Fighting Words
Notes
Transcript
1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
Fighting Words
Can’t We All Just Get Along
ONE OF THE GAMES THAT I USED TO PLAY AS A KID AND MANY OF YOU MAY HAVE AS WELL….WAS CALLED ‘THE DOZENS’ OR AS IT IS KNOWN IN THE DMV (DC MD VA) AREA ‘JONENIN’ ON SOMEONE….IN WHICH WE WOULD INSULT AND MAKE FUN OF ONE ANOTHER…..TO INCLUDE MAKING FUN OF THE OTHER PERSON’S MOTHER….
Your mama's so FAT, after she got off the carousel, the horse limped for a week.Mo's rebuttal: Your mama's so skinny, she can hula-hoop through a Froot Loop.Your mama's so FAT, her blood type is Ragu.Mo's rebuttal:Your mama's so skinny, she looks like a mic stand.Your mama's so FAT, instead of 501 jeans she wears 1002s.Mo's rebuttal: Your mama's so skinny, she turned sideways and disappeared.
AND IF IT GOT TO A POINT WHERE ONE OF US COULDNT RESPOND FAST ENOUGH AND COME BACK WITH AN INSULT…OR SOMETHING WAS SAID ABOUT SOMEONES MOMMA THAT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE OFFENSIVE….OR HITTING BELOW THE BELT….THOSE WOULD BE ‘FIGHTING WORDS’
SOMETIMES A FIGHT WOULD BREAK OUT BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY….WE WOULD BE BEST FRIENDS…
MAIN IDEA: WE LIVE IN A WORLD FILLED WITH CONFLICT—WHETHER IT’S BETWEEN NATIONS, COMMUNITIES, FAMILIES, OR EVEN INDIVIDUALS.
BUT HAVE YOU EVER STOPPED TO WONDER WHY WE FIGHT?
WHAT’S BEHIND THE QUARRELS THAT SO OFTEN ERUPT IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS?
JAMES GIVES US AN ANSWER THAT POINTS INWARD, NOT OUTWARD.
HE DOESN’T SAY IT’S BECAUSE OF POLITICS OR OTHER PEOPLE’S ACTIONS, BUT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING HAPPENING WITHIN US—OUR OWN DESIRES.
FIGHTING WORDS EXPLORES HOW THESE DESIRES GIVE RISE TO CONFLICT AND HOW WE CAN CHANGE THE WAY WE HANDLE THEM.
IN JAMES, WE ENCOUNTER A LETTER FILLED WITH PRACTICAL WISDOM THAT CHALLENGES US TO RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD IN WAYS THAT TRANSFORMS OUR LIVES.
JAMES, THE BROTHER OF JESUS, DOESN'T SHY AWAY FROM URGING BELIEVERS TO GO BEYOND INTELLECTUAL BELIEF AND EMBRACE A FAITH THAT IS LIVED OUT IN EVERYDAY ACTIONS.
THIS LETTER IS LIKE A SPIRITUAL MIRROR, PROMPTING US TO EXAMINE HOW WE RESPOND TO THE WORD AND WHETHER OUR FAITH IS ACTIVE AND AUTHENTIC.
THIS LAST TRUTH IS ESPECIALLY EVIDENT WHEN WE CONSIDER HOW OUR INTERNAL SINFUL DESIRES ARE AT THE ROOT OF THE EXTERNAL FIGHTS AND QUARRELS THAT BREAK OUT AMONG US.
JAMES CUTS TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER, TELLING US THAT CONFLICT ORIGINATES NOT FROM EXTERNAL FACTORS BUT FROM WITHIN OURSELVES.
AT THE CENTER OF EVERY FIGHT IS A CLASH OF DESIRES.
WE ALL WANT THINGS—WHETHER IT’S CONTROL, RECOGNITION, COMFORT, OR POWER.
