Time to Learn to Love More Deeply

Bishop Jakes thanks for being the giving and deeply caring person you are. My husband and I are church members for one year. We are THRILLED at ALL the wonderful work your church is doing. My husband and I both have been ministers for over 30 years. We've preached the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. I own 2 businesses in Kenya and love visiting and doing all I can to build lives. Preaching, praying, building a school and living with the people in Kenya is always a wonderful experience, for me.

The missions you do in Kenya are awesome! Thanks for digging wells and constantly sending teams all over the world. I don't know how you manage to "EFFECTIVELY" follow ex-prisioners and find jobs and homes for them, feed and counsel the poor of Dallas each Sunday, build homes here in Dallas, build a multi-million dollar college prep school, have an effective business strategy for the homeless, single women with kids, people with poor credit and then you have the best preachers in place teaching the young adults - my two daughters 22 and 24 how to be women who love God and have high morals.... The work is WONDERFUL and thanks for pouring your heart out to the church ministry.. Please Pastor "rest and enjoy your time" sometimes. We want you to stay around for hundreds of years. You are deeply loved! Your books are in my top 10.. If I could have lunch with 5 people in the world.. I would select you as one to converse with!!! This article is also wonderful.. We are praying for you to enjoy all God has given you... WE ARE WORKING WITH YOU AND WE LOVE YOU & YOU ARE THE BEST!! Brenda L

i live in washington dc but i have house in south dallas texas lost job oct 31 o6 because cancer operation. i get fine for high weed.i like come fix.any suggest write at4386 7st se 202 washington dc 20032

thanksa lot or that message of love, compassion , care and wisdome....
I am an Muslim Englsih teacher from Morocco..and the duty of saying the truth and standing aginst evil in all its pictures obliges to participate with you to show that killing human beingis an unforgiaveable crime.we have all to stand up and defend life and launch a war againt crime a war....today , we live in wolrd where all what we hear and wait for in ther mornings is the news of the dead people in the different parts of the cosmos....boold is being shed everywhere..kids, mothers, fathers, whole families are decimated daily and the world is trying to find convincing justifications for this savage crimes...No religon, no interest , no mind has to accept the killingof our brothers and sisters , children of Adam and Eve,......we don't have to destroy housesn villages and nations to build our skyscapers, economies and shed floods of human blood so as to have some oil to use it while driving our cars and buses...the best thing in life is life itself and we have all to protect life and cultivate the seeds of love between humans despite all diffeernces that may exist...within our bloods there is the smae blood...and the same divineis soul is what makes our bodies what the are...

God, being in control of the universe, can prevent suffering whenever He sees fit, but wherever free will exists, consequences of choice must also exist. We refuse to remember that we are the ones who betrayed God, not vice versa. We are the ones who listened to the lies of the evil one in the Garden of Eden. We chose to mistrust the heart of God. In breaking the one command He gave us, we set in motion a life of breaking His commands.

Being able to discipline oneself for the benefit of others is the very essence of maturity. Shantideva said, “All the joy the world contains, Has come through wishing happiness for others. All the misery the world contains, Has come through wanting pleasure for oneself (at the expense of others).” How we spend our time shapes who we are, and how we assemble the persons we are is cause for social concern. What examples are adults, entrusted with the awesome responsibility for their care, to the rapidly maturing next generation who will impact our society positively or negatively depending on to what we expose them. We have experienced the natural progression of an unguarded nation towards neglect, corruption and the loss of idealism. When awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, the Dalai Lama said in his lecture, “…For if we each selfishly pursue only what we believe to be in our own interest, without caring about the needs of others, we end up harming not only others but also ourselves…” One does not have far to look to witness the chaos and devastation caused in our society due to our turning away as a nation from our Judeo-Christian roots. Our culture is rotting. Just listen to the lyrics of popular songs, pick up a book or magazine, view a movie or television show. Pay attention to the violence permeating our communities, the disrespect and lack of courtesy displayed by all, judicial tyranny, and the neglect of and abuse directed at women. (Could this be a direct result of pornography? Duh!) Then consider that perhaps we are allowing the wrong input in our lives and the lives of those who have been entrusted to our care. After all, we are raising our next generation of leaders!!! Words like diversity, pluralism and tolerance have anesthetized us to the reality of good and evil. Tolerance is the cultivation of an attitude of indifference to things we see happening around us. In the name of peace, we tolerate evil. In the name of tolerance, we accept sin and call it freedom of speech or freedom of sexual persuasion. Albert Einstein once said, “The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.” We dare not stand up for what we believe for fear of being labeled intolerant. Tolerance sees your sin and embraces it. Grace sees your sin and hands you over to Christ's healing embrace.

