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One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: "Teacher, what must I do to receive eternal life?"

The man answered, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

The man wanted to justify his actions so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

Jesus replied with an illustration: "A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes and money, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.

"By chance a Jewish priest came along, but when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.

"Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt deep pity. Kneeling beside him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two pieces of silver and told him to take care of the man. 'If his bill runs higher than that, he said, "I'll pay the difference the next time I am here.'

"Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?" Jesus asked.

And don't you dare speak without a kind word from your lips, a heartfelt expression.

Follow in the footsteps of John Lewis who followed those of Jesus Christ's, and of the Good Samaritan doing whta John Lewis would call "Good Trouble".

Reach out equally to those you meet around you - your brothers and sisters God made equal to you; reach up equally to those who have walked before you; reach down equally to those coming up, and all creation who surround you. Yes, God made all creation in his image equally.

It is not without forethought that I pen this 'Thought' today with this Scripture reference....with Holy Spirit's direction.

For those who do not know who John Lewis is, he was a man who reached out, reached up, reached down. A U.S. Congressman who lived his life in keeping with the principles of Jesus Christ and the Good Samaritan we've learned about, or have been reminded about today.

For those who do not know who he was, how he lived his life, how he carried himself and others on his shoulders, as President Obama shared about him having done for him, and all the "Good Trouble" he did, please read the best article about him written for the New York Times online. You may have to subscribe, but, it will be beyond worth, to learn his journey and what that can mean to you and I, and everyone in the world today. Here is that link....

Written by Katharine Q. Seelye, and Roy Reed, who covered the civil rights movement for The New York Times and died in 2017, contributed reporting from an earlier version of this obituary. Sheryl Gay Stolberg contributed reporting.

The photographs are compelling, bold, telling and must be seen to realize the full impact and import of this man and his life in said article.

Find excerpts and paraphrasing by me below from said article, which is lengthy and profound, uplifting and heart wrenching, but filled with foundational truths to help us carry on the battle as the warrior(s) who went before us.....

Mr. Lewis, in demonstration, stood inside the door of a Nashville restaurant in 1960 during a sit-in to protest the establishment’s refusal to serve Black people.

John Lewis marched from Selma to Montgomery, Ala., on March 21, 1961 with Rev. Martin Luther King.

As a Freedom Rider he was attacked by segregationists in Montgomery, Ala., in May 1961.

But as an adult, he said, after he met Dr. King and Rosa Parks, whose refusal to give up her bus seat to a white man was a flash point for the civil rights movement, he was inspired to “get into trouble, good trouble, necessary trouble.

John Lewis, was beaten by a state trooper during the voting rights march in Selma, Ala., on March 7, 1965.”

”Mr. Lewis, in June 1967 had been “involved in a holy crusade,” he later said, and getting arrested had been “a badge of honor.”

Mr. Lewis spearheaded a sit-in by Democratic House members on the steps of the Capitol in support of gun-control legislation, and also on the floor of the House of Representatives in June 2016, demanding that the Republican-led body vote on gun-control legislation after the Orlando nightclub massacre.

Mr. Lewis, in 2017 said, “Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year,” he said, “it is the struggle of a lifetime.

Getting into “good trouble” became his motto for life. A documentary film, “John Lewis: Good Trouble,” was released this month.

Representative John Lewis, a son of sharecroppers and an apostle of nonviolence who was bloodied at Selma and across the Jim Crow South in the historic struggle for racial equality and who then carried a mantle of moral authority into Congress, died on Friday. He was 80.

Note: The preamble: We The People from The Constitution of the United States Mr. Lewis holds in his hand while making a point. "WE."

We are, in this time, in this nation, in this world, needing to exhibit "Good Trouble". NOT Rioting, but peacefully protesting, and rebuking ALL injustices done to all our brothers and sisters.

And while you are at it, please read the article linked below to better understand how slavery got it's start, and why.

From the BBC - My Nigerian Great Grandfather Sold Slaves by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani, Nigerian journalist.

Just remember, that was then, we live in now, here, today. We continue to grow....and press on....and 'Reach Out'. Many thanks to Ms. Nwaubani for showing us a painful past of history to help us better understand what was, to help us to grow beyond. There are still, to this day, many in bondage. May we do "Good Trouble", and pray much that all are released from bondage, that all may be protected and kept safe, and, do all we can to ensure the evil in this world stops....it....must....stop.

May the words and actions of John Lewis, and Jesus Christ, and others with them in solidarity and truth, help heal all in our nation and in the world.

And please, take time to sing and dance, for surely there is a party in heaven - John Lewis is truly free at last, and Jesus is thrilled he is home. But their fight is not over, not until Jesus claims victory for all will we all be able to truly find that peace that passes all understanding.

Pray for John Lewis' loved ones for the deeply felt painful loss that his passing has brought to their hearts, and go forward, in his memory, doing "Good Trouble" peacefully as you 'Reach Out".

