As a fellow youth minister and having served many years on staff I now how hectic and crazy the summer can become. There are the summer camps, mission trips, family vacations, etc and getting a lesson together or finding someone to fill in for you while you are gone can become a challenge. Let me help you out. I would love to discuss the possibility of me helping you out during these times. Feel free to contact me for more references or info. Thank you for any and all consideration.

I love Christ being referred to as “The Liberating King”. He came to liberate us; to release us from the restraint and bondage of sin, to set us at liberty, to free us. We were slaves and prisoners and he liberated us and set us free. What a beautiful picture.

A woman came to draw water from Jacob’s well. She was in bondage by her past, her present situation, and by her reputation. She had to go alone to the well and draw because of who she was and what she had done. Along comes Jesus, a Jewish Rabbi, The Liberating King and he set her free.

A woman caught in adultery was humiliated and dragged before this same Jewish Rabbi; Jesus, The Liberating King. “What shall we do with her?” the accusers asked. “Moses’ law says to kill those caught in this act. Should we stone her?” Jesus bends down and draws in the dirt then says, “Let him who is without sin, him who is completely innocent of their own wrong doing, throw the first stone.” He draws a little more then looks up only to find the woman. “Where are your accusers?” he asks. “I don’t guess I have any, they all left.” she replies. “Then neither do I condemn you. Go on your way and sin no more.” He liberated her. Set her free. Gave her new life.

So many people look at following Jesus as being so restrictive when in all reality it is the most liberating thing one can do…become a follower of Jesus, The Liberating King.

Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to Me.
Matthew 25:40

• The GDP (Gross Domestic Product: the value of all final goods and services produced within a year) of the poorest 48 nations is less than the wealth of the world’s three richest people combined.
• 1.3 billion people live on less than 1 dollar a day.
• ½ of the world, nearly 3 billion people, live on less than 2 dollars a day.
• 20% of the developed nations consume 86% of the world’s goods.
• 30,000 children each day; 210,000 each week; just under 11 million each year die due to poverty.
• Over 1.3 billion people in the world today have no access to clean water.
• 3 billion people in the world today have no access to sanitation.
• Over 2 million people, mostly children, die each year from preventable waterborne illnesses.
• 1.8 million children die each year as a result of diarrhea.
• 2 billion people in the world today have no access to electricity.

Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.
Isaiah 1:17

As I began to really think about those words and how there are so many people in the world in need while we sit so pretty in the land of plenty. We sit back in the comfort of our “fullness” thinking we’re okay or that we’re pretty good, or worse, we’re better than… The words of Christ spoken through John the Revelator in Revelation 3:14-20 came to mind. Within these words came this message to the church of the Laodiceans…”Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked…”

How these words also can be “to the church of the Americans…”

Lord may we fall out of love with ourselves and truly fall in love with You and with people. May we buy from You gold refined in the fire that we may be rich; and white garments that we may be clothed and the shame of our nakedness may not be revealed; and may our eyes be anointed with eye salve, that we may truly see. May our eyes be opened to and may we be moved with compassion by the “least of these” in our world.

As we started towards the beach I noticed a man sitting on the beach. He was what you would call a beach bum. By the looks of him you could tell he was probably homeless. He was a little dirty, his hair was ragged and matted and he had it covered by a bandanna, his skin was weathered and dark and had the liking of darkened leather. Next to him layed his towell and a blanket and he just sat there swaying back anf forth.

What I would love to tell you next was that my heart was filled with compassion and love for this man immediately and I couldn’t wait to talk to him and reach out to him. I am a “Christian” by the way.

Instead my initial thoughts were to load back up and look for another spot. I felt sorry for him, but didn’t really want anything to do with him…by the way, I went to the beach to relax and get away, not deal with someone like that.

God forgive me! I felt bad for feeling that way and regretted that this was my initial reaction after so many years of telling teen to “love God; love people”. Isn’t he a person too.

Anyway, we got our stuff and headed to the beach. As we passed by him I looked his way and gave him a friendly smile (what a great guy I am!) and kept going. We set our place up, the kids ran to the water as fast as they could, Debra asked me to take some pictures of her before we got wet or sweaty like you do at the beach, so I got the camera and off we went. As I was taking the pictures I kept glancing back at the rugged man. I couldn’t stop thinking about him being over there. I felt God telling me to talk to him and show him some love. I wanted to, but at the same time I was hesitant. What would I say? Would I be bothering him? What if he didn’t want to talk? Before I could even process all of this my wife looks at me and says, “So that man over there; he’s just like in the book (we’re reading “Irristible Revolution”), do you want to go talk to him?” I hesitated…I wanted to but honestly was a little timid about it. Yes I told her, I will go talk to him.

So I went and sat next to George. We talked about the weather, about his family, about the beach, about living on the beach, about kids, pretty much everything you could think of. I offered him a sandwhich and some bottled water we had in the cooler and he ate. He was very polite, said thank you, and smiled. My wife came over and I introduced her to him and they talked. My kids came over and I introduced them to him. They are awesome! They didn’t shy away, they didn’t stare him down, they didn’t look at him wierd; they smiled, stuck out their hands, and began to talk to him as well. Before it was all over with our daughter had even went and got other people from the beach and brought them over to meet George. I’m sure George really loved that! Actually he smiled, shook there hands and was very warm and welcoming and polite, just as he was with us.

We had a wonderful day at the beach. I loved getting to know George and thouroughly enjoyed the conversation we had. As we left I told George by and to take care and he told me the same. I said “Who knows, maybe we’ll see you again” to which he replied, “Yeah! I am always here, you will probably be able to find me.” I think I will.

I left a better person having met George. As Christians, isn’t it time we really Love God, Love People?

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27