God cannot make us choose to abide with Him. For now, God, tormented, waits upon us through one holocaust after another. satan’s best deception is its general success in concealing its own reality from the human mind. Most people live in such naivete regarding evil. What will it take for us to take evil seriously? satan lashes out on the earth like a madman, setting people against each other all over the globe. it devastates many lives through starvation, alcoholism, substance abuse and pornography. satan is at work in the holocaust of violent, disrespecting aborting of babies; narcissism; materialism; elitism; and the self-absorption we wallow in when we do not ensure our next generation is brought up in a culture with enriching, wholesome values. Failing to label evil evil misleads us about the world in which we live and our necessity for God’s grace, the only real answer and hope for any of us. If you are not living in touch with God, it is easy to blame Him or pass judgment on Him. We experience suffering and temptation because mankind chose to follow satan. Lurking in the heart of man, evil will erupt when it is permitted to act unimpeded.

Entrusted with the awesome responsibility of my children’s care, I am concerned about how their generation is being raised, to what they are being exposed, and the examples they have in their lives. Are they being enriched in mind, spirit and character? They all need highly esteemed mentors to guide them along the path to liberty. If we don’t stand for something, we will fall for anything. “The humblest citizen of all the land, when clad in the armor of a righteous cause, is stronger than all the hosts of Error,” - William Jennings Bryan. Hopefully, seeking our own pleasure is not the measure of our lives. We are called to be intolerant in love. Why not live as Philippians 4:8 instructs us to: Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. God is reaching out to rescue us … God made nature to sing His praises, to declare His glory and to love Him. He made humans with the ability to choose. He could have ordered our obedience; instead, he calls for our heart.

darlings prayer?? cut out this hokus pokus.its a farce a scam ,there is no one home!!

Thank you Bishop Jakes for responding to those in need and affected by the tragedy. I was numb when I learned of the news, and saddened that little was done to reach the gunman. Life is so precious!
Our thoughts and prayers goes out to all those affected by the murders, and a plea to stop hatred and violence.
As far as the other comments targeting you, it is pathetic for someone to take advantage of the opportunity to attack you when they need prayer and help. We do not know what tommorow holds,(neither did the victims), so it pays to get your house in order and prepare for eternity!

and jake from moi ditto: AND NO, YOU MAY NOT HAVE MY MONEY.!!
no big bucks for moneygrabbing homophobic ministers pleezzee!
now jake do what i told you go loose 150lbs today! AMEN JAKE!

Bishop...thank you for your message of love and forgiveness in a time of coldness and diviseness. You captured the sentiments of the Lord Jesus Christ perfectly. May we all regardless of our social or political positions pause for just a while, put our personal issues aside and pray in genuine love and concern for the families of the victims and shooter. May God bless them and sustain them through this time of human grief.

Thank you Bishop Jakes. That was a lovely sentiment, just perfect for a time like this.

And no, you may not have my money.

I guess it has to be close to home before anyone takes notice of what is going on in an average day.

BAGHDAD Apr 18, 2007 (AP)— Two explosions rocked Baghdad at midday Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and wounding 19, police said.

Meanwhile, U.S. troops killed five suspects and captured 30 others in a raid in Iraq's western Anbar province, a day after police uncovered 17 decomposing corpses beneath two school yards in the provincial capital.

