12One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.
13When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:
14Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,
15Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot,
16Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Luke 6:12-16

I learned tonight that there are a few important parts of this passage here. First, Jesus prayed. He understood that time with his Father surpassed everything else, for he would not get through everything else if he did not have his Father with him. How many times today did you think about opening your bible or praying, but thought that laundry, homework, tv, or the internet were more important? Now I am one to speak because I do not do this. I am big on prayer but I have never spent a night praying. I don't know if I could last more than an hour or two. I am also not one to pick up my bible on a regular basis. I have always felt like school, work, family, friends, and relaxing/alone time for myself were more important. But how silly to think that I could accomplish all of those things on my own without first seeking God and allowing him to do what he wants with each of those things.

The second part of this verse is that God knew exactly who he wanted to choose. A Zealot and a tax collector were a part of that group. Those two things do not go together. That would be a tense situation to have those two in the same room. But what kind of Christian are you if you are constantly around those who are the same as you? How do you grow? Who challenges you? How do you show that you are LIVING your faith?

All of this brings me to the life I keep looking forward to starting in September. I am going to be living in a community of people I have never met before, besides on the internet. I guarantee that there will be someone there that I don't get along with. And I don't mean this in a negative, terrible thing to say kind of way. I mean this in reality. How often at work or school are you faced with someone that no matter what you do you just cannot seem to get along with?

27"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.
30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.
31Do to others as you would have them do to you.

 
32"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them.
33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that.
34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full.
35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

37"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Luke 6:27-38

God's church is "horribly messy" as Jeff, our young adults pastor states it. Have you looked around your church lately and thought, wow, look at the group of people he has brought here today. Outside fo the church, would these people ever meet? Would they ever invite each other over for lunch?

My perception of this next year started to change tonight. Instead of thinking I hope I get good people in my group (and yes, totally admitting I have thought this), I am curious and excited to see who God brings to England and how he will use each one of us not only to do his works but to challenge each other. We don't choose who goes-only God is capable of that. Though we may not agree on everything, we are one under Christ and it doesn't get much better than that.