As we once again witness conflicts based on differences, it is important that we never forget that we were ALL created by a God who loves us all, and welcomes us all. As it says in this excerpt from Isaiah 56:1-8,
"Make sure no outsider who now follows God
ever has occasion to say, ‘God put me in second-class.
And make sure no physically mutilated person
is ever made to think, ‘I’m damaged goods.
I don’t really belong'...
...“And as for the outsiders who now follow me,
working for me, loving my name,
and wanting to be my servants—
All who keep Sabbath and don’t defile it,
holding fast to my covenant—
I’ll bring them to my holy mountain
and give them joy in my house of prayer.
They’ll be welcome to worship the same as the ‘insiders,’
to bring burnt offerings and sacrifices to my altar.
Oh yes, my house of worship
will be known as a house of prayer for all people.”
The Decree of the Master, God himself,
who gathers in the exiles of Israel:
“I will gather others also,
gather them in with those already gathered.”
