- Joined
- Feb 9, 2004
- Messages
- 17,078
Bridges Not Walls - October 10, 2006
.then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Philippians 2:2
Hmmmm, I thought. Actually I was thinking a few things, when I opened and read the email that was not-so-nice. It stung for a moment, and for a second I thought about replying with something on about the same par. Then, I had an epiphany moment (fortunately) and thought about how it is better - by far - to build bridges, than walls. It is worth whatever it takes; not to say you have to compromise, in order to build bridges.
Jamie Buckingham, a pastor from Melbourne, FL, and an author who did a lot of ghostwriting, was a firm believer in that. He invested much of his life here on earth, building bridges between charismatic, pentecostal, and evangelical Christians.
The enemy's plan never changes, so it's no big surprise: deceive > divide > destroy, That's right, Satan doesn't just want to hassle us a little bit, or maybe mess up our lives. He wants to take us down, then take us out.
Divisiveness is not of God. God is pro-unity. The last prayer Jesus prayed with his friends, is recorded in the,17th chapter of the book of John. It is a prayer for us:
"I pray also for those who will believe in me through their (the disciples') message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." - Jesus (John 17:20-23)
Prayer: Lord, please help us to build bridges, not walls. Building bridges. The better way. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Contributed by Sally I. Kennedy: boca7565@bellsouth.net Sally is the author of "52 Little Parables from Ireland" Creation House Press.
.then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Philippians 2:2
Hmmmm, I thought. Actually I was thinking a few things, when I opened and read the email that was not-so-nice. It stung for a moment, and for a second I thought about replying with something on about the same par. Then, I had an epiphany moment (fortunately) and thought about how it is better - by far - to build bridges, than walls. It is worth whatever it takes; not to say you have to compromise, in order to build bridges.
Jamie Buckingham, a pastor from Melbourne, FL, and an author who did a lot of ghostwriting, was a firm believer in that. He invested much of his life here on earth, building bridges between charismatic, pentecostal, and evangelical Christians.
The enemy's plan never changes, so it's no big surprise: deceive > divide > destroy, That's right, Satan doesn't just want to hassle us a little bit, or maybe mess up our lives. He wants to take us down, then take us out.
Divisiveness is not of God. God is pro-unity. The last prayer Jesus prayed with his friends, is recorded in the,17th chapter of the book of John. It is a prayer for us:
"I pray also for those who will believe in me through their (the disciples') message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." - Jesus (John 17:20-23)
Prayer: Lord, please help us to build bridges, not walls. Building bridges. The better way. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Contributed by Sally I. Kennedy: boca7565@bellsouth.net Sally is the author of "52 Little Parables from Ireland" Creation House Press.