My Interview (with a dead-guy).

The Greatest General, by Mark Twain:

A man died and met Saint Peter at the gates of heaven. 
Recognizing the saint’s knowledge and wisdom, he wanted to ask him a question. “Saint Peter’, he said, “I have been interested in the military history for many years. Tell me, who was the greatest general of all times?” 
Peter quickly responded, “O that is a simple question. It’s that man right over there.” 
The man looked where Peter was pointing and answered, “You must be mistaken. I knew that man on earth, and he was just a common laborer.” 
“That’s right,” Peter remarked, “but he would have been the greatest general of all time-if he had been a general.”

---What a remarkable lesson.

Shortly after reading Twain's story, I started wondering what it would be like to interview the "would-be-general." 

I imagine myself sitting across from him in a fluffy cloud, face to face with the following questions:

Q: What held you back from pursuing your dreams while you were on earth?

Q: Did you have a passion in your heart for the things of the military? If so, why didn't you enlist?

Q:  When you were alive, did you ever feel a sense of destiny?  Like God had a plan for your life?

Q:  How's the food up there?  

Q:  Followed up by, do all dogs really go to heaven?  I'm quite serious.

Q:  Finally, if  you could do it all over again, live your life again on earth, how would you live differently?

I have no idea what the answers would be to those questions.  
But what I do know, is that if you find yourself reading this, you still have a chance.  

-A chance to live.  -A chance to engage.  

What a terrible thing it would be to find out in heaven that you could have been the worlds all time greatest __________ .  

Ever hear of, "UBUNTU?"

What can "UBUNTU" teach you and I?

An anthropologist proposed a game to African tribe kids. 
He put a basket full of fruit near a tree and told them that whoever got there first won the sweet fruits. When he told them to run they all took each others hands and ran together, then sat together enjoying their treats. When he asked them why they had run like that as one could have had all the fruits for himself they said: UBUNTU, how can one of us be happy if all the other ones are sad?

Did you know that the Bible emphasizes this idea of "togetherness" throughout its pages? I searched online and look what I came up with: 