THESE DESIRES AREN’T NECESSARILY EVIL IN THEMSELVES, BUT WHEN THEY GO UNMET, THEY CAN STIR UP BITTERNESS, FRUSTRATION, AND, EVENTUALLY, QUARRELS THAT BREAK OUT AROUND US.
THINK OF THE LAST ARGUMENT YOU WERE INVOLVED IN.
WHAT WAS DRIVING YOU?
WAS IT REALLY ABOUT THE ISSUE AT HAND, OR WAS THERE SOMETHING DEEPER GOING ON?
PERHAPS YOU FELT DISRESPECTED OR OVERLOOKED.
MAYBE YOU WANTED TO ASSERT YOUR CONTROL OVER A SITUATION, AND WHEN THAT CONTROL WAS THREATENED, YOU LASHED OUT.
JAMES INVITES US TO LOOK HONESTLY AT OURSELVES, ASKING US TO ADMIT THAT MANY OF OUR CONFLICTS ARE BORN OUT OF SELFISH AMBITION.
THE INTERNAL BATTLE SPILLS OVER INTO OUR RELATIONSHIPS, LEADING TO FIGHTS.
IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO BE HONEST ABOUT THIS, TO ADMIT OUR OWN BROKENNESS, BUT WE ALL HAVE IT.
CONFLICT, AS WE KNOW, IS A PART OF OUR LIVES.
IT'S IN OUR HOMES, OUR WORKPLACES, OUR COMMUNITIES, AND EVEN IN OUR CHURCHES.
IT'S A UNIVERSAL EXPERIENCE, YET IT'S ALSO DEEPLY PERSONAL.
WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN STORIES OF CONFLICT, OUR OWN BATTLES THAT WE'VE FOUGHT, AND OUR OWN WOUNDS THAT WE'RE STILL NURSING.
BUT WHERE DOES IT ALL COME FROM? WHAT'S AT THE ROOT OF IT ALL?
THE ANSWER, MY FRIENDS, IS FOUND IN THE WORDS OF JAMES.
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?
HE TELLS US THAT CONFLICT COMES FROM OUR DESIRES THAT BATTLE WITHIN US.
IT'S A POWERFUL IMAGE, ISN'T IT? OUR DESIRES, BATTLING WITHIN US, CAUSING FIGHTS AND QUARRELS AMONG US.
IT'S A REMINDER THAT THE ROOT OF CONFLICT IS NOT EXTERNAL, BUT INTERNAL.
IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND US, BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITHIN US.
BUT WHAT ARE THESE DESIRES THAT JAMES IS TALKING ABOUT? ARE THEY OUR DREAMS, OUR AMBITIONS, OUR GOALS? NOT QUITE.
JAMES IS REFERRING TO OUR SELFISH DESIRES, OUR SINFUL CRAVINGS, OUR LUSTS THAT ARE CONTRARY TO GOD'S WILL. THESE ARE THE DESIRES THAT LEAD TO CONFLICT.
THEY MAKE US WANT THINGS THAT WE DON'T HAVE, AND THEY MAKE US FIGHT AND QUARREL TO GET THEM.
THEY MAKE US COVET WHAT OTHERS HAVE, AND THEY MAKE US RESENTFUL WHEN WE CAN'T GET THEM.
THESE DESIRES, MY FRIENDS, ARE POWERFUL.
THEY CAN CONSUME US, CONTROL US, AND LEAD US INTO ALL SORTS OF CONFLICT.
BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE'RE NOT HELPLESS AGAINST THEM.
WE HAVE A CHOICE.
WE CAN CHOOSE TO LET THESE DESIRES RULE US, OR WE CAN CHOOSE TO RULE OVER THEM.
WE CAN CHOOSE TO LET THEM LEAD US INTO CONFLICT, OR WE CAN CHOOSE TO SEEK PEACE.
BUT HOW DO WE DO THAT? HOW DO WE RULE OVER OUR DESIRES AND SEEK PEACE?
JAMES GIVES US THE ANSWER.