Jack Wilson,

I believe the quotes you are looking for can be found in TD's discussion from last week.

Sean from California & Willem:

Jeeze, guys, give it a rest. This is not the time or place. Bishop Jakes just gave a beautiful homily and offered comfort to the bereaved to the best of his ability. I, a non-believer, am truly impressed. I think that now would be the time to show a little respect and tuck your egos away for a day or two.

Bishop Jakes,

I am a caucasian, Jewish stockbrokerage professional raised in New York and living in Los Angeles. So on the surface, we could not be more different.

Having said that, I travel for business often enough. One day I will come to Dallas again, and when I do I would consider it an honor to shake your hand.

You expressed your sentiments beautifully.

At the risk of being selfish, my dad is going to have an angiogram tomorrow. He had open heart surgery 18 years ago when he was 48. Now he is 66 and has another blockage. Please keep him in your prayers.

May God bless you and your loved ones.

eric

P.S. My blog is www.blacktygrrrr.wordpress.com
I will let the world know about the light your words shone tonight in the darkest of moments.

Whence come all these folks saying that Jakes hates homosexuals? Sounds like a lie and slander to me. Provide the quotes to prove it! I would guess Jakes loves them a lot, though he disapproves of their lifestyle.

Do I--do you--"hate" adulterers?

OH JESUS PLEEZE JAKE WHAT DID YOU TELL BUSH ABOUT KILLING OTHER PEOPLE IN IRAQ WHEN YOU WERE VISITING THIS WAR CRIMINAL AT THE WHITE HOUSE?
DID YOU PERHAPS GIVE YOUR BLESSINGS BECAUSE MOST LIKELY IT WAS ONLY GAYS AND LESBIANS THAT ARE GETTING KILLED IN IRAQ?
TAKE MY ADVICE JAKEBOI LOOSE ABOUT 150 LBS AND SELL THAT $1.700.000.OO MANSION AND SIGN UP FOR THE MARINES , ONE HOMOPHOBIC MONEYGRABBING PREACHER LESS IN OUR COUNTRY WOULD BE A GOOD START!

TD Jakes can learn to love more deeply by no longer hating gay people.

Or he could move out of his $1.7 million mansion, sell it, and give the proceeds to the people who are starving to death every day in this world.

Or perhpas his message is that we need to learn to love money and straight people more deeply?

Dear Bishop Jakes,

I am moved to tears with the beauty of your words. As a man, I find it hard to not want to lash out at offenders like Cheo Seoung-Hui. But Jesus said love your enemy like your brother, and love your brother like you love Me. You just demonstrated His love and wisdom in your powerful post. God bless you, and God bless all men who seek to help us rise above our baser nature and up to our true Selves.

Nicky Billou
Toronto, Canada

At times like these, I agree, we must have compassion for the victims as well as the shooter. That's the meaning of grace (life). If we hold the shooter in hatred, we only diminish ourselves.

In America, as in other countries, we see terrorists as mindless killers. But, if we use our mind and our compassion, we will understand that they are just like us - using violence to solve serious political disagreements.

Peace.
Love.

T.D. Jakes is THE MAN!

Dear Bishop Jakes:

Thank you for your heartfelt thoughts on this inconceivable tragedy. I'll admit to having my faith in God shaken with the ever escalating horrors inflicted by man on himself.

As I watch children murdered, terrorists killing in the name of God and endless rounds of mass murder visited on students by students themselves - I have been unable to reconcile an "all powerful" Father who is so willing to sit by and let horrible things happen. Honestly - it's made me revisit the Deist principles of our Founding Fathers in a "watchmaker God" who just sits back and let's us tick away.

Having no understanding or even explanation as to why these nightmare scenarios continue to occur - well, it has been a difficult journey in my own faith, to be sure.

Your words, however, have helped a lot, and they helped me - if not understand - at least find some peace in my own mind and heart from these terrible times. Thank you for your comfort and wisdom.

Charlene M.