https://lambertcastle.org/an-act-of-kindness/
We were invited to visit a curiosity in the neighborhood. This is a monster in human form. He is 27 years of age; his face, from the upper part of his forehead to the end of his chin, measures 20 inches, and round the upper part of his head is 21 inches; his eyes and nose are remarkably large and prominent, chin long and pointed. His features are course, irregular, and disgusting and his voice is rough and sonorous. His body is only 27 inches in length, his limbs are small and much deformed, and he has the use of one hand only. He has never been able to stand or sit up, as he cannot support the enormous weight of his head; but he lies constantly in a large cradle, with his head supported on pillows.
General Washington, while quartered at the Dey family mansion for several months in the year 1780, was told of the unfortunate little boy. Thereupon, he visited the child and was, indeed, alarmed but equally saddened by the grotesque sight before his eyes. Upon subsequent visits, Washington gained the friendship of the boy and spent much time in conversation with the lad. He also encouraged his many staff officers and generals to visit the boy. His purpose was clear. George Washington wanted to bring cheer and comfort to the life of a small boy who, like himself, knew the pain of isolation, of loneliness and of despair.
CHURCHES KINDNESS _- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qftpoMfe08
Pastor James McDonald 2018 – Youtube. 1:00-2:31 mark
“I wanted to see how we were doing when it is hardest to love.”
Romans 3:12 tells us “All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good (literally “kindness” – the same word found in Galatians 5:22), not even one.”
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31
Did you realize that Jesus wasn’t the first to say something like this???
* 500 years before Jesus, Confucius said “Do not unto others what you would not wish done to yourself.”
* The Buddhists 6th Cent BC also said Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.
* In the Old Testament Apocrypha in the book Tobit 4:15: “Do not do to anyone what you yourself hate.”
* Rabbi Hillel (20 B.C.): “What is hateful to you, do not do to anyone else. This is the whole law; all the rest is only commentary”
“DO to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31
ILLUS: Book – The Claims of Christ by Barry Davis (2001) – tells this story.
https://books.google.com/books?id=Z5FzWaW86lwC&pg=PA87#v=onepage&q&f=false
Boy came home one day to find his mother sitting at the table with an old tramp. Apparently she had gone shopping, met the tramp along the way, and invited him home for a warm meal.
During the conversation the tramp said, “I wish there were more people like you in the world.”
Whereupon his mother replied, “Oh, there are. But you must look for them.”
The old man simply shook his head, saying. “But, lady, I didn’t need to look for you… you looked for me.”
World Kindness Day is November 13th this year. On Inspirekindness.com it says, “The purpose of this day, celebrated on November 13 of each year, is to help everyone understand that compassion for others is what binds us all together.” https://inspirekindness.com/world-kindness-day#:~:text=World%20Kindness%20Day%20is%20a,what%20binds%20us%20all%20together.
Luke 6:27-36
“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that.
And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full.
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because HE IS KIND to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qftpoMfe08
Pastor James McDonald 2018 – Youtube. 1:00-2:31 mark
“I wanted to see how we were doing when it is hardest to love.”
Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
“A PRIEST happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a LEVITE, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.” Luke 10:31-32
“the fruit of the SPIRIT is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness…” (Galatians 5:22)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_Taylor
1800’s British Missionary James Hudson Taylor said “If your father and mother, your sister and brother, if the very cat and dog in the house, are not happier for your being Christian, it is a question whether you really are”
In the Greek
The word Christ is “ChrIstos”
And the word for Kindness is “ChrEstos”
CHALLENGE: TO USE YOUR FREEDOM – REVOLUTIONARY WAR HERO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
During the American Revolution, he served in the Second Continental Congress and helped draft the Declaration of Independence in 1776. He also negotiated the 1783 Treaty of Paris that ended the Revolutionary War (1775-83)
“He that has once done you a kindness will be more ready to do you another, than he whom you yourself have obliged.” – Ben Franklin
https://www.themarginalian.org/index.php/2014/02/20/the-benjamin-franklin-effect-mcraney/