"I'd like to be able get up in the morning and look in the mirror without
feeling nauseated at what I see."

   Interesting quote eh?  If you don't recognize it.. maybe you should.
Maybe life isn't as rosy as you're painting it.. and maybe your religion
isn't as righteous as you're believing it to be.

   Jonah was a prophet....
   But he really never got it..
   If you can watch him you can spot it...
   He did not get the point!

   Jonah was called to Nineveh.  Jonah was called to pour out God's message
of repentance on a people he very much viewed himself as better than.  Jonah
couldn't do that.  Jonah ran.  Jonah got swallowed.  Jonah thought he might
as well give in.  Jonah preached to Nineveh.. after being vomited up on the
beach.
   But Jonah didn't learn.  Jonah still wanted Nineveh to die.  Jonah still
wanted this group of uncircumcised heathen to be destroyed.  Jonah was a lot
like we are.
   Jonah wanted his enemies to perish.  God had a better idea.  Jonah wanted
to leave his enemies alone.  God had a better idea.  Jonah wanted to run away
rather than give his enemies something good.  God had a better idea.
   God still has a better idea, today.  God wants more than for you who claim
to love him to merely enjoy your life and love those who love you.  God wants
you going.. not just with a message of words.. but a gospel of love... from
your own heart.. as *well* as His.  God wants you delivering a message of
real love to Nineveh.
   But you can't?  You couldn't dare pour out your soul and love those who
steal from you..?  harm you..?  hurt your loved ones..?  That's just.. what?
UnChristian????
   Jesus told us in Matthew 5 that *ANYONE* can love those who love them.
Jesus told us that we should be children of God.. who love their enemies as
*well* as those who love them.  Jesus told us to pour out our love by
relating from our own hearts the truth of the Gospel.. not just on those who
are easygoing... but on those who need it so extremely... who are dying and
have embraced harming others as the only way to live.
   So what about Justice?  Can a world live without Christians fighting for
justice?  Did Jesus fight for Justice..?  Or did He live to pour out mercy on
those who didn't deserve it?  Did you deserve His mercy?  Do you deserve His
love?  What makes you better than those whom you are refusing to love?
   Love is the foundation of the Gospel.. so loving our enemies should be
part of the foundation of our faith.  Without love.. the Gospel becomes just
another byword.. that clique members whisper to one another secretly.. and
yell at outsiders with contempt.  Without love.. the Gospel is a lie.
Without love.. you wouldn't exist.. nor would you know Jesus.  Without love..
you'd be dead.  Without love.. you *will* die.
   It's up to you.  It's your choice.  It's your decision.  Are you going to
go preach to Nineveh?  Or are you going to forsake them?