I Think This is Beautiful...

"But He will pity us, He who pitied all men and understood all men and all things, He alone is the judge. In that day He shall come and ask: 'Where is the daughter who gave herself for a harsh and consumptive stepmother and the little children of another? Where is the daughter who showed compassion to that filthy drunkard, her earthly father, and did not shrink from his beastliness?' And He will say, 'Come unto Me! I have already forgiven thee...I have forgiven thee...Thy sins, which are many, are forgiven, for thou didst love much...' And He shall judge all men, and forgive them, the good and the evil, the wise and the humble...And when He has done with all men, then shall He summon us also: 'Come forth,' He will say 'ye also, ye drunkards, ye weaklings, ye infamous, come forth!' And we shall come forth without shame and stand before Him. And He will say: 'Ye are swine! ye are made in the image of the beast and bear his mark; yet come ye also unto Me!' And the wise and learned shall say: 'Lord, why dost Thou receive these?' And He shall say: 'I receive them, oh ye learned ones, inasmuch as not one of these has deemed himself worthy...' And He will stretch out His arms to us, and we shall fall at His feet and weep, and we shall understand all things. The we shall understand...and all shall understand...Lord, Thy kingdom come!"
-From Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

One idea for summer activities...

I saw this online last week and thought this might be a great way that we, too, could change the world by following in the footsteps of the Prince of Peace.

Pastor Invites People to Bring Guns to Church
Thursday, June 04, 2009

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Kentucky pastor is inviting people to bring their guns to church to celebrate the Fourth of July and the Second Amendment.

New Bethel Church is welcoming "responsible handgun owners" to wear their firearms inside the church on June 27, a Saturday.

An ad says there will be a handgun raffle, patriotic music and information on gun safety.
Church pastor Ken Pagano says guns must be unloaded and private security will check visitors. He says recent church shootings make it necessary to promote safe gun ownership.
Marian McClure Taylor is executive director of the Kentucky Council of Churches.

She says churches work to prevent violent harm and promote peace, but most "allow for arms to be taken up under certain conditions."