BiblicalInsights.net

     What does bk2hk stand for?  The letters and number stand for “Be kind to humankind.”  The first observance of BK2HK was in August, 1988.  It is still being observed today–globally.  Lorraine Jara read a story in her local paper some time ago that related an account of several men who had been in a boating accident.  They were not only ignored by several groups of boaters, but were actually refused help by one boater who was asked merely for radio assistance.  The men were eventually rescued but one died at the hospital.
     Jara asked herself what has happened to our society that one person could be face-to-face with another in need and do nothing?  What could she do now to change this situation? 
    Jara created a monthlong event she called “Be Kind to Humankind” (BK2HK).  She assigned each day of the week a specific way of recognizing humankind along with activity suggestions.  Here are some of her ideas:  Monday: motorist consideration day; Tuesday: Touch-a-Heart; Wednesday: Willing to Lend a Hand; Thursday: Thoughtful; Friday: Forgive Your Foe; Saturday: Speak Kinds Words; and Sunday: Sacrifice Our Wants for Other’s Needs.  Surely, one person can make a difference (Bits and Pieces, Aug. 2008, pp. 4-5).
     Some time ago, Jesus told a story about a good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37).  Jesus aimed at prompting love for our neighbor.  A man had been stripped of his raiment, beaten and left for dead along the road.  A priest and a Levite passed him by.  But, a Samaritan, moved with compassion, took mercy on him and helped him.  Jesus asked his listener, “Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?”  And he said, He that shewed mercy on him.  Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise” (Luke 10:36-37).  One person can make a difference!  Why not you?

     Recently, I read a comment that turned out to be a real gem.  It came from a book that reveals the leadership qualities of Robert E. Lee, general of the Army of the Confederacy.  The quote was written prior to the Civil War.  Robert E. Lee’s letter to Jack Mackay took a lighter view of publicity.  “We are our own trumpeters, and it is so much more easy to make heroes on paper than in the field.  For one of the latter you meet with twenty of the former, but not till the fight is done.  The fine fellows are too precious of persons so dear to their countrymen to expose them to the view of the enemy, but when the battle is won, they accomplish with the tongue all that they would have done with the sword…” (R. E. Lee to Jack Mackay in ALS U. S. Army Military History Institute, October 2, 1847). 
     “Someone once said that an ounce of “pretention” is worth a pound of manure.  The leadership challenge, in any era, is to produce “smoke free” work environments.  The best way to do that is to keep from blowing smoke yourself”  (Bil Holton, Leadership Lessons of Robert E. Lee, p. 12). 
     In contrast to “political spin” and “braggadocio”, I appeal to you for complete honesty.  The new “buzzword” for honesty is “transparency.”  However, even that word has become subject to “political spin.”  Jesus said, “But let your communication be, Yea, yea; and Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil” (Matt. 5:37).  He also said, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.  A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things” (Matt. 12:34-35).  A pure heart speaks honestly and truthfully.  A corrupt heart obscures the truth and speaks lies.  Only the pure in heart shall see God (Matt. 5:8).

     What does it mean to love God?  Love for God is a weighty matter!  Did you know that you can keep commands given by God without loving Him, but you cannot love God without keeping His commands?  Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).  He addressed the hypocritical Pharisees by saying, “But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone” (Luke 11:42).  The Pharisees did the “pass over” on important commands from God.  They majored in minors.  The real problem is that they loved themselves more than they loved God.  They elevated their views over God’s Word.  How do we show love for God?  There are five elements of  love for God that we want to consider.
     The first element is adoration for God.  If we truly love God, we will recognize His excellencies and His goodness.  We must know God before we can love God.  We must know His perfections including His glory, majesty, power, wisdom, love, mercy, wrath, justice and judgment.  We must recognize His goodness  revealed by His creative genius–producing design, beauty, functionality and sustenance and His redeeming love–producing salvation, joy, peace and the hope of eternal life.  Adoration is the esteem or value we place upon God when we understand who He is and what He has done for us.  That esteem is manifested in praise.
     The second element is attachment to God.  Love, by its very nature, attaches itself to the object of affection or devotion.  Love for God begins with an exclusive choice for God (Luke 16:13).  Luke declares that we cannnot serve two masters.  We will either hate the one and love the other; or we will hold to the one and despise the other.  We must choose.   A choice for God is a choice to enter into covenant relationship with God.  When we truly love God, God’s laws rule in our hearts.  To love God means that we deny self and live surrendered to Him.
     The third element is fidelity to God.  Fidelity means that we will keep covenant with God.  It means that we will be loyal and faithful to God.  Fidelity to God means that we will forsake all others (we will not serve any other gods).  Fidelity to God means putting God first and loving God exclusively.  We will worship Him only and serve Him only.  Love for God means that we make God the priority of our lives.
     The fourth element is gratitude to God.  Gratitude is the attitude of thankfulness that stems from a humble heart that recognizes that God is the ultimate source of all blessings. Love for God is prompted by God’s gracious acts that overwhelm the human heart.  The unspeakable gift of God’s Son if one example of God’s grace (John 3:16).  Love for God prompts gratitude as we recognize God’s goodness toward us on a daily basis.  God’s grace supplies us with many blessings that enrich our lives.
     The fifth element is consecration to God.  In Luke 10:27, we are taught to love God with “all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength and with all thy mind…”  We must be wholly given to God (Rom. 12:1-2).  Love for God motivates to a life of holiness.  We conform to His will and are transformed by His Word.  Love for God produces the desire to be like God (Eph. 5:1).  We imitate what we admire. 
     Love for God is the ultimate beginning point in establishing relationship with God.  Remember, God went first. “We love him, because he first loved us.”  I John 4:19.

St. John's Church

Side view of the church

Plauque indicating the date of the church

     I have posted some more pictures of St. John’s Church.  Remember, this is the place where Patrick Henry gave his famous “give me liberty or give me death” speech.