“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:16-17

Charlie Brown and Linus are walking down the sidewalk and Linus asks Charlie, “Have you heard of the ‘Beat Generation’ Charlie Brown?”  Charlie replies, “Oh, Yes.”  And Charlie continues, “I’m a charter member.” Do you ever feel as if life is just beating you down? Have you ever felt like people in your life were beating you down? John 3:16 and 17 reminds us that although we might also feel like the world is beating us down, there is a G-d who loves us so much that G-d felt humanity was worth doing something completely unique – G-d became like us to save us from ourselves.  And he was lifted up on a cross so that, in seeing and believing, we have been given the gift of life – life eternal. Yes, we may be beaten by life, but we are not defeated. Christ is victorious for all of us—in his love, his mercy and Grace.

Pastor Dave