Greetings Holy, Healthy and Happy People of God,

As I write this eNote to our faithful and devoted community of radical followers of Jesus Christ, I am reflecting on the tragedy in Orlando where a gunman killed 49 people and injured 53 early on June 12^th in the Pulse, a gay nightclub.  Police killed the gunman.  “Crimes of hate that terrorize any of God’s children are abhorrent and intolerable,” said the United Methodist Board of Church and Society in a statement.  “This time it is against LGBTQ persons and communities.”

What is our response as followers of Jesus?  The reason I use the word response is because this is an opportunity to indeed pray, but also to act.  This is not a time for silence or indifference.  Regardless of where we stand of the issue of LGBTQ persons theologically, Jesus gives us a commandment/directive to love God and love neighbor.  Jesus doesn’t qualify love, he just says do it.  Jesus crossed over social boundaries to meet people right where they were.  His love transformed them as He transforms all of us.

Extremists who claim Radical Islam are cruel, cowardly and inhumane toward people unlike them.  We, as Christians, cannot go and hide or turn the channel for different programming.  We must respond with the RADICAL LOVE of Jesus, a love that doesn’t care who you are, it only cares that you are.  With RADICAL LOVE, the love of Christ leads and not our fear.

Finding your response will take discernment.  Maybe it is giving blood, engaging in the conversation, reading your Bible, researching Islam or visiting a mosque to find out more about the religion, befriending a Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgendered Queer (LGBTQ) person or even simply asking God, “What am I to do?”  Respond with faith and love!  After decades of anti-LGBTQ language, even the Southern Baptist Convention decided that it is time to respond with love.

Doing nothing is not an option, it is a cop-out!  We are Christians, bold and courageous and we do not fear.

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear expects punishment…” 1 John 4:18

Faith compels us to do something for the sake and in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, Savior and Redeemer.

“It’s impossible to please God without faith because the one who draws near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards people who try to find him.” Hebrews 11:6

Hear the W.O.W., the Words of Wisdom: “Do something in the name of Jesus!”

As always, remember, God’s will for us is good, we must do the rest!

Pastor Stephen