June Reads

No more book reviews. I will post the pics and would love to dialogue with you after you read them. Shoot me an email richsarah99@sc.rr.com we will discuss anything!!! Just Read!

Golden Oldie

"I imagine myself as the most wretched of all, full of sores and sins, and one who has committed all sorts of crimes against the King. Feeling a deep sorrow, I confess to him all my sins, I ask for his forgiveness, and I abandon myself into his hands so that he will do to me what he pleases. The King, full of mercy and goodness, very far from chastening me, embraces me with love, invites me to feast at his table, serves me with his own hands, and gives me his treasures. He converses with me, and takes delight in me, and treats me as if I were his favorite. This is how I imagine myself from time to time in his holy presence."

Brother Lawrence (1614-1691)

Sermon Recap-"Sand Scribbles"

I enjoy walking on the beach early in the morning or just before sunset. There are plenty of things to notice: sand, shells, shark teeth, people, swimsuit styles, lifeguards, hotels, waves, seagulls, and scribbles in the sand.

I always stand and read the scribbles in the sand. They are usually words of undying love, usually written by a drunk teenager on Senior week. I often wonder, when I read the three foot letters spelling out "I LOVE NICOLE", just who is this Nicole and why does this dude love her so much. I have never been inclined to scribble in the sand this way--guess this Nicole must be some woman, or this man must be some man.

These sand scribbles are powerful statements of emotion and love. In just a few hours, the tides wash them away--one wave at a time.

Our text this morning deals with some scribbles in the sand. Let's see how they differ from the Atlantic Ocean Coastal love declarations.

John 8
A Woman Caught in Adultery

Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

I attended a worship service this week with around 100 teenagers jumping and dancing and singing praise and worship music that I do not know. I am an ancient mind when it comes to worship and have a hard time reading the screen while people are jumping up and down in front of it. I like singing but fear not being on key--when I don't know the song, I kinda whisper the words so that the youngsters do not stare at me. But, it was still a service of worship and I have to realize that I do not have the market cornered in ways to worship God. My friend, Peter used this text. I really liked it. So, I am using it this week. Notice, I did not say that I stole his sermon, but I did poach his text.

The text is familiar to most, and it contains an oft used phrase "cast the first stone." This text is powerful and still resonates deep, penetrating truth to us.

The scene has a woman that has been placed at the feet of Jesus. She has been caught in the very act of adultery. Now, you folks seem to be a super sharp group. My question for you is: "How is it that only one person was caught in the act of adultery?" If you figure this one out, please let me know.

This single person being caught in the act--exposes the schemes of the teachers of the law. The attempt was to trap Jesus. He was not caught "between the devil and the deep blue sea," but he was caught "between the law and the Pharisees" and that may be worse.

Here is the trap. The Mosaic Law states that if a virgin who is betrothed to man is caught in adultery, then she and the man should be stoned. If Jesus executed the death sentence and she was not a virgin, or unbetrothed, then he broke the Law too. Oh, and the man was not present either. So, taking a legalistic stance has consequences, even for Jesus. Hmmm, makes us wonder, huh? So, there are several chances for Jesus to break the Law.

Now, let's say that he acts as if the Law is not a big deal, a Liberal in relation to the crowd. Then they would turn on him as one who does not hold the Law in high regard.

Does not look good for Jesus. If this were a Batman episode, this would be the time where the show would end, and we would be held captive until the next show.

"Will Jesus have the woman executed and break the Law?"

"Will he free her and ignore the Law?"

Stay tuned for the answer to these and other important questions --Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel.

But the story goes on and Jesus does something even more dramatic than the T.V. could ever portray.

As we are back in the scene, perhaps the woman is naked or semi-clothed. She had been caught in the "very act" and drug out into the crowd, in front of Jesus. Can you imagine the depth of her embarrassment and fear. Jesus is asked to impose the death sentence and her life hangs in the balance of the words that will come from his mouth.

She waited, they waited, and Jesus bent down and scribbled in the sand.

What?!?!?

Scholars have debated what this was all about. This is the only recorded occurrence of Jesus writing anything. What did he write? Did he write anything at all?

Some say that he wrote the name of the man that was involved with her . Doubtful, because then he would have been pulled out of the crowd and there would be no tension left in the story.

Peter Copeland jokingly said that maybe he was playing tic-tac-toe. That could not be because there are theological landmines there like: If he was playing himself and won then part of him would lose and Jesus is perfect. So that could not be. Perhaps it is a tie game--and then he is a half winner and half loser. See--I am a bit weird.

