Jesus's Great Commandment linked loving neighbor with loving God. Our vertical relationship intersects with our horizontal ones. Sadly, Christians have a reputation for being hateful, judgmental, and unwelcoming. Jesus envisioned a greater love, a greater posture, a PRO*YOU stance toward others. This means ordering our affections, overlooking aversions, offering assistance, and opening arms.

Learning is verified by our application. Practice, not study, perfects. All our Bible reading, ministry training, and Sunday School lessons mean little if we do not DO what we have been taught. In the Great Commission, Jesus challenges us to teach others to obey everything he commanded. We should be PRO*DO.

Followers of Jesus sign up to play the fool. Biblical values and wisdom do not align with worldly aims and virtues. This was true in Jesus' day as it is now. However, in the modern era nonstop media allows constant pot-shots at Christians. And some criticism is earned! Nevertheless, the Fool's Way is not to fire back and play into the critic's hand, but to loosen up and love better. Like Jesus and Paul, we embrace the Cross rather than answer our critics.

The world is a mess. We can easily be weighted down by burdens. Interpersonal conflicts and circumstances out of our control cause anxiety. Fortunately, all our Uh Ohs can serve as reminders to talk to the God of peace who can calm our restless hearts.

We rolled out the Red Carpet for this sermon and gave out Kudos to people who live like Jesus. This, of course, was the page straight out of Paul's letter, who commended Timothy and Epaphroditus for risking their reputation and life (respectively) to serve Jesus.