Give Tirelessly

My lecture for this coming Wednesday was postponed due to some health concerns on the part of my hosts' family member. Ironic in a way....illness postponing a talk about self healing. But all is well and all is as it should be, or is it?

Lately I've been spending time with some young people who have indeed been on a journey of self awareness. They are slightly imbalanced and off track and I wonder why in this age of information that that can occur.

If I shouted hopefulness on the top of a mountain and expelled every bit of air in my lungs in an effort to reach the youth of America, would it be in vain? Would there be a force right behind me at the ready to dispel my message?

Is the yin and yang of it all very much at work?

I think we have to learn to be more responsible for ourselves as well as others.

What are you doing today to better the world at large?

We have a tendency to look inside at our immediate world and forget the rest as if 'they must fend for themselves'.

But, if we're all truly connected, if we're truly all one - then what you do very much affects me and what I do affects you.

I will spend the rest of my days on this planet helping others. It's what I've been called to do. What you do with your time is up to you. You might say that it's none of my business - and you might be right - to some extent.

But when one of your daughters or sons lands on my doorstep with no hope - what then? I will diligently help them. I will wipe their tears away and teach them that there is a better way. I will give them what I have to give. . .please do not undo it.

Acts Chapter 3

1One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

6Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. 8He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter Speaks to the Onlookers

11While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade. 12When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

17"Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ[a] would suffer. 19Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. 22For Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. 23Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.'[b]

24"Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days. 25And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, 'Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.'[c] 26When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."