What is this scribbling about? Every eye in the room was focused on the finger of Jesus. When they were watching him scribble, what were they unable to do? They were no longer looking at the woman and her sin. Instead, they were focused on the finger of the Savior.

He then stands and says in my paraphrase, "She should die because of her sin, I agree. The one who has never broken the Law that you all hold so dear--you can chunk first."

Then he knelt again and scribbled some more.

The older men understood first and left the scene. The younger ones took longer, but they too realized that no blood would be shed that day.

The Woman is looking at the only One who could chunk a stone at her. He chose to scribble instead. The crowd wanted blood, and Christ gave His own months later to redeem sinners.

She looked into his eyes, and saw compassion. She was naked and he covered her with his righteousness. She had blown it, and he told her to try again.

"Go and Sin no more."

No tide can do anything to erase the scribble of Christ in the sand. He said to her and says to us,

"Your screw ups should not be where your focus lies. It is all about me. I took those, so that you would be free. Free from being condemned, and free from condemning. Go--and try again. When you fail, which you will, I will love you still."

Sermon Recap--"Head Scratcher"

There is an old poem that says:

Everyone is strange

except me and thee.

Now that I consider it,

I am not so sure about thee.

This week, I realized that I am not so sure about me either. I observe things. That is a key component to my preaching. I look at the world, and with my odd eyes and heart, try to discern what God is doing and join him there. It is funny that I do this and often fail to notice when my wife gets here hair cut. Or, maybe God is easier to figure out than women?

Sometimes, I do run into things or people that make me scratch my head. I just returned home from a week stay in the upstate visiting with family. On Tuesday, the temp was a balmy 100 degrees and I was melting. I missed my ocean breeze and 4 hours inland, not a breeze was found. I went into a Speedy Mart and grabbed 2 bottled waters, paid the cashier and exited the glass doors in the front of the store. Looking to my right, I noticed a HUGE pile of firewood for sale. From my Wal-Mart management days--I almost flipped out! Repeat 100 degrees and they were selling--firewood, and at FULL price. A real head scratcher--wouldn't you agree.

The next day I went to a coffee shoppe. Their was a huge sign for decaf espresso. Sorry, but I don't understand. Maybe I am missing something here--for me, this is another head scratcher.

I went in a candy store named I-sugar. It was amazing and I almost slipped into a diabetic coma just by looking around. There were gummy bears and M&M's sorted by color. They even had a delicious Clemson blend (orange and white) and a yucky discounted gamecock blend (garnet and black.) There were huge sugar daddies and tiny sugar babies. We spent about 30 minutes checking out all the goods. On the way out, I spotted 8 peg hooks filled with basic sugar free candy. Made no sense--another head scratcher.

The day before returning home, Douglas and I met my sister, Amy for lunch. We arrived a bit early and went on into the Mexican restaurant and started munching on the chips and salsa. In between crunches, three preachers came in the door. You can spot preachers from a mile away. I am not sure what it is, maybe we smell funny. Once they got a bit closer, I could really see that they were preachers. They each had on polo shirts advertising their churches. They were all from different local churches and wore the logos proudly. They sat in the seat behind me, and talked loudly. So, I felt obligated to listen, quietly.

The conversation hinged around a person who was attending one of the churches and being difficult. He was requiring a lot of time of the pastor, and was quite draining. The pastor was trying to get the other ministers to take him off his hands. The conversation was not about "How can we brainstorm and figure out a way to help" it was about "Please take this dude off my hands, he is a large pain in my polo." You get my drift? Another head scratcher for me. I think I am getting a bald spot.

I was reminded of a head scratching scripture. Let's see if there is something here for us.

Luke 15

Parable of the Lost Sheep

Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them! So Jesus told them this story:

“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!

The perfectly pressed polo preachers were spending too much time on the 99 to care about the 1. Perhaps the 1 that was the biggest pain was the 1 that needed the rescuing. Perhaps, we are like the preachers in that we too often forget about the Christ that goes and gets us when we wander. He carries us on his back and takes us back to the place of restoration and reconciliation. One thing that cannot be denied; Jesus cared for the marginalized and sought to find them and love them. We too often care for the cool, the hip, the people that have it all together--oh, if we could somehow focus on the ONE who cares for the one that wanders.

Christ loves us--the wandering sheep. That may be the greatest head scratcher of them all.

Sermon Recap--"Getting Older?"

I had a tremendous shock to the ego this past week. In a "meet and greet" with the 2008 ICO staff, we were all hanging out and eating Ice Cream and talking to each other. We are going to be hanging out a good bit this summer and will be working as a team in ministry. There was 24 people in the room and the conversation of ages came up. It was then that I realized that I am getting older. I graduated high school in 1988. Only 3 of these "kids" were even born then. Oh my! I thought I was hip, cool and in touch with the culture around me. Now I just think I am old.