HE TELLS US THAT WE DON'T HAVE BECAUSE WE DON'T ASK GOD.
WE DON'T RECEIVE BECAUSE WE ASK WITH WRONG MOTIVES.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE KEY TO OVERCOMING OUR DESIRES AND RESOLVING OUR CONFLICTS IS PRAYER.
IT'S ASKING GOD FOR WHAT WE NEED, AND TRUSTING HIM TO PROVIDE IT.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ASKING.
IT'S ABOUT ASKING WITH THE RIGHT MOTIVES.
IT'S ABOUT ASKING NOT FOR OUR OWN PLEASURES, BUT FOR GOD'S GLORY.
IT'S ABOUT ASKING NOT OUT OF SELFISHNESS, BUT OUT OF SELFLESSNESS.
IT'S ABOUT ASKING NOT OUT OF GREED, BUT OUT OF GRATITUDE.
IT'S ABOUT ASKING NOT OUT OF ENVY, BUT OUT OF CONTENTMENT.
SO, MY FRIENDS, LET'S TAKE THESE WORDS TO HEART.
LET'S RECOGNIZE THE ROOT OF OUR CONFLICTS, AND LET'S TAKE STEPS TO RESOLVE THEM.
LET'S EXAMINE OUR DESIRES, AND LET'S RULE OVER THEM.
LET'S ASK GOD FOR WHAT WE NEED, AND LET'S TRUST HIM TO PROVIDE IT.
LET'S ASK WITH THE RIGHT MOTIVES, AND LET'S SEEK PEACE IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS.
AND AS WE DO, LET'S REMEMBER THAT WE'RE NOT ALONE. WE HAVE EACH OTHER, AND WE HAVE GOD.
AND WITH HIS HELP, WE CAN OVERCOME OUR CONFLICTS AND LIVE IN PEACE.
UNPACKING THE IMPACT OF FIGHTING
UNPACKING THE IMPACT OF FIGHTING
AS WE CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH THE WORDS OF JAMES, WE FIND OURSELVES CONFRONTED WITH THE STARK REALITY OF QUARRELS AND THEIR IMPACT.
JAMES DOESN'T SHY AWAY FROM PAINTING A VIVID PICTURE OF THE DESTRUCTIVE POWER OF DISCORD, AND NEITHER SHOULD WE.
THE FIRST THING THAT STRIKES US IS THE INTENSITY OF THE LANGUAGE USED. JAMES SPEAKS OF FIGHTS AND QUARRELS, OF KILLING AND COVETING.
You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.
You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.
THESE ARE STRONG WORDS, WORDS THAT EVOKE IMAGES OF DEEP-SEATED ANGER, RESENTMENT, AND VIOLENCE.
THIS ISN'T A MINOR DISAGREEMENT OR A PETTY ARGUMENT.
THIS IS SERIOUS, DESTRUCTIVE CONFLICT.
IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF HURT FEELINGS OR BRUISED EGOS.
WE SEE THIS DYNAMIC AT PLAY IN THE STORY OF CAIN AND ABEL (GENESIS 4).
CAIN’S DESIRE FOR APPROVAL FROM GOD LED HIM TO ENVY HIS BROTHER ABEL. THAT UNCHECKED DESIRE TURNED INTO ANGER AND EVENTUALLY MURDER. CAIN’S EXTERNAL CONFLICT WITH ABEL WAS MERELY A REFLECTION OF THE INTERNAL CONFLICT HE HAD WITH HIS OWN HEART AND HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. THIS SHOWS HOW DESTRUCTIVE OUR UNCHECKED DESIRES CAN BE WHEN WE FAIL TO BRING THEM BEFORE GOD.
THIS IS ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS BEING TORN APART, COMMUNITIES BEING DIVIDED, AND LIVES BEING RUINED.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE PHYSICAL VIOLENCE THAT'S ALARMING.
IT'S THE EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL VIOLENCE AS WELL.
