May as well finish out the week on theme, right?
I recently finished a book called Touch - Pressing Against the Wounds of a Broken World by Pastor Rudy Rasmus.
This book is full of God changing lives. Wonderful testimonies. Pastor Rudy himself was owner of a "borderline bordello" when he came to know Christ.
His church in Houston is a beautiful picture of what love should look like. All are welcome. All kinds of people attend. Well- to- do, dressed up people and homeless, smelly people sit side by side. Gay couples, drug addicts and prostitutes are welcome, loved, hugged, and fed. The love take a tangible form. And people are allowed to come as they are and hear the gospel. Pastor Rudy loves them to Jesus.
This church is very different from what I am used to. And I admit, I had to deal a little bit with my tendency to be judgmental. "Beyonce? Oh, its that kind of church..." God forgive me. But once I got that straight I was truly blessed. We all say we want to live like Jesus, but tend to hesitate when it comes to befriending prostitutes, cross-dressers and the homeless. This guy walks the walk.
This church truly reaches out to "the least of these." While I was reading, I considered the fact that I don't believe God is calling me to move to the inner city in order to minister with the down and out. But God showed me that right here in my sphere there are women who are abused. Children who are abused. People trapped in addictions. Women struggling with depression. On and on the list goes of needs that can be found in any suburban neighborhood. So while they may not need me to meet physical needs, they still need the love of Jesus to meet their deeper needs. My eyes are open. My heart is listening to see what God wants me to do right where I am to love Him by loving others.
I highly recommend this book. If you want to learn more about how to love like Jesus, read it.
