"No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another."

Friends in Christ, Recently, we heard the news of a Chicago couple who left their two little girls home alone for nine days -- unsupervised and uncared for. And the Chicago couple seemed surprised to be arrested upon their return fro…