THE FIGHTS AND QUARRELS THAT JAMES SPEAKS OF ARE NOT JUST PHYSICAL BATTLES, BUT BATTLES OF THE HEART AND MIND.
THEY ARE BATTLES OF WILL AND DESIRE, BATTLES OF PRIDE AND EGO, BATTLES OF FEAR AND INSECURITY.
THESE BATTLES LEAVE DEEP SCARS, SCARS THAT ARE OFTEN INVISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE BUT ARE PAINFULLY REAL TO THOSE WHO BEAR THEM.
THEY CREATE A CYCLE OF HURT AND RESENTMENT, A CYCLE THAT CAN BE INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO BREAK.
IN THE ORIGINAL GREEK, THE WORD USED FOR 'QUARRELS' IS 'POLEMOS', WHICH CAN ALSO BE TRANSLATED AS 'WAR'.
THIS WORD IS USED ELSEWHERE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT TO DESCRIBE NOT ONLY PHYSICAL WARFARE, BUT ALSO SPIRITUAL WARFARE.
FOR INSTANCE, IN EPHESIANS 6:12, PAUL WRITES,
"FOR OUR STRUGGLE IS NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST THE RULERS, AGAINST THE AUTHORITIES, AGAINST THE POWERS OF THIS DARK WORLD AND AGAINST THE SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS."
HERE, 'POLEMOS' IS USED TO DESCRIBE THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE THAT BELIEVERS ARE ENGAGED IN, A BATTLE AGAINST THE FORCES OF EVIL.
THIS USAGE OF 'POLEMOS' IN EPHESIANS PROVIDES US WITH A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE KIND OF QUARRELS THAT JAMES IS TALKING ABOUT.
THESE ARE NOT JUST PETTY DISAGREEMENTS OR MINOR DISPUTES. THESE ARE SERIOUS, DESTRUCTIVE CONFLICTS THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE GREAT HARM, BOTH PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY.
BUT JAMES DOESN'T STOP THERE.
HE GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THESE QUARRELS. HE SPEAKS OF DESIRE AND COVETING, OF NOT HAVING AND NOT RECEIVING.
HERE, JAMES IS HIGHLIGHTING THE FUTILITY OF CONFLICT.
HE'S POINTING OUT THAT ALL THE FIGHTING AND QUARRELING, ALL THE ANGER AND RESENTMENT, ALL THE HURT AND PAIN, IT'S ALL FOR NOTHING
IT DOESN'T BRING US WHAT WE WANT.
IT DOESN'T SATISFY OUR DESIRES.
IT DOESN'T FILL THE VOID WITHIN US.
INSTEAD, IT LEAVES US EMPTY AND BROKEN.
IT LEAVES US LONGING FOR SOMETHING MORE, SOMETHING THAT CAN ONLY BE FOUND IN GOD.
FINALLY, JAMES POINTS TO THE SOLUTION.
HE SPEAKS OF ASKING GOD, OF SEEKING HIS PROVISION AND HIS BLESSING.
THIS IS A POWERFUL REMINDER OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER IN RESOLVING CONFLICT.
IT'S A REMINDER THAT WE CAN'T DO IT ON OUR OWN, THAT WE NEED GOD'S HELP.
IT'S A REMINDER THAT GOD IS THE ULTIMATE SOURCE OF PEACE AND RECONCILIATION, THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN TRULY HEAL OUR BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS AND MEND OUR DIVIDED COMMUNITIES.
AS WE REFLECT ON THE IMPACT OF FIGHTING, LET'S REMEMBER THE WORDS OF JAMES.
LET'S REMEMBER THE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM, THE FUTILITY OF CONFLICT, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF SEEKING GOD'S HELP.
LET'S REMEMBER THAT IT'S NOT ABOUT WINNING THE ARGUMENT OR GETTING OUR OWN WAY, BUT ABOUT SEEKING PEACE AND RECONCILIATION.
