Stamp Out Hunger collects 31,000 pounds of food

Stamp Out Hunger
Pat Barcas photo
NALC member and Aurora letter carrier Suzie Murray (left) and a volunteer unload donated food during Saturday’s Stamp Out Hunger event at the USPS processing facility on Broadway Avenue in Aurora.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer

Aurora area letter carriers collected about 26,000 pounds of food May 12 during the 20th annual Stamp Out Hunger event.
It was the 19th year Aurora has participated, and the food collected for those in need totalled about 31,000 pounds, including surrounding communities. The Stamp Out Hunger food drive is the nation’s largest single day food drive, having collected more than one billion pounds of food since its inception in 1993.
In 2011, generous Americans donated 70.2 million pounds of food, which marked the eighth consecutive year that at least 70 million pounds were collected.
Head organizer, Aurora letter carrier and National Association of Letter Carriers Local 219 Trustee Mary Kluber said donations were down about 6,000 pounds since last year, but she’s not discouraged.
“I really think it just means people don’t have the extra food to give. Everyone’s struggling,” she said. “The way I look at it, this is 31,000 more pounds of food than what people had to eat before. So I’m glad we did it, and I’m happy with the totals.”
Aurora letter carrier Suzie Murray was busy May 12, unloading postal service boxes full of food from her van at the Aurora processing facility on Broadway Avenue. She’s been a letter carrier in Aurora nearly 10 years and participated in the Stamp Out Hunger drive every year.
She said her favorite part of the job is being independent, out in the neighborhood talking to the people on her route on the west side of the city, but she’s noticed more housing foreclosures in the last few years.
“It’s a good feeling to collect food for those in need. The last few years, yeah, we haven’t collected as much food. I just think money’s tight,” she said.
A recent survey conducted by Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief organization, found that nearly half (46 percent) of households served reported having to choose between paying a utility bill or purchasing food. This is a decision that hits close to home for many letter carriers as postal facilities are shut down throughout the country, and hours are cut back.
Murray said she is opposed to the Postal Service moving to a proposed five day delivery schedule. She’s happy to walk her five mile per day route even on Saturday, during the winter.
“Things will be delayed if we go five days. Not a lot of people realize they need things delivered on Saturday. Medications, paychecks, bills,” she said.
Kluber looks forward to organizing the Aurora food drive for years to come, and thanks all those who help out.
“All the volunteers are a Godsend. By the end of the day I’m glad it’s over, it’s a lot of work for us,” she said. “But we’re so happy when this food goes to people. Our hearts go out to them, I really hope we’re helping people. And of course, I’m already coming up with ideas on what to do next year to make the food drive even better.”

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

Hundreds of union members join striking machinists

Tom Buffenbarger speaks at Caterpillar rally
Pat Barcas photo
IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger told the crowd of union members and their families that they should never give up the fight for a fair contract.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer

JOLIET — An estimated 500 union workers arrived by bus, car, foot, motorcycle and bicycle May 11 to rally in solidarity with the striking machinists outside the Caterpillar plant in Joliet.
While Caterpillar’s history of union busting policies weighed heavily on everyone’s mind, several speakers took to the portable stage in front of the plant to remind the 780 workers that they do not stand alone.
“Brothers and sisters. Look around you. You are not alone. Do you see red?” asked Steve Jones, directing business representative of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local Lodge 851. Jones repeated the question after taking the stage in between speakers, referencing the red T-shirts that everyone wore in solidarity.
“For America to be strong, the middle class must be strong,” said Congressional candidate Bill Foster as he took the stage. “Let’s not forget that the middle class needs a champion, and labor is that champion.”
Foster said he believed Caterpillar should share its 2011 profit of more than $4 billion.
“There used to be an understanding that if companies were doing well, they would share their wealth in good times,” he said. “Not any more.”
Back at the main Caterpillar gate, everyone was on their best behavior as they picketed while at least six security guards and two police officers stood watch. Gone were the over the top taunts to every car earlier that week that dared enter the Caterpillar grounds.
“We just don’t want to give them a reason to shut us down, so we toned it down,” said a man on the picket line.
Dozens of others lined Channahon Road, holding signs and getting honks of encouragement from passing motorists.
Back at the stage, Congressional candidate Tammy Duckworth used the opportunity to voice her disdain for Caterpillar the company.
She explained how she and her husband had invested in Caterpillar stock years ago when she received a payment from the government over her military injuries.
“I’m a stockholder. We believed in the company back then and what it stood for. Now, this is not OK. I don’t like this,” she said.
Local Lodge 851 President Tim O’Brien said he was proud of his membership for showing up in strong numbers.
“I’m proud of the membership standing tall at the picket lines and coming out today,” he said. “We’re showing this company that we mean business.”