Then I am reading and stumble upon the text for the morning. It did little to cheer me.



Ecclesiastes 12

Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.”

Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky.

Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop.

Remember him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly.

Remember him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then all their sounds will grow faint.

Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire.

Remember him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral.

Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.


The scipture even tells us that we are aging. So, I am getting old. I did what anyone in a mid-life crisis would do. Buy a new car? Nope. Find a new wife? Nope. Get a new hip haircut? Nope.


I went parasailing. (Gasps)


You think you are shocked--you see why I did not tell my mom until we were driving home. (laughter)


Sarah did it, too. (raised eyebrows)


Douglas did it, as well. (big gasps)


It was great. Sarah and I were far more scared than Douglas. He was a superhero flying 500 feet in the air above Myrtle Beach, looking down at the waves, hotels, stingrays and jellyfish.


He has no fear to speak of. He has no self-esteem issues. He believes he can do and be anything he wants.


His parents are not so lucky.


We have baggage--we have doubts--we have fears.


Solomon reminds us to remember our creator when we are young. Life chokes away the desire to remember and appreciate. We become cynical and full of bitterness. Oh, if we could just be children of FAITH forever and trust God and enjoy the ride that he puts before us.

Before we went airborne--the captain of the boat told us to hold on and not stand up. Basically, he said to sit on our rears and fly. We did as we were told, and were launched higher than high and had a great experience.


Solomon says, "Remember," Christ says, "Follow." I say, "Dare to trust God, he may take you to places that you, in your old age, thought were impossible. Perhaps you will be changed and a great example of childlike faith will emerge.


Let me know what he does--where he takes you--how he reverts the aging process--in your life this week.

click to enlarge (notice the happy kid, mom and somewhat unsure dad)

May Reads

Blackston is from Greenville, SC--my former neck of the woods and writes great stories. I want to share a funny quote from Flabbergasted, "Kudzu, if edible, would do for South Carolina, what oil did for Texas."

Usually, I do not read Christian fiction or love stories, and I loved this and the other 3 in the series that are shown below. Great summer reads!! Read Flabbergasted, A Delirious Summer, and Lost in Rooville. I give them all * * * * and half stars.

See above note!!! Favorite quote from A Delirious Summer:

"We spend vast amounts of time and energy crafting a thesis in our heads of how life should play out. Then the almighty God spends and incredibly brief amount of time blowing our thesis to bits."

See above notes!

I am a grace guy. Those who know me--know this. If you don't know this--then you don't know me. I want you to know me--so I guess you should know this. Well, now let's proceed.

This is a great, honest book about realness and real grace. Top 5 books that you should read to be stretched a bit are:

1- The Ragamuffin Gospel-Brennan Manning

2-Messy Spirituality-Yaconnelli

3-Dangerous Wonder-Mike Yaconnelli

4- Provocative Faith and Beatitude-Matthew Paul Turner

5- Divine Nobodies--Jim Palmer (See Below)

My good friend, Peter gave me this book. I loved it and give it * * * * stars.

Good book about what God is doing in Las Vegas. Interested yet? I give it *** and a half stars.

Loved the book. I then went to the 5 dollar Christian bookstore at Tanger at 501 and bought all they had. This book is not perfect--but in spirit it is pretty close. I give it * * * * and .75 stars.

Sermon Recap--The Tides

As a reward for a few weeks of exemplary behavior, we bought Douglas a new game for the Wii. It is called "Thrillville." The premise behind it is that you become the CEO and designer of an amusement park. You can decide how many bathrooms you need, how many people to employ and how much insurance to take out. But the best part is that you get to design the Roller Coaster. You decide how high the highs are and how low the lows are! You decide the number of flips and twists and turns. It is pretty cool!!

Think a few moments about our lives. How often we are in a high or a low. Our lives are so much like the roller coaster, one minute--at the apex and the next moment plunging at breakneck speed to the bottom.

Life is filled with highs and lows, mountaintops and valleys. If we could only know when we would be where. Or do we really want or need to know?

The past few weeks have been filled with highs and lows for me. I get to baptize two friends this morning. They asked me to do this! It could have been anyone, but they wanted me to be the one to have a part in this outward declaration of their commitment and love of Christ. I have been ecstatic about this all week. In fact, I may have even been a bit prideful about it. They asked me--I guess I must be doing something right. Oh--but the high was about to come crashing down!!