AND LET'S REMEMBER THAT, IN THE END, IT'S NOT ABOUT US, BUT ABOUT GOD AND HIS GLORY.
SO WE HAVE UNPACKED THE IMPACT OF FIGHTING
AND I BELIEVE WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE
URGENCY TO REPAIR BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS
URGENCY TO REPAIR BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS
THE ESSENCE OF THIS POINT, DEAR FRIENDS, IS SIMPLE YET PROFOUND: CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG.
THE URGENCY TO REPAIR BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS IS NOT A MERE SUGGESTION; IT'S A DIVINE MANDATE.
IT'S A CALL THAT RESONATES WITH THE HEARTBEAT OF OUR FAITH - LOVE, FORGIVENESS, AND RECONCILIATION.
THE FIRST ASPECT OF THIS URGENCY LIES IN THE UNDERSTANDING THAT RESOLUTION IS NOT JUST ABOUT ENDING QUARRELS; IT'S ABOUT RESTORING RELATIONSHIPS.
IT'S ABOUT MENDING THE BROKEN, HEALING THE WOUNDED, AND BRINGING BACK THE LOST.
IT'S ABOUT CREATING A SPACE WHERE LOVE CAN FLOURISH, WHERE FORGIVENESS CAN THRIVE, AND WHERE RECONCILIATION CAN TAKE ROOT.
RESEARCH IN THE FIELD OF RELATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY AFFIRMS THIS UNDERSTANDING.
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT UNRESOLVED CONFLICT CAN LEAD TO A BREAKDOWN IN COMMUNICATION, A DECREASE IN TRUST, AND AN INCREASE IN STRESS AND ANXIETY.
ON THE OTHER HAND, RESOLUTION CAN LEAD TO INCREASED UNDERSTANDING, IMPROVED COMMUNICATION, AND STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS.
THE SECOND ASPECT OF THIS URGENCY IS THE RECOGNITION THAT RESOLUTION IS NOT A PASSIVE PROCESS; IT'S AN ACTIVE PURSUIT.
IT'S NOT ABOUT WAITING FOR THE STORM TO PASS; IT'S ABOUT NAVIGATING THROUGH THE STORM.
IT'S NOT ABOUT AVOIDING THE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS; IT'S ABOUT ENGAGING IN THEM WITH GRACE AND HUMILITY.
THE THIRD ASPECT OF THIS URGENCY IS THE REALIZATION THAT RESOLUTION IS NOT AN INDIVIDUAL ENDEAVOR; IT'S A COMMUNAL RESPONSIBILITY.
IT'S ABOUT RECOGNIZING THAT WE ARE NOT ISOLATED BEINGS, BUT INTERCONNECTED PARTS OF A LARGER BODY. IT'S ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN ONE PART SUFFERS, EVERY PART SUFFERS.
IT'S ABOUT REALIZING THAT WHEN ONE RELATIONSHIP IS BROKEN, THE WHOLE COMMUNITY IS AFFECTED.
RESEARCH IN THE FIELD OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY SUPPORTS THIS REALIZATION.
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT CONFLICT WITHIN A GROUP CAN LEAD TO DECREASED PRODUCTIVITY, INCREASED TENSION, AND A BREAKDOWN IN GROUP COHESION.
CONVERSELY, RESOLUTION CAN LEAD TO INCREASED COOPERATION, IMPROVED GROUP DYNAMICS, AND A STRONGER SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
THE FINAL ASPECT OF THIS URGENCY IS THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT RESOLUTION IS NOT A DESTINATION; IT'S A JOURNEY.
IT'S ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THAT RESOLUTION IS NOT A ONE-TIME EVENT, BUT A CONTINUOUS PROCESS.
IT'S ABOUT REALIZING THAT RESOLUTION IS NOT ABOUT ACHIEVING PERFECTION, BUT ABOUT PURSUING PROGRESS.