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

Aurora Exchange club recognizes officer of the year

Pedro Rodriguez
Pat Barcas photo
Aurora police officer Pedro Rodriguez is emotional as Aurora Police Chief Gregory Thomas presents him with the Aurora Exchange Club’s Officer of the Year award.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer

Officer Pedro Rodriguez of the Aurora Police Department said he re-lives the actions that he took everyday during the fateful drive home of Jan. 7, 2011.
Rodriguez, a 12 year veteran of the force, was awarded the Aurora Exchange Club’s Police Officer of the Year award May 15 for his actions that day.
Rodriguez had just finished his shift and picked up his 13-year-old daughter from school. At about 3:30 p.m., as he was driving his personal vehicle northbound on Fifth Street at South Avenue, he saw a subject shooting a revolver at a group of other teenagers.
Officer Rodriguez, who was in full uniform, stopped and exited his vehicle after telling his daughter to “get down.” He confronted the gunman as the offender chased one of the other teens across Fifth Avenue with the gun still in his hand.
Rodriguez identified himself as an Aurora Police officer and ordered the subject to drop the gun. The offender refused, continued to run toward the other teen, turned toward Rodriguez and pointed the gun at him.
Fearing for both his life and that of his daughter, Officer Rodriguez fired, fatally wounding the suspect. When the assailant fell to the ground, Rodriguez immediately radioed for medical assistance for the offender who was a 15 year old Aurora juvenile.
Rodriguez said he was overwhelmed with emotion when it was announced he won the award.
“When the event is talked about, you tend to re-live it in your mind. I re-live it everyday,” he said.
Rodriguez said he credits his training for ensuring a positive outcome that day.
“You have to make quick decisions and not second guess yourself,” he said. “People say I didn’t decide that person’s fate that day, they did.”
This year’s keynote speaker at the event was Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon, who credited Rodriguez with protecting lives.
“We don’t celebrate death, we celebrate life here today, which Officer Rodriguez served to protect. I thank all the officers here for their dedication. With that, Aurora will continue to be a great place to work, live and raise a family.”
Four other officers were nominated for displaying outstanding efforts during 2011. Special Operations Group Investigators Nick Gartner, Chris Converse, and Abel Villanueva, whose actions resulted in attempted murder and other felony charges against four men in connection with a July 20 shooting.
Also, Investigator Robert Myint was nominated for establishing the needed resources to investigate the possession and trafficking of child pornography in Aurora. He also networked with child pornography investigators from other law enforcement agencies to gain knowledge and experience and eventually enlisted their assistance on cases being worked by Aurora Police.

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

Lawlessness and the object of commitment

“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure (1st John 3:2-3).

By Dan Richardson
These verses are often misunderstood. In one sentence, John says Christ came to take away our sins. In the next sentence, he says those who abide in Christ do not sin. Then he says whoever sins has never known Christ. Do followers of Christ ever sin again? What is the difference?
Many do not come to Christ because they think becoming Christian means a person will never sin again. The same people are perplexed when they hear of a Christian falling into sin. The whole thing makes no sense they say.

Things we commit to
The key to understanding 1st John 3 is paying special attention to the word ‘commit.’ Strong’s Greek Lexicon uses the following terms to convey the original meaning: continue, without any delay, exercise, to provide, purpose, observe and ordain. We see John is not talking about a one-time act but rather a continuing trend. When provision and planning is made for a sin, it shows the person finds purpose and contentment in it.
Being committed to a certain sin is not the same as a sin being a matter of happenstance. Living in anger and bitterness is not the same as being angry and then forgiving and forgetting. Looking forward to and enjoying pornography is not the same as fumbling with a random impure thought. Yes, single acts of sin are certain for fallen people; however, a lifestyle or practice of sin is lawlessness. The wild west of sin is not overcome without the power of Jesus Christ.

