy. "So I just text people.""It's your phone, it's your own private business," says 16 year old Mackenzie Hamblin. "So if you want to do that stuff go ahead."

Privacy may be part of the appeal, but what many teens don't realize is how easily the message or pictures they send can be forwarded to dozens of unwanted recipients."All you gotta do is take it and send it out, thinking it's funny," says Garcia. "But the boys you're sending it to can take it and put it on MySpace or put it somewhere where everyone can see it."

Last week former American Idol hopeful Colin Leahy made national news when he was arrested for sending sexually explicit text messages to a 12 year old boy. A situation Joseph says teens need to be aware of, and prepared to report. "If you've asked them to stop and they don't stop, and or the message is offensive to you, then you need to immediately act and block that number," says Joseph.

And as technology continues to change the ways teens can communicate, Joseph says parents need to monitor who their teens are talking to, and more importantly what they are talking about."It's really important that parents sit down and talk to their teenagers and help them to develop the emotional and intimacy skills," says Joseph. "So that when and if they are ready to be sexual that they are much more balanced."