This time on Pastors’ Chat, we talk about death and dying with Rev Rick Gillert, author of ‘Crossing the Bar: A Fortnight of Meditations for Those Facing the End of Life’.

The question What do you do? is what our culture uses to define ourselves and other people—to determine Who are you? How valuable are you? Many of us see work as a key part of our identity. Our work makes us feel useful—or not, which is why many unemployed and retired people can fall into despair.

If you’re not careful, when you do sacrifice something for Jesus, you start thinking that you’re “getting about even” and become a Pharisee about it, looking down your nose at all those “Christian cretins” who don’t love Jesus enough to repay him for his love.

I can’t help picturing another guy hiding in the woods. Naked, ashamed, scared out of his mind. He hears a voice—it sounds like the voice of his Friend—calling out his name. But no. An enemy trick. Propaganda. Too good to be true.

God is not in the business of keeping his will from us. To hear some people talk, you would think he was. Jesus said, “Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Mark 3:35). Most Christians want that kind of relationship, but they don’t know what the will of God is, much less how to do it.

No matter where you are in the political spectrum, you must acknowledge the divisiveness and vitriol and partisanship that threaten our national and human unity.

If you’re a Christian, you know that God loves you, but buckle up: He loves sinners, too. All of them?! Listen to this short message from Steve to find out.