He takes away our sins
The good news is that Jesus suffered on the cross to take away the curse of sin, namely, its ability to lure and dominate. Though Jesus didn’t commit sin because He is holy; in a mysterious and real way, He became sin for us when He suffered and died. Like a scapegoat, Jesus took our sin and was sacrificed in our place. It was all part of the Father’s plan to satisfy justice to and demonstrate His great love. Jesus died for sinners.
Those who follow in the love of Christ and trust in His death, burial and resurrection practice sin no longer. Jesus breaks the power of sin so those who love Him can live for Him without condemnation and fear. A Christian sees sin as a fight and no longer a delight.

Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him
Remember, John is referring to those who practice sin — those who are committed to favorite pet sins. When Christ makes someone a new creation, old things pass away and all things are new (2nd Corinthians 5:15, 17). It is impossible for a new creation to love his old past. When Christ is found as most precious, old sin habits become as rotten fruit, never to be relished again. Professing Christians who continue practicing sins of their former life reveal they never came to know Jesus in a saving, heart changing way.
Parenting Application: Unfortunately, the organized church purveys a ritual often referred to as “The Sinner’s Prayer.” In and of itself, the wording of the prayer is fine. The problem occurs when someone declares or confirms salvation upon a person who says the prayer. It happens a lot at vacation bible schools or special nightly services. Here’s how it goes. A church person will ask a seeker to repeat a prayer. When the recitation is over, the church person asks, “Did Jesus come into your heart?” He will guide the person to consent and then say, “If you ever doubt Jesus is in your heart, remember the day you prayed.” Days following, the seeker tries to follow Christ in his own strength only to become frustrated because he never experienced a true heart change by God. Many professing Christians discredit the power Christ gives to overcome sin because they do not know Christ in a true saving way.
You can learn more about this problem from a message entitled “True and False Conversions” by Ray Comfort. Full text and audio is found at www.livingwaters.com.

“Intelligence, patriotism, Christianity, and a firm reliance on Him, who has never yet forsaken this favored land, are still competent to adjust … all our present difficulty.
—President Abraham Lincoln

Dan Richardson’s e-mail address is danrichardson@foxvalleylabornews.com.

Teachers forum highlights education crisis in Illinois

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer

ELGIN — The audience of educators at the meeting in Elgin May 12 feared the only way for people to take action is during a crisis. In terms of teacher’s pensions and solving the state budget woes, Illinois may be in that crisis already.
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has proposed solving Illinois’ budget crisis by dramatically changing the public school teachers retirement system. As of last year, the pension system was $43.8 billion under-funded.
Quinn has been supported by the Illinois Policy Institute in looking to reduce state payouts to Illinois schools to cover teacher pensions, and proposing initiatives that would pass retirement costs along to schools.
Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice hosted a panel of education experts that spoke about the current issues teachers are dealing with today, and how to possibly solve them.
“Illinois doesn’t have a pension problem, it has a serious revenue problem,” said Maria Owens, a career educator with more than 30 years in education. “The future doesn’t look good under these proposed cuts. We’ll have teacher shortages, an increased burden to homeowners, inequality of education across the state, negative economic effects, poorly producing schools, and an under-educated work force.”
Dan Kenney, a fourth grade teacher in the DeKalb School District, agreed. He said teachers that usually received excellent ratings from state review boards are now receiving satisfactory scores merely because a mandate was handed down that too many excellent scores were being given.
He also said the reality is that many students come from poverty.
“It’s about poverty. We don’t want to face the facts that 22 percent of our students are living in poverty and what that means for learning,” he said.
According to the Illinois Policy Institute report findings, the pension system in Illinois asks public school teachers to pay almost 9.5 percent of their paychecks into the Teachers Retirement System. Yet teachers pay less in two-thirds of all districts in the state, and some don’t contribute at all.
Under Quinn’s proposal, teachers would experience a 3 percentage point increase in the member contribution, from 9.4 percent to 12.4 percent. The retirement age will be gradually increased over several years to age 67.
Upon retirement, the cost of living adjustment (COLA) will be changed from 3 percent compounded to a COLA that is capped at 3 percent or one-half of the consumer price index, whichever is less. The new COLA is not compounded. Also, a member’s COLA will not begin until 5 years of retirement, or age 67, whichever comes first.
“The future of our country depends on what is going on in our schools. We are abandoning public education. We can’t let this happen,” said Kenney.