. Matthew 18:15-19.Restore one another.
. Matthew 22:35-40.Love one another.
. Matthew 23:23-26.Practice justice, mercy, and faithfulness with one another.
. Matthew 28:18-20.Disciple one another.
. Mark 9:50.Be at peace with one another.
. Luke 10:25-37.Love one another.
. John 13:14.Serve one another.
. John 13:34-35.Love one another.
. John 15:12-13, 17.Love one another.
. John 17:20-26.United with one another.
. Acts 2:42-47.Learn, share, and worship with one another.
. Acts 4:32-37.United in heart with one another.
. Acts 6:1-7.Care for one another.
. Acts 11:22-26.Encourage one another.
. Romans 1:11-12.Mutually encourage one another.
. Romans 12:3-8.Members one of another.
. Romans 12:10.Devoted to one another in brotherly love.
. Romans 12:10.Honor one another.
. Romans 12:15.Rejoice with one another.
. Romans 12:15.Weep with one another.
. Romans 12:16.Live in harmony with one another.
. Romans 13:8-10.Love one another.
. Romans 14:13.Stop passing judgment on one another.
. Romans 14:19.Edify one another.
. Romans 15:1.Bear with one another.
. Romans 15:2.Please one another.
. Romans 15:2.Build up one another.
. Romans 15:5.United with one another.
. Romans 15:7.Accept one another.
. Romans 15:14.Instruct one another.
. Romans 16:16.Greet one another with a holy kiss.
. 1 Corinthians 1:10.Agree with one another.
. 1 Corinthians 4:6.Do not take pride in one person over another.
. 1 Corinthians 10:24.Seek the good of one another.
. 1 Corinthians 12:4-27.Members one of another.
. 1 Corinthians 12:25.Equal concern for one another.
. 1 Corinthians 12:26.Suffer with one another.
. 1 Corinthians 12:26.Rejoice with one another.
. 1 Corinthians 13:1-8.Love one another.
. 1 Corinthians 14:1-3.Strengthen, encourage, and comfort one another.
. 1 Corinthians 16:20.Greet one another with a holy kiss.
. 2 Corinthians 1:3-11.Comfort one another.
. 2 Corinthians 2:7-11.Forgive one another and reaffirm your love for one another.
. 2 Corinthians 5:14-21.Live for one another.
. 2 Corinthians 13:12.Greet one another with a holy kiss.
. Galatians 5:13.Serve one another in love.
. Galatians 5:15.Stop biting and devouring one another.
. Galatians 5:26.Stop provoking and envying one another.
. Galatians 6:1-3.Restore one another.
. Galatians 6:1-3.Carry each otherfs burdens.
. Ephesians 4:1-7.Bear with one another in love.
. Ephesians 4:11-16.Equip one another through speaking the truth in love.
. Ephesians 4:25.Speak truthfully to one another.
. Ephesians 4:29.Speak words that build up one another.
. Ephesians 4:32.Be kind and compassionate to one another.
. Ephesians 4:32.Forgive each other.
. Ephesians 5:19.Speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
. Ephesians 5:21.Submit to one another.
. Philippians 2:1-5.Consider others better than self.
. Philippians 2:1-5.Look out for the interests of others.
. Philippians 4:2.Agree with each other in the Lord.
. Colossians 1:25-2:2.Admonish, and teach one another.
. Colossians 3:9.Do not lie to one another.
. Colossians 3:12-14.Bear with one another.
. Colossians 3:12-14.Forgive one another.
. Colossians 3:15-17.Teach and admonish one another with all wisdom.
. 1 Thessalonians 2:12.Encourage, comfort, and urge one another.
. 1 Thessalonians 3:12.Increase in overflowing love for one another.
. 1 Thessalonians 4:9.Love each other.
. 1 Thessalonians 4:18.Encourage each other.
.. 1 Thessalonians 5:11.Build up each other.
. 1 Thessalonians 5:13.Live in peace with one another.
. 1 Thessalonians 5:14.Urge, warn, encourage, help, and be patient with one another.
. 1 Thessalonians 5:15.Be kind to each other.
. 2 Thessalonians 1:3.Love one another.
. 2 Thessalonians 3:15.Warn one another as brothers.
. 1 Timothy 5:20.Rebuke one another.
. 2 Timothy 2:2.Disciple and teach one another.
. 2 Timothy 2:22-26.Gently instruct one another in kindness.
. 2 Timothy 3:16-17.Teach, rebuke, correct, and train one another.
. 2 Timothy 4:1-8.Preach, correct, rebuke, encourage, and carefully instruct one another.
. Titus 1:6-11.Encourage one another by sound doctrine.
. Titus 2:1-15.Mentor one another.
. Hebrews 3:7-19.Encourage one another daily.
. Hebrews 10:24.Consider how to spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
. Hebrews 10:25.Do not give up meeting with one another.
. Hebrews 10:25.Encourage one another.
. Hebrews 13:1.Keep on loving each other as brothers.
. James 2:8.Love one another.
. James 4:11.Do not slander one another.
. James 5:9.Do not grumble against one another.
. James 5:13-16.Pray for one another.
. James 5:16.Confess your sins to one another.
. 1 Peter 1:22.Love one another deeply from the heart.
. 1 Peter 3:8.Live in harmony with one another.
. 1 Peter 4:8.Above all, love each other deeply.
. 1 Peter 4:9.Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
. 1 Peter 4:10.Use all gifts to serve one another faithfully.
. 1 Peter 5:5.Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another.
. 1 Peter 5:14.Greet one another with a kiss of love.
. 1 John 1:7.Have fellowship with one another.
. 1 John 2:7-17.Love one another.
. 1 John 3:16-18.Lay down your life for one another.

Yowza! Enough "One Another's" for you? Apparently, living in community and helping one another is very close to God's heart! 
I lead a bible study where one of our key values is "family-style" ministry. Sometimes the group laughs when I ask them how a family should treat one another -but then I challenge them to consider our group the "ideal" family. A family where we get it right, a family where the standards are high. 
Let's circle back before I close. In the described African community above, UBUNTU means, "I am because we are." Think for a momenent about your life. Today. Yesterday. The day before that. Is UBUNTU a part of it? If it isn't, you might be living a bit too selfishly. Find a way to expand your living by helping others. Take a small step in the direction of UBUNTU, it will change your life for the better.