Do this, too....just like John Lewis did....Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, all your mind, and, love your neighbor as yourself. Do this and you will live! Living eternal life with Jesus and John Lewis....any many more.

In Matthew 12:48-50 Jesus asked, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? Then he pointed to his disciples and said, "These are are my mother, and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sisters and mother!"

God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, help us all! In your Holy Name, you have made us one - equal - having many parts, but all one body. Help us, Lord, to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. And guide our hearts and minds to vote for the only person who will help bring America into being whole as he leads, praying, WITH you at the helm, for a nation raised from it's roots in your Holy Name, while you heal us all. Help us be mindful and purposeful in our attempts to do "Good Trouble" as we "Reach Out" in equality. Heavenly Father God, in Jesus' name I pray, by and with the power of the Holy Spirit. May we all praise you, and thank you, and love you. Amen.

Sing the songs noted below....Bing/Google the Titles to sing along....be healed!

The Message....

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother

The Hollies

The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows when
But I'm strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother.

So on we go
His welfare is my concern
No burden is he to bear
We'll get there
For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain't heavy he's my brother

If I'm laden at all
I'm laden with sadness
That everyone's heart
Isn't filled with the gladness
Of love for one another.

It's a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we're on the way to there
Why not share
And the load
Doesn't weigh me down at all
He ain't heavy
He ain't heavy
He ain't heavy
He's my brother
He's my brother
He's my brother

NOTE: “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” was written by old-school musicians Bob Russell (1914-1970) and Bobby Scott (1937-1990). In fact Mr. Russell wrote the lyrics while simultaneously suffering from cancer. And it was the last hit he ever wrote, as he died less than six months after its release.

Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors; (As we forgive our debtors!)
And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
And the power, and the glory, forever!

Healing Rain

Michael W. Smith

Healing rain is coming down
It's coming nearer to this old town.
Rich and poor, weak and strong
It's bringing mercy, it won't be long.

Healing rain is coming down
It's coming closer to the lost and found.
Tears of joy and tears of shame
Are washed forever in Jesus' name.

Healing rain, it comes with fire
So let it fall and take us higher.
Healing rain, I'm not afraid
To be washed in Heaven's rain.

Lift your heads, let us return
To the mercy seat where time began.
And in your eyes I see the pain.
Come soak this dry heart with healing rain.
And only you, the Son of Man
Can take a leper and let him stand.
So lift your hands, they can be held
By someone greater, the Great I Am.

Healing rain, it comes with fire
So let it fall and take us higher.
Healing rain, I'm not afraid
To be washed in Heaven's rain.
To be washed in Heaven's rain.

Healing rain is falling down,
Healing rain is falling down,
I'm not afraid.
I'm not afraid.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Sung by CeCe Winans

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.[Chorus]

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

NOTE: Great Is Thy Faithfulness is a popular Christian hymn written by Thomas Chisholm with music composed by William M. Runyan in Baldwin City, Kansas, U.S. The phrase "great is thy faithfulness" comes from the Old Testament Book of Lamentations 3:23. These exact words occur in both the King James Bible and the Revised Standard Version.

Rise Up

By Andra Day

You're broken down and tired
Of living life on a merry go round
And you can't find the fighter
But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out
And move mountains
We gonna walk it out
And move mountains

And I'll rise up
I'll rise like the day
I'll rise up
I'll rise unafraid
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again
And I'll rise up
High like the waves
I'll rise up
In spite of the ache
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousands times again
For you
For you
For you
For you

When the silence isn't quiet
And it feels like it's getting hard to breathe
And I know you feel like dying
But I promise we'll take the world to its feet
And move mountains
We'll take it to its feet
And move mountains

And I'll rise up
I'll rise like the day
I'll rise up
I'll rise unafraid
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again
For you
For you
For you
For you

All we need, all we need is hope
And for that we have each other
And for that we have each other
We will rise
We will rise
We'll rise, oh oh
We'll rise

I'll rise up
Rise like the day
I'll rise up
In spite of the ache
I will rise a thousands times again
And we'll rise up
Rise like the waves
We'll rise up
In spite of the ache
We'll rise up
And we'll do it a thousands times again
For you oh oh oh oh oh
For you oh oh oh oh oh
For you oh oh oh oh oh
For you

Hold On, I'm Comin'

Sam & Dave

Don't you ever be sad
Lean on me, when the times are bad
When the day comes and you're down
In a river of trouble and about to drown

I'm on my way, your lover
If you get cold, yeah, I will be your cover
Don't have to worry, 'cause I'm here
No need to suffer, baby, 'cause I'm here

Just hold on, I'm comin'
Hold on, I'm comin'
Hold on, I'm comin'
Hold on, I'm comin'

Reach out to me for satisfaction, yeah
Call my name, yeah, for reaction
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Now, don't you ever be sad
Lean on me, when the times are bad
When the day comes and you're down, baby
In a river of trouble and about to drown

Reach Out of the Darkness

Friend & Lover

I think it's so groovy now
That people are finally getting together
I thinks it's so wonderful and how
That people are finally getting together

Reach out in the darkness
Reach out in the darkness
Reach out in the darkness
And you may find a friend

I knew a man that I did not care for
And then one day this man gave me a call
We sat and talked about things on our mind
And now this man he is a friend of mine

Don't be afraid of love
Don't be afraid, don't be afraid to love
Everybody needs a little love
Everybody needs somebody
That they can be thinking of

Jesus is singing this to you....guy or girl....right now....reach out to him....