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

Walker draws more criticism during downtown protest

Downtown Chicago rally against Scott Walker
Pat Barcas photo
Last week was a week of protests against Wis. Gov. Scott Walker who was visiting Illinois. They started April 17 in Springfield, then came to Chicago April 20.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer

CHICAGO — Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker said April 20 at an appearance in Chicago that he does not expect to be recalled in a June election, but the hundreds of union members crowded outside where he spoke disagreed.
“These kind of attacks against our livelihood can go on no longer,” said Chicago Federation of Labor Secretary-Treasurer Robert Reiter, addressing the crowd on the sidewalk on the 100 block of S. Lasalle Street. “Let’s tell Governor Walker that his tactics will not stand in Illinois. Go back up to Wisconsin and get yourself recalled.”
Walker spoke at an Illinois Policy Institute luncheon in front of about 200 people, where he defended his behavior of slashing collective bargaining rights.
“We avoided massive layoffs, you won’t know that from some of the guys out in front, but the irony is what we did allowed us to avoid massive layoffs of public employees in our state and local government,” said Walker.
He expects to be elected again, but it will be a “nasty campaign.” Criticism from unions in Wisconsin and Illinois is at an all time high, alleging Walker has stripped public employees’ collective bargaining rights, slashed their pensions and benefits, and just recently repealed the state’s equal pay protection law, all within only two years of being in office.
Walker gave his speech on the same day it was revealed he had reinstated merit-based pay increases for more than 220 Wisconsin state workers, costing the state $765,000. This clashes with his image as a budget balancing governor.
He also faced heat from Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, who issued a statement clarifying Illinois job creation statistics, after Walker claimed in Springfield April 17 that Illinois had fallen behind Wisconsin under his governership.
“Since Governor Walker took office, Wisconsin is dead last among the 50 states in job growth,” said Quinn in his release.
According to a report by Bloomberg News, he’s correct.
The report states: “Illinois ranked third while Wisconsin placed 42nd in the most recent Bloomberg Economic Evaluation of States index, which includes personal income, tax revenue and employment. Illinois gained 32,000 jobs in the 12 months ending in February, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found. Wisconsin, where Walker promised to create 250,000 jobs with the help of business-tax breaks, lost 16,900.”
Walker will face his special recall election June 5, with the Democratic primary to occur May 8. Four Democrats have declared their candidacies: Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, former Dane County executive Kathleen Falk, Wisconsin secretary of state Doug LaFollette and state senator Kathleen Vinehout.

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

Thousands stand against Right to Work in Champaign

Rally against Mitch Daniels
Pat Barcas photo
Lieutenant Pat Devaney of Firefighters Local 1260 in Champaign speaks to the crowd of 2,500 in Champaign April 19 criticizing Right to Work laws.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer

CHAMPAIGN — Illinois union members turned out in force at a rally in Champaign April 19 to make it clear that anti-union Right to Work legislation is not welcome in this state.
About 2,500 union members from all trades and professions gathered at the University of Illinois’ Assembly Hall parking lot for the Right to Work Won’t Work in Illinois rally, letting their voices be heard by visiting Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. Daniels was in town as a keynote speaker at the Champaign County Republican Lincoln Day dinner.
He recently signed legislation that makes Indiana a Right to Work state. Right to Work is a loophole created under the National Labor Relations Act that allows a state to enact a law prohibiting union security clauses in union contracts. Basically, it allows workers to not pay union dues even if a union bargains on their behalf.
The legislation effectively weakens unions, job security and collective bargaining.
“We are here to fight those that want to take away the fruits of our labor. Are we going to allow them to do that?” asked Lieutenant Pat Devaney of Firefighters Local 1260 in Champaign.
Devaney was one of several speakers that took to the mobile stage set up by Teamsters Joint Council 25. It wasn’t just firefighters and union leaders criticizing Daniels, teachers also voiced their opinions.
“The middle class is the backbone of this country,” said Kathi Griffin, vice president of the Illinois Education Association. “If any man tells you he loves America and hates labor, he is a fool.”
Dan Montgomery, president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, cited research that has shown Right to Work does not work.
“It doesn’t work. Research has shown, Right to Work does not help the economy or bring more work. It hurts jobs, and it lower the minimum wage. Governor Daniels is trying to take away our voice, but we won’t let him,” said Montgomery.
As the evening wore on, the protesters marched from Assembly Hall to the location of the Lincoln dinner, closing down several streets.
Inside, Daniels did acknowledge the crowd outside, a little sarcastically, however.
“Our good friends on the welcome wagon that were here to salute our evening — I was really tempted to go out and have a few words and talk to them,” said Daniels. “If you’re asking me about Illinois passing a right to work law, please don’t. We’re welcoming businesses (in Indiana) every day, and we would hate to have that advantage neutralized.”