IN THE WORDS OF THE APOSTLE PAUL IN PHILIPPIANS 3:12, "NOT THAT I HAVE ALREADY OBTAINED ALL THIS, OR HAVE ALREADY ARRIVED AT MY GOAL, BUT I PRESS ON TO TAKE HOLD OF THAT FOR WHICH CHRIST JESUS TOOK HOLD OF ME."
THIS VERSE REMINDS US THAT THE JOURNEY TOWARDS RESOLUTION IS A JOURNEY TOWARDS CHRISTLIKENESS.
DEAR FRIENDS, THE URGENCY REPAIR BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS IS A CALL TO ACTION. IT'S A CALL TO RESTORE, TO PURSUE, TO RECOGNIZE, AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE.
IT'S A CALL TO STOP FIGHTING AND START HEALING.
IT'S A CALL TO TRANSFORM OUR RELATIONSHIPS, OUR COMMUNITIES, AND OUR WORLD.
SO, LET US HEED THIS CALL. LET US EMBRACE THIS URGENCY.
LET US STOP FIGHTING AND START HEALING.
LET US BE THE PEACEMAKERS THAT OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST CALLS US TO BE.
FOR BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS, FOR THEY WILL BE CALLED CHILDREN OF GOD.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
MY DEAR FRIENDS, AS WE CONCLUDE TODAY, LET'S REMEMBER THAT CONFLICT, AS CHALLENGING AS IT MAY BE, IS NOT BEYOND THE REACH OF GOD'S GRACE AND WISDOM.
WE'VE DELVED INTO THE ROOT CAUSES OF CONFLICT, AND WE'VE SEEN HOW OUR OWN DESIRES CAN OFTEN LEAD US ASTRAY.
BUT LET'S NOT LOSE HEART. BECAUSE IN THE MIDST OF OUR STRUGGLES, GOD IS THERE.
HE'S THERE IN OUR DISAGREEMENTS, OUR MISUNDERSTANDINGS, AND EVEN IN OUR QUARRELS.
HE'S THERE, READY TO GUIDE US TOWARDS RESOLUTION, TOWARDS PEACE, AND TOWARDS A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF HIS LOVE FOR US.
REMEMBER, WE'RE NOT ALONE IN THIS JOURNEY. WE HAVE EACH OTHER, AND WE HAVE A GOD WHO LOVES US MORE THAN WE CAN EVER COMPREHEND.
HE'S A GOD WHO'S WILLING TO STEP INTO OUR MESS, TO WALK WITH US THROUGH OUR CONFLICTS, AND TO LEAD US INTO HIS PERFECT PEACE.
SO, LET'S NOT SHY AWAY FROM THE HARD CONVERSATIONS.
LET'S NOT AVOID THE CONFLICTS.
INSTEAD, LET'S FACE THEM HEAD ON, WITH LOVE, WITH GRACE, AND WITH THE WISDOM THAT COMES FROM GOD.
BECAUSE IT'S IN THESE MOMENTS OF CONFLICT THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW, TO LEARN, AND TO BECOME MORE LIKE CHRIST.
******************************
LET'S PRAY.
DEAR LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE WITH US TODAY. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORD THAT GUIDES US, AND FOR YOUR LOVE THAT SUSTAINS US. AS WE GO FROM HERE, HELP US TO REMEMBER THE TRUTHS WE'VE LEARNED TODAY. HELP US TO FACE OUR CONFLICTS WITH GRACE AND WISDOM, AND TO SEEK YOUR GUIDANCE IN ALL THINGS. MAY YOUR LOVE BE OUR COMPASS, AND YOUR PEACE OUR GOAL. IN JESUS' NAME, WE PRAY. AMEN.
AND NOW, MAY THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE LOVE OF GOD, AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BE WITH US ALL, NOW AND FOREVERMORE. AMEN.
GO IN PEACE, MY FRIENDS, AND REMEMBER: GOD IS WITH YOU, EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
