Sermon musings...

Ryan's sermon yesterday on "forgetting and remembering" got me thinking. The Exodus story of the Hebrews' grumbling tummies and God, once again, doing a wonderful thing to provide for them must have rang true in the day of Christ. Surely, the folks who were most drawn to follow Christ had some grumbling tummies as well. As Ray Stevens, the comic singer determined, Jesus, if he were alive today, would NOT be wearing a rolex on his television show!

Jesus would be found among those who are suffering, who are neglected, and who are grumbling because of their needs. Quite often our sinful human (I'd say more inhuman) response to those who are needy is "quit your grumbling and looking for a handout and get up and do something." Thank God that wasn't God's response to the Hebrews, and it wasn't Jesus' response to those who yearned for bread in his day. It shouldn't be our response today.

If Jesus would be found among the poor, the invisible folks that we really only see from time to time on the side of the road...where should we be? What in the world are we waiting for? Remember what God did...remember what Jesus did...remember what we're called to do.

Where two or more are gathered....

...then the God is present. These words have spoken to me powerfully over the past several months. You may know that I started a Tuesday morning men's devotional and breakfast this year; we meet every Tuesday morning at 7am at the church. I've had about 10 men who have joined at different times--some faithfully, others for a time or two.

This morning was like a few others I've had, where just me and one other friend showed up to pray. Realizing that this time is less about numbers and more about growth and fellowship, me and my friend read scripture, talked and shared our thoughts on the scripture, and prayed. Oh yea, we ate too! What a blessing it is to share in times like these with brothers and sisters in Christ.

Some have asked me "why are you doing this when at times just one or two folks show up?" Truthfully, I have gotten more out of this time than I have ever put into it. I have come to value those one-on-one (Jesus would tell me that it's a triad!) times just as much, if not more, as when we have a good sized group.

So I am thanking God for the way me and my friend laughed and shared in God's good grace today. What a fellowship, what a joy divine!