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

Quinn pension reform not sitting well with state workers

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer

Governor Pat Quinn’s latest plan to fix the Illinois state public pension system is drawing criticism from government employees, who would be required to work longer with fewer benefits.
The $83 billion pension shortfall has been in the making for decades, caused by not enough money being put into the retirement fund coffers.
“I didn’t create the problem,” said Quinn at a press conference last week. “But I’m here to solve it. That’s my job, and I know I was put on Earth to get this done.”
The governor wants the General Assembly to raise the state workers and teacher retirement age to 67, and also to increase employee contributions by three percentage points.
This doesn’t sit well with Chicago union coalition group We are One, who released a statement on behalf of Illinois AFL-CIO president Michael Carrigan.
“The unions representing public employees are committed to working with Gov. Quinn and the members of the General Assembly to find a solution to the pension funding crisis caused by the state’s failure to pay its share,” he wrote. “It is crucial that the pension problem not be compounded by an unconstitutional solution that is unfair to public employees who have always paid their share. The average public employee pension is just $32,000. Because most public employees do not receive Social Security, this modest pension is their life savings.”
Carrigan also wrote that unions were not asked to be a part of Quinn’s pension working group.
“We strongly disagree with the proposals made today. Considering that the subject at hand is the ability of hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans to support themselves in retirement, we believe the proposals are insensitive and irresponsible,” wrote Carrigan.
Carrigan went on to call the proposal “illegal” because it forces public servants to choose between two sharply diminished pension plans.
“It is a clearly illegal attempt to solve the problem caused by past governors and the legislature solely on the backs of teachers, caregivers and other public workers. Public employees must be treated and heard as full partners in any substantive discussions. No one has a greater stake in solving the problem than we do. A serious problem deserves a serious effort at a solution. The unions are ready,” wrote Carrigan.
The deadline for the state legislature’s adjournment is May 31, and there will almost certainly be some changes to Quinn’s proposals by then.

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

Bob Mitchler remembered as a war veteran and friend


Bob Mitchler
Jennifer Rice photo
Sen. Bob Mitchler walks the yard of his rural Oswego home. For years, his front yard has been home to an enormous American flag strung between two trees.

