REBUILD MY CHURCH

REBUILD MY CHURCH




Approximately 1,000 years ago
Saint Francis-heard the words


“Francis-go and rebuild my church
Which is falling into ruins”


Saint Francis
Heard these words
While kneeling before the crucifix
At the church of San Damiano


He took these words literally
And with the HELP
Of his friends
Began repairing the church building


Only later
Did he realize
That God
Was asking him to rebuild
The SPIRITUAL LIFE
Of the church


Which he did-spiritually
By founding the FRANCISCANS
The Poor Clares
And taking vowels of poverty
REJECTING all privileges
And following Christ
And the gospel


Today-32-or 33,000 Christian churches
The Catholic abuse scandal
And many atrocities
Over the years
In the name of religion


Has caused great distrust
Of religion
In secular society


And it is
UP TO each and everyone
Of us
IN TODAY'S WORLD
To


REBUILD the church
REBUILD the trust


And we do so
By living lives
That reflect God
That reflect Christ
In our every day lives


“Bob, John, Richard , Frank, etc., etc., etc.,
Suzie, Carol, Lin, Lori, etc., etc., etc.,
GO AND REBUILD MY CHURCH”


Don't look to anyone else
THE FUTURE is upon us
And it is up to us NOW
To


REBUILD THE CHURCH


Love, forgive, BE KIND
To everyone
Leave no room for doubt


BUILD UNITY


“HOW good it is
WHEN brothers (and sisters)
LIVE TOGETHER IN UNITY” Psalm 133:1


And Jesus preached:


“I in them
And you in me


May they be brought
To COMPLETE UNITY
To let the world know
That you have sent me


And have loved them
Even
As you have loved me” John 17:23


Pope Francis
Is off to a great start
In trying
To rebuild the church


He knows that
LOVE IS INCLUSIVE
And it is
Up to each and every one
Of us


To reach across theological differences
And build-REBUILD
ONE church-OUT OF LOVE


“IT is he
Who gave some
To be apostles
Some to be prophets


Some to be evangelists
And some
To be
Pastors and teachers


To PREPARE God's people
For words of service
So that
The body of Christ
May be built up


Until
WE ALL reach UNITY
In the faith
And in the knowledge
Of the SON OF GOD


And become mature
Attaining the WHOLE measure
Of the FULLNESS OF CHRIST” Ephesians 4:11-13


LIKE Saint Francis
Before us
It falls to each
And everyone to


“GO AND REBUILD MY CHURCH”


Robert P. Wallman
2-9-14




ps I TRULY BELIEVE
That that is what GOD is telling us today
And He is giving us the weapons of LOVE-KINDNESS-FORGIVENESS-and acceptance
It is up to us to go out and USE THEM