A few weeks ago, my doorbell rang and the person whose finger did the pushing was a dear little older lady that came up somewhere between my belly button and chest. She had a furrowed brow (never a good sign) and looked me dead in the eye. The conversation began this way, "Richard, I am so disappointed in you." Wow--she had found my air nozzle and let my air out slowly. Or maybe it was more like a butcher knife stabbed into the heart and soul of my air-filled ego.

The issue was this. There was a person that was sicker than I had realized. I had not visited her. I had called and sent a card, but no visit. I had a bunch of reasons, one being a surgery of my own, but I had not followed up as I should. She let me have it!!

LOW in the valley was I.

I apologized, she left, I was at the sick lady's home in 15 minutes.

LOW---but then I started thinking. Can I take Pastoral care up another notch.

Because of this visit--last week I took communion to the sick that could not make it.

Funny story--I even went to Bojangles and gave it to one of our folks through the drive thru window.

Now some people may have a theological problem with that--but I do not care. I felt called by the Spirit to do it and I did it. The LOW ushered me to a NEW HIGH.

Psalm 22 is a powerful Psalm about the roller coaster ride of life. Notice the text and the mood of the author that follows.

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief.

LOW

Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. Our ancestors trusted in you, and you rescued them.They cried out to you and were saved. They trusted in you and were never disgraced.

Climbing higher

But I am a worm and not a man. I am scorned and despised by all! Everyone who sees me mocks me. They sneer and shake their heads, saying, “Is this the one who relies on the Lord? Then let the Lord save him! If the Lord loves him so much, let the Lord rescue him!”

Falling back

Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast. I was thrust into your arms at my birth. You have been my God from the moment I was born.

Climbing Back up

Do not stay so far from me,for trouble is near, and no one else can help me. My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls; fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in! Like lions they open their jaws against me, roaring and tearing into their prey. My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me. My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead. My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet. I can count all my bones. My enemies stare at me and gloat. They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing.

LOW

O Lord, do not stay far away! You are my strength; come quickly to my aid! Save me from the sword; spare my precious life from these dogs. Snatch me from the lion’s jaws and from the horns of these wild oxen.

Climbing back up

I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people. Praise the Lord, all you who fear him! Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help.
I will praise you in the great assembly. I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you. The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the Lord will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy. The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him. All the families of the nations will bow down before him. For royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations. Let the rich of the earth feast and worship. Bow before him, all who are mortal, all whose lives will end as dust. Our children will also serve him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord. His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything he has done.

High



I am reminded of a song that I loved when I was in college. The words carried me from a valley, back up to the mountaintop.

The Mountain

I want to build a house up on this mountain
Way up high where the peaceful waters flow
To quench my thirsty soul
Up on the mountain

CHORUS:
My faith is strengthened by all that I see
You make it easy for me to believe up on the mountain
Oh, up on the mountain


I would love to live up on this mountain
And keep the pain of living life so far away
But I know I can't stay
Up on the mountain

CHORUS

I said I'd go, Lord, wherever You lead
For where You are is where I most want to be
And I can tell we're headed for the valley

My faith is strengthened by all that I've seen
So Lord help me remember what You've shown me
Up on the mountain

CHORUS 2

You bring me up here on this mountain
For me to rest and learn and grow
I see the truth up on the mountain
And I carry it to the world far below
So as I go down to the valley
Knowing that You will go with me
This is my prayer, Lord
Help me to remember what You've shown me
Up on the mountain

I cherish these times up on the mountain
But I can leave this place because I know
Someday You'll take me home to live forever
Up on the mountain

This beautiful song was written by Steven Curtis Chapman, who this week was plunged into perhaps the deepest valley he will ever see. His 5 year old daughter was ran over and killed by his teenage son in the driveway of their home. Valleys are hard and deep and cold--but still God is there.

Now, Brian and Wendy Gibson will be baptized. They will step out into this low tide and be ushered into a new high. They will have the ocean rush over their heads as the "old person" dies and they will be raised up to life anew.

A life filled with beauty and simplicity and ugliness and chaos.

But the good news of the gospel is this--HE who controls the tides, forgives us. In his low (Cross) we are forgiven. In His High (Resurrection) we are ushered into life anew.

As you walk the beach remember that as you see the rising and lowering tides.

Sermon Recap--Vintage

I am a sucker for vintage stuff. Old cars, old books, old antiques (I think that means the same thing) but you understand. I have a book from the late 1800's given to me by a friend. This is a treasure because it is a collection of sermons from Charles H. Spurgeon, one of my favorites.

