IT'S ALWAYS A SHOCK WHEN ANOTHER CHRISTIAN INTENTIONALLY HURTS YOU.   It's doesn't hurt any less when another Christian unintentionally hurts you.

If you've been involved with church for a while, it's possible you'll get hurt.   Pastors hurt people - people hurt pastors - and people hurt people.   I've been there.  Done that.  And for every person in the Body of Christ who has hurt me - there have been ten more who have reached out in love and mercy and healed me.   And for every person I may have hurt - I'm sure there were ten others healing any wounds I may have inflicted - even if unintentionally.

The Body may hurt you - but The Body will also heal you.  Don't walk away from the Body of Christ.

YESTERDAY OUR CHURCH HAD IT'S ANNUAL CHURCH PICNIC.   Usually I don't like church picnics....especially when it's hot, muggy, 94 degrees and prime "chigger" time in TN.  (Chiggers are in the grass and if they bite you, the result feels like a NUCLEAR mosquito bite. Chiggers are not my friends)    However, we returned home last evening with a warm feeling in our hearts just from hanging out with people we love.    Our church had a huge FOOD drive that far exceeded expectations....lots of side dishes to go with the hot dogs and barbeque the church provided.  A singing group, and fireworks.  

And ETERNITY WILL BE LIKE THAT.  Lots of people think we're "going to heaven" when we die - floating around like ghosts.  But the Bible says that God will make a NEW heaven and a NEW earth.  And that we will not be just SPIRITS flying around but that God will give us a NEW kind of body that will be resurrected from the seed that is planted in the ground - which is the body we have now. 

And we'll  have a life that is similar to life on this earth, except there will be no sin, hatred, sickness death, dying or darkness. It will be God starting over from scratch on a new earth with the people who are descendents of The Second Adam (HINT:  Jesus.)  

So we'll have bodies, and we'll eat whatever the new earth grows... and we'll just hang out and laugh and have fun and fellowship.  Just like a Church Picnic......but without the chiggers.