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Picture this: You're walking down a busy street, and you see a stranger struggling to carry heavy bags of groceries. You notice they're struggling, and without hesitation, you offer to help carry their groceries. The stranger looks grateful and thanks you for your help. As you continue to walk, you can't help but feel a sense of fulfillment knowing that you showed love to a stranger in need. This small act of kindness may have made a significant impact on their life and made their day a little brighter. By showing love to strangers, we can spread kindness and make the world a better place. 

Or imagine you're standing in line at a coffee shop waiting for your order. Suddenly, the person in front of you realizes they forgot their wallet and can't pay for their coffee. Instead of getting upset or impatient, you offer to pay for their drink without any expectation of repayment. The person thanks you, and this small act of kindness brightens their day. As you leave the coffee shop feeling good about yourself, you realize that showing love to strangers not only impacts their lives but also brings joy and fulfillment to your own. 

In the last week I have witness these two separate events occur. And I've asked myself what prompted these two strangers to help someone unknown to them? Were they just good people? Were they Religious? Followers of Jesus perhaps? As Christians, it is essential for us to treat one another with love and respect, in the same way that Jesus did. Our church community can be a place of safety, comfort, and nurturing, where everyone can grow and flourish together. However, we can only achieve this if we embrace the teachings of Jesus and put them into practice in our everyday lives. Jesus taught us to love all our neighbours, even those who may seem different or difficult to love. He taught us to turn the other cheek, to forgive one another, and to treat others as we would like to be treated. If we can follow these teachings, we can create a genuinely loving community, where everyone feels valued and supported. One practical way to show love to others is to listen fully to what someone has to say before responding. We can be so quick to judge or interrupt that we don't truly hear what someone is saying. By showing someone that we value and respect their opinion, we can create deeper connections and build genuine relationships. 

Another way we can show love to one another is by being patient and understanding. It's easy to become frustrated or irritated with someone when they don't act as we expect them to. However, Jesus taught us to love unconditionally, to be patient, and to show grace. As a church community, we can create an environment where everyone feels comfortable enough to share their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment. We can be a source of encouragement and support to one another. Let us make a conscious effort to treat each other with love and respect so that we can continue to grow together in faith and in love. 

On another note, session 5 of the discipleship training will take place this Sabbath at 3.30pm in the seminar room. Also, if you were planning on attending this years BIG camp in September applications are out, just visit the South Queensland Conference website to register.