Just this past week, I received a text message from Peter Copeland, another friend. He had found these water bottles with our ministry logo on them. They are at least 15 years old. I am not sure what that says about the housekeeping habits at the ICO house, but I was psyched to get these vintage bottles.

We ate this week at a place in town called Burky's Grill. It has a vintage diner fell and they have great burgers and hot dogs and ice cream. Vintage music plays from Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Smokey Robinson. They even have a Classic car night--or "cruise in" a neat nostalgic experience that is a reminder of days gone by.


Jesus too was into vintage. This is evidenced by the text of the day, Luke 22:14-20.

When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table. Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.” He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.

The vintage Passover meal-the meal of remembrance of the delivery of the Israelites from the hands of the Egyptians. The day that God saw the blood on the door posts and passed over the residences and spared the first born, this is the meaning of the Passover feast.

Jesus makes the vintage new--as he becomes the blood that spares and the life that is taken. He is the reason for this feast--and he reminds the disciples of the sacrifice that is to come. He gives himself for them, and he gives himself for us.

This morning as we come to the table, we are reminded of the wrath of God that has Passed Over us and on to Christ. We are spared by his blood and body and this meal ushers us into the vintage mystery that is the mind and heart of God.

May we prepare our hearts to receive this gift.

Prior to benediction I told this story.

I made a nursing home visit this week and it was a bit odd. My life itself is a bit odd, but there are certain things you expect in a nursing home, and that is not what I found.

The next door neighbor on the hall beside Buddy was a vintage country music lover. He was listening to Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Conway Twitty, George Jones, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.

Buddy and I had talked for a while and the music had been stopped for a few minutes. We bowed for a prayer. Just as we began, I heard from the other room:

Whiskey River, take my mind
Don't let her memory talk to me
Whiskey River, don't run dry
You're all I got, take care of me

Laughter from the congregation

I love Willie, just not in the middle of a prayer.


Perhaps we are better served with this new twist to a vintage county song:

Lord and Saviour, take my mind.
Don't let my past keep haunting me.
Redeeming Jesus, Lord on High,
You've all I've Got, take care of me.

Sermon Recap--Obvious

Every weekday morning, as I travel along Ocean Boulevard en route to sub at the primary school, on about my third sip of coffee, I begin to see them. Scurrying in ant-like fashion out of the condos and hotels and ready to begin the day at 6:45. They are mostly middle age and tanned. Who are they??

Yes--the are Golfers. Easily spotted by the funny wardrobe of striped pants and plaid shirts.

This week is Harley week at the beach and there are thousands of bikers here in town, hanging out and spending money. They are easy to spot (and hear)too.

I do not ride a bike, but I wish I could get away with wearing a denim sleeveless muscle shirt or a nice pair of leather chaps. Why? I am not sure--but one thing I know is that I would feel silly.

If I really belonged to the group of bikers or golfers then I would fit in. I would not feel awkward with the odd pants or funny black bump cap.

We all want to belong. We all want to be a part. Not just a part--but an important, valuable, vital, irreplaceable part.

Sometimes I take Douglas with me on pastoral visits. I am sensitive to the environment and the patient. If they have a relationship with Douglas and would appreciate his being there, and the setting calls for it, then he may pop by with me. This past week we went to visit Buddy in the nursing home. He is in a transition stage and should be able to return home soon. Douglas and I got out of the car and I gave him instruction of what he could and could not do. He knows not to jump on the patient or the bed or run down the hall or any other fun stuff.

We walked to the entrance of the building and passed a lady with no teeth. I held my breath in fear that he would mention the obvious, "Hey where are your teeth?" But he did not--whew.

As we passed the lady with no teeth. I was taken by the wisdom of her words. She said, "Lord--that boy is beautiful, just like his daddy." I know what you all are thinking--"She must have been blind too! But that was not the case.

Douglas and I looked at her and told her "Thank-you" and went inside.

Wow--beautiful just like his father. I am sure she was talking about the outer--because my inner is not too lovely. But yet, I still try to teach him to make the message of Hope obvious.

Romans speaks to our belonging and beauty. Let's look at it a bit this morning.

And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Sounds like belonging to me. Unlike Golf and Bike riding, No funny clothing needed.

But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

Now that belong, we are called to be beautiful bearers of the truth.

After hanging out and visiting a bit, Douglas, Buddy, and myself prayed together. It was a prayer for healing, hope, peace. Obviously--we are all called to share that message. Obviously, we are equipped to do so. Obviously, it makes a difference in the world when we do.

In Christ we are forgiven---live (grace) obviously!!