Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Building Bridges Of Hope: In life it is necessary to buildbridges of hope ve...

Building Bridges Of Hope: In life it is necessary to buildbridges of hope ve...: In life it is necessary to build bridges of hope vertically and horizontally. A vertical bridge must be to God above - Our Heavenly Fath...

In life it is necessary to build bridges of hope vertically and horizontally. A vertical bridge must be to God above - Our Heavenly Father. A horizontal one is through loving our families, neighbors, friends and strangers. Jesus who is love died on a cross at Calvary for us. Let such love begin flowing from above and around us - for it unites and must be sustained. At its summit, it is creative and brings out the best in our broken and divided world. Its flame is indestructible, sweeping across nations and transforming cultures. It is inspirational to love and be loved. It's wonderful!  Blessed are those that can love even their enemies and  are a courageous and merciful. Love will never discriminate and Christians must learn to reach out passionately with love.

Elisabeth Elliot (b. 1926) a Christian author and speaker observed, “To be a follower of the Crucified means, sooner or later, a personal encounter with the cross. And the cross always entails loss. The great symbol of Christianity means sacrifice and no one who calls himself a Christian can evade this stark fact.” True love is the cross and is an ideal bridge to spiritual maturity because Jesus showed us where there is loss there is truly gain.

Inspire Hope

A bridge because it transports, inspires hope. It calls us to do this to all mankind as we proclaim the Risen Christ. While doing so, a Christian is strengthened by the Holy Spirit – a fundamental concept of horizontal hope. Hope like love has to be fervent and must be considered a lamp to be lit. It awakens justice for all, especially those that are marginalized in society. Every Christian is able to find their inspiration through the Holy Book that speaks directly to their hearts. It was Brad Henry (b. 1963) a member of Democratic Party and the 26th Governor of Oklahoma who felt, “A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning.” Through learning that is the foundation for progress in a country – what a unique way of building bridges of hope!

The Church's Pastor

It must always be remembered that the church is a missionary body. By its ministries, a pastor is constantly building bridges to his parishioners and the community, that reach our to villages and towns around the globe. Much of this is brought about by the religious awakening of the flock. Parishioners and community workers are literally on fire for Christ when they serve their fellowman. In believers' mind a biblical spirit lingers. These practitioners are humble folk that live according to the teachings of Scripture. They proclaim the Word of Truth to those that hunger for justice.

While witnessing, believers acquire spiritual depth. These men and women are prudent in discernment and embrace pastoral challenges with vigor and enthusiasm. Many are known for their charity and their presence extends to overpopulated slum areas of some worldwide cities. Robert C. Shannon (b. 1930) a retired preacher living in North Carolina expressed his gratitude for missionary work when he explained, “Never pity missionaries; envy them. They are where the real action is - - where life and death, sin and grace, Heaven and Hell converge.”

Obstacles and Misunderstandings

Mother Teresa (1910 – 1997) a Roman Catholic religious sister and missionary in India commented, “Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.”

Christians must work with, anoint the poor and constantly dialogue with people from different cultures by seeking ways of bettering their circumstances. There ought to be more inter-religious meetings with believers from different faith traditions. No longer must the center seems as though it is not a part of the whole. Osmosis between the center and the periphery must be promoted for all parties to become equally involved.

Access to the sacraments have been a sticking point among some Christian denominations. Why must this be, since we are One in the Body of Christ. There are also disagreements over family rights issues. In some conservative congregations, the definition of marriage has led to splits and break away denominations. These Christians must realize that they are all fighting for values, although some are more traditional than others. Is it not true that we must not judge, for only God knows the content of our hearts? In these controversies, building bridges may not be as simple as it seems. Spiritually our road map is laden with impediments that continue to divide us. When in doubt, it is imperative that Christians make a greater effort to reach out in this murky landscape. The Holy Spirit will surely lead the way.