Reach Out I'll Be There

Four Tops

Now if you feel that you can't go on
Because all of your hope is gone,
And your life is filled with much confusion
Until happiness is just an illusion,
And your world around is crumblin' down;
Darling, reach out (come on girl, reach on out for me)
Reach out (reach out for me.)
I'll be there, with a love that will shelter you.
I'll be there, with a love that will see you through.
I'll be there to always see you through.

When you feel lost and about to give up
'Cause your best just ain't good enough
And you feel the world has grown cold,
And you're drifting out all on your own,
And you need a hand to hold:
Darling, reach out (come on girl, reach out for me)
Reach out (reach out for me.)
I'll be there, to love and comfort you,
And I'll be there, to cherish and care for you.
I'll be there to love and comfort you.

I can tell the way you hang your head,
You're without love and now you're afraid
And through your tears you look around,
But there's no peace of mind to be found.
I know what you're thinkin',
You're alone now, no love of your own,
But darling, reach out (come on girl, reach out for me)
Reach out (reach out for me.)
Just look over your shoulder
I'll be there, to give you all the love you need,

I encourage you to Google/Bing and listen to the following songs: 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother' as sung by The Hollies, 'The Lord's Prayer' as sung by Johnny Mathis, 'Healing Rain' by Michael Smith, 'Great Is Thy Faithfulness' as sung by CeCe Winans, 'Rise Up' by Andra Day or sung by Mattie Faith and 'Hold On I'm Comin' as sung by Sam and Dave, and 'Reach Out Of The Darkness' sung by Lover & Friend, and also, Reach Out I'll Be There sung by the Four Tops.

There are many free options to listen to these songs and any others that will help you heal, soothe your soul, raise you up.

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT

Scroll down to read Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving...'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'.

Definition of a Christian: Anyone who believes in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior. Regardless of church name or religious affiliation.

'All who have been united with Christ in baptism have been made like him. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians - you are ONE in Christ Jesus.' Galatians 3: 27

If you feel that the Church of the Holy Spirit has inspired or helped you, we'd like you to prayerfully consider tithing regularly to us, or gifting us, so that we can further the work and carry out the will of the Father as proclaimed in Matthew 28:19-20 NLT

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this:

There is no better time than now to let God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit know how grateful you are for them being there for you, all they have done for you and will do, and, show thankfulness for being fed the Word of God, so you can know and obey him.

people will be able to continue to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ spread throughout the world

Not only will people hear the Gospel preached, but healings will be manifested, food and housing provided,

We now offer Pay Pal as a way to donate immediately and safely. You'll find that option as you scroll down on this page.

It is time to reach into the community and the world around you to see wherein lies the greatest need. As you choose to focus on these areas, do so with a servant's heart. Whether the need is for children, adults, animals, the earth, or any cause in between that will help those in need, ask God how you can best serve his needs, what path you must take, and how long you should persevere. Sometimes we are to be in the lives of others merely as stepping stones. Sometimes we are to touch those lives forever. Whatever journey you are called to take, whatever team you will be a member, know this: God is with you always...even til the end of time. He loves you, is grateful for you, and will help you along life's way, especially if you are helping others along theirs, persevering with a servant's heart.

Please accept my sincerest thanks....and God's....and may God richly bless you !

In the meantime, we hope you will trust us to direct them to where the need is the greatest.

"Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. "The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father - Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen."

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn how to live freely and lightly.

I now write most prayers in the position of ' I ' (first person) because most people are sitting at their computer alone, not in groups, and it allows those reading and praying to personalize the prayer as coming from them going to God. Variations may appear on holidays when families may wish to use the prayer provided. I encourage you to pray your own prayers as well.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

NOTE: I said it long ago, but let me say it again. If you are wanting to lead a group, start a church, or are confined in an institution, or live in a country where the Gospel is not preached, and you don't know what to say or how to say it, and yet feel led to share, teach, or preach, besides just reading straight out of the Bible and sharing what God puts on your heart, please feel free to share any or all of what I've written, if it will help you, as long as you include where it comes from, due to copyright laws. Jesus gave God's love and healing freely, as well as his message. Our responsibility is to get the Word out to those who need to hear it. If what I've written....by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit....or what he has said through me....has helped you, it may help others that you know. You are welcome to share it. God calls all of us to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world. Please share it with the fullness of love that God, Jesus, Holy Spirit....and I....have given it. Amen!