By Jennifer Rice
Managing Editor

Bob Mitchler was a people person. He loved working with people, veteran organizations and schools. He truly was a Renaissance man.
I first crossed paths with Mitchler in 2010. I was to spend a few hours with the then 89-year-old veteran, summing up his life for a feature story. In the end, I spent two days with him — an excessive amount of time for a story.
On the first day, we talked for so many hours, the sun had disappeared, making the possibility of outdoor pictures impossible. I would have to come back.
“Why don’t you come back tomorrow?” Mitchler asked. “At lunchtime. We’ll have lunch together.” It was more of a statement, than a question.
And that’s what I did. After lunch, we moved outside. A few days prior, a storm had blown through Kendall County, snapping several tree branches and scattering dead twigs and limbs in his yard.
Before I know it, I’m riding shotgun in his John Deere Gator 6×4 vehicle, zipping all over his yard, Mitchler talking my ear off. He suddenly hits the brakes and points to a pile of twigs. “Why don’t you throw them in the back?” I do as he says.
A few feet further, he stops again. “Why don’t you throw them in the back?” Again, I do as he says. Suddenly, I begin to see a pattern. I notice several piles of twigs. I realize I was here to help him pick them up. And I didn’t mind at all.
Listening to Mitchler speak was a reporter’s dream — he never stopped talking. He was so knowledgably, on everything. He had the best stories. He recounted his time running for state senator, how he loved to campaign — “nice, clean campaigning, no mudslinging. We campaigned on issues and platforms,” he remembered. Something they don’t do today, he remarked.
“Never get into a squirting contest with a skunk,” he told me, shaking his finger to the air for emphasis. “If you’re a public figure, you never get into an argument — even if you’re opponent’s wrong. Because the skunk will win, and you’ve got that splattered all over you, and you’ve got to live with it,” he said.
He had a political career he was very proud of. Over the years, he said politics changed. The General Assembly changed. “Today, I couldn’t stand doing what they’re doing down in Springfield.”
He served in both WWII and Korea. He was 21 when he enlisted in the Navy, just before Pearl Harbor. In September 1950, three months after marrying his wife Helen, he was called to active duty when North Korea invaded South Korea.
For Veterans Day, he’d talk to students. He wanted to stress to them to talk to their grandparents; ask them about their role in the war. Just thinking about the question made Mitchler get tears in his eyes. “I’d tell those young students, ‘Around the holidays, take your grandfather aside. Ask him, ‘Will you tell me what you did in the military?’”
He told me several times he’s really had a wonderful life, a good life. That summer and the next, he asked me to canoe alongside him during the Mid-American Canoe Race on the Fox River. That first summer, I tipped my canoe — twice. Before I knew it, Mitchler was long gone.
After the race, he held a 90th birthday party for himself at his house. That’s where I finally met up with him; smelling like river water, dirty with dried mud on my legs and a few bruises to boot.
“Well,” he said. “Maybe when you’re 90, you’ll be able to catch up to me,” which drew laughs from most of the partygoers.
I’m glad I had the honor and experience to know Mitchler. To know him is to love him. I consider him a friend and I’m sad that he’s gone. To the sea his spirit is now.

Jennifer Rice’s e-mail address is Jen@foxvalleylabornews.com.

The goal of God’s love: It is not what you think

“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up (Rom 15:1-2).”

By Dan Richardson
God’s love is truly known when we understand how undeserving we are. In spite of our lack of faith and thankfulness, His love is greater. In spite of our complaining and lack of forgiveness towards others, God’s love is greater. Despite our numerous trespasses against His commandments, His love is greater. On average, you and I accumulate more than 100,000 sins in a decade. That’s factoring two sins per waking hour (a shallow estimate). Yet despite all that, God’s love is greater.
The world has no concept of this kind of love. By nature, man loves his family and neighbor, but not his enemies like God does. Who would give his life to save his enemy? God did. While we were His enemies, He sacrificed His only Son. While we were rebellious towards Him, He reached out and offered His love. No one’s sinful past is greater than God’s love.

“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1st John 4:10).”

God’s love and the crucifixion of Christ are inseparable. Let’s try it step by step. God’s love isn’t fulfilled in us until He adopts us and makes us His children. But adoption can’t take place unless He deals with our rebellious heart. That is why the violent, bloody and cruel cross is necessary in His love story. Justice demands Someone taking the punishment for our sins. You can’t be justified without a perfect sacrifice — Jesus, the Lamb of God. You can only be adopted if you are justified before God.
If you receive Christ by hating sin, loving Him and trusting in His shed blood, God grants you the legal right to be called His child. The benefits of adoption are endless: love, joy, peace, forgiveness and strength. Most of all, God is your Father for eternity.
An unsettling result of God’s love is the separation of His children from the world. Contrary to popular belief, not everyone is God’s child. Why? Because many reject God’s love and refuse to live for Him. They despise Jesus Christ and create gods in their imagination to suit themselves. Many say self is god and worldly wisdom is supreme. A Christian is often misunderstood because his desires and lifestyle doesn’t align with the world.
It is obvious the goal of God’s love is not world unity. If that were so, everyone would respond to His love and trust in His Son. They would hate sin and love righteousness. Rather, we see the goal of God’s love is to call people into a relationship so they can know and admire Him. The goal of God’s love is for you and me to know Him and say, “Wow, what a great God. He loved me despite my sinful heart.”
Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it (Matthew 7:13-14).” Have you found God’s love at the cross? How did you respond?

“It is peculiarly fit for us to recognize the hand of God in this terrible visitation, and in sorrowful remembrance of our own faults and crimes as a nation and as individuals, to humble ourselves before Him and pray for His mercy.”
—Abraham Lincoln, 1861

Dan Richardson’s e-mail address is danrichardson@foxvalleylabornews.com.