IN YOUR OWN WORDS GUESS WHAT, SELF? WHEN YOU LET PAIN GO, YOU’LL SEE A CHANGE! BY RAELENE JOHNSON, VOICE VENDOR WHICH SHOULD MATTER MOST TO CHRISTIANS: LOVE OR HATE? BY BRIAN AUGUSTINE, VOICE VENDOR Now, I’ve learned to love everybody equally and can’t find hatred in my heart – not for Putin for his killing of innocent people for no better reason than to gain more land for his people – not for Hitler and the mass murders he was responsible for. Not for the person who has done bad things against me. The last book of the Bible, Revelations, says that everyone will stand before God and will be separated from His followers and all the others. It says that some will call out His name. “We are here, Lord.” And He will say, “I know you not.” I believe those people will be the ones that hate. Whether it is for color, sex, or, religious reasons, hate will block your path in life. So, I’ll end with this thought: No matter if we haven’t met, or, if we never do, you have my innocent and truly unconditional love. ■ BRIAN AUGUSTINE. CREDIT: JESSE BORRELL THE DEFINITION OF CHRISTIANITY IS “ follower of the teachings of Jesus.” That comes from the New Testament of the Bible. I am a Christian. It upsets me when I hear these so-called Christian groups spew hate-filled words out of their mouths. RAELENE JOHNSON. CREDIT: CORTNEY TABERNA GUESS WHAT, SELF? Life is good because we got it together. Life, for many years, was hard because Self couldn’t love Self. Things change once we learn to love Self. We learn to put Self first because if we are happy then we make others happy. When that happens, we make life great for others and Self. Guess what? When you feel pain and do not let it go, it keeps you in pain. Pain makes bad choices when Self is hurting. You have the power to do good or bad. The choice is within you. Guess what, Self? Once you let go of the pain, things change. When you start to think of good things, good will come to you. Funny how it works. Holding onto bad things keeps bad coming your way. Flip your way of thinking. If you think of good coming your way, it will. Guess what, Self? At some point, you have to choose. Hold on tight to pain, and you’ll keep calling pain to you. Or, say you can’t change the past, but tell yourself, “I choose to let go of the pain. I choose to live and love Self and others. “ When you do that, you will end up in a life you never thought would happen, and that will be the best for you. Let go, Self. With love. ■ I’ve read the Bible several times, and nowhere, did I come across anything that said, “ Love thy neighbor – as long as they are the same color as you, believe as you do, or have committed the same sins as you.” I remember reading “Love the sinner. Hate the sin.” Nowhere does the Bible give the right for one human to hate another. Even if you believe you are free of all sin, you are guilty of the sin of false pride. My saying is don’t complain about the weeds in your neighbor’s yard when you’ve got even one weed in yours. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not some great Christian. I struggle every day with my problems. (The thorns in my side, so to speak.) I saw a man just the other day take off his shoes and give them to a guy who had none. I felt humbled by this action. And it gave me the knowledge of how far I need to go in my path. For me, that is what it takes to be a good Christian. When I became a Christian. I still had my anger and hatred issues. And my self-esteem was bad. But, I learned by reading the Bible to walk the walk. I’ve never been a chapter-and-verse guy. But, one thing Jesus said changed my self-esteem, “Love thy neighbor as I have loved you.” ILLUSTRATION BY GIGI GALEN 12 DENVER VOICE October 2022
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