My Jesus

By Joseph Skillin

Jesus is the friend that everyone could use these days. 
The depressed teenager, excluded at school, will find in him a compassionate, caring friend. 
The dad, burned out and weak, will hear from him an assuring message of power. 
The lonely, single, young woman will hear his uplifting message of dignity 
and importance. 
The midlife man still looking for purpose will find in him a wise and supportive big brother. 
The mother who hurts from spousal neglect will hear his message of healing and self-worth. 
All, whether wronged or lost, will find in Jesus healing, respect and life­
giving hope. 
Likewise for the happy, assured, enthused and confident. They will find uplifting inspiration and encouragement in Jesus. His presence and companionship 
will enable them to stay positive even in the most negative of environments. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: New Harbor Press
• Release date: Feb 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201360375

Joseph Skillin

Joseph Skillin's education helped him to understand people and their needs. He spent four years studying post-grad philosophy. He has been motivating people ever since, starting in the slums of Oakland, Ca. in the 1970's. After he moved to Boston, he founded the Center for Motivation and Achievement, teaching motivation techniques to corporate and general audiences. Now retired, he still motivates people through his writings, public speaking engagements and volunteer activities. He can be reached at [e-mail]

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My Jesus

Joseph Skillin

New Harbor Press

RAPID CITY, SD

Copyright © 2022 by Joseph Skillin

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

Skillin/New Harbor Press

1601 Mt. Rushmore Rd, Ste 3288

Rapid City, SD 57701

www.NewHarborPress.com

Ordering Information:

Quantity sales. Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the Special Sales Department at the address above.

My Jesus / Joseph Skillin. —1st ed.

Contents

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION:

THE COMPASSIONATE JESUS

THE LOVING JESUS

THE FORGIVING JESUS

THE DEPENDABLE JESUS

JESUS THE SON

THE SUFFERING JESUS

THE TEACHING JESUS

PATIENT JESUS

THE ASSURING JESUS

MY GENTLE JESUS

MY POWERFUL JESUS

THE SERVANT JESUS

THE ETERNAL JESUS

EPILOGUE.

PREFACE

This is a book of my personal thoughts about Jesus.

While not written as a prayer book, there are a few short prayers within it. While not written as a Life-of-Christ book, it tells many stories of his life. Neither is it written as a quick read-through from page one until the end.

I suggest you take a quick glance through the entire book and then read it section by section, one section per day. After you have read a section, put the book aside and quietly listen to your mind. See your own image of Jesus. Hear his message. Find your own response to it.

Peace be with you.

Joseph Skillin

January 2022

INTRODUCTION:

Now there are many other things that Jesus did. If they were all written down one by one, I suppose that the whole world could not hold the books that would be written. John 21:25

What you will read in this book is deeply personal. They are word-pictures, the images of Jesus first painted for me as a little boy. Over time, these have become for me the reality of Jesus, my Jesus.

Do they describe everything about Jesus and his life? No. Do they describe everything that Christianity teaches about Jesus? No. Do they quote 2000 years of theology, Christology? No. Do they describe any of those many other things that Jesus did that John mentioned? No. Nor are they photographs of Jesus’ life taken at the time they actually happened.

Just my personal thoughts of my Jesus. They are simply images I have had all my life, images painted by the Gospels and my religious teachers, images that capture the real Jesus and connect me to him today. Not sermons. Not theology papers. Simply my personal images, thoughts and memories of Jesus.

I’m OK without having been present in Bethlehem when he was placed in a manger that first Christmas night. I have a live image of that in my mind and in my heart.

I’m OK without seeing him play in the streets of Nazareth as a little boy. I have a live image of that in my mind and heart.

I’m OK without being present at the party when he changed water into fine wine. I have a live image of that in my soul.

I’m OK without seeing him touch the blind man’s eyes, or take the dead little girl’s hand;

or hanging on the cross, forgiving the thief;

or standing outside his own tomb, asking Mary, Why are you crying?

or appearing again to his followers and assuring them, Peace be with you.

I’m OK with not having been there for these events. I have living images of all these in my mind, my heart, my soul. I know these things happened. I believed them as a little boy. I believe them today. My Jesus.

This book is a reflection of my present day faith in Jesus. To me, the sheer magnitude of his compassion, the intensity of his love, the constancy of his forgiveness, the sum of his words, his miracles, his life – all of these together -- are what make him Jesus, show him as the son of God, portray him as our savior.

Take my lifelong images for what they are – a simple