Max Lucado wisdom

There is a reason the windshield is bigger than the rear view mirror.  Your future matters more than your past.

Join us at Life in Christ this weekend for worship!

I have to keep this short - Our dog, Jake, is ready for his walk and he doesn't like to wait!

So, here you go...service today at 5 pm - services tomorrow at 8, 9:30 and 11 am.

Uh oh - Jake is giving me that look!

See you this weekend!

What will they say about you?

After dying in a car crash, three friends go to Heaven for orientation.

They were all asked the same question: “When you are in the casket, friends and family are mourning over you, what would you like to hear them say about you?”

The first guy immediately responds, “I would like to hear them say that I was one of the greatest doctors of my time and a great man.”

The second guy says, “I would like to hear them say that I was a wonderful husband and school teacher who made a huge difference in our children of tomorrow.”


The last guy thinks a minute and replies, “I’d like to hear them say…LOOK! HE’S MOVING!!!”

Hymnody as prayer

The hymn book is also a fine prayer book.  I found a hymn stanza the perfectly captured the condition of my heart today.

Holy Spirit, joy divine, Cheer this saddened heart of mine;
 Yield a sacred, settled peace, Let it grow and still increase.

Holy Spirit, Light Divine, "Lutheran Service Book," #496

Just look at Jesus

If you want to know how far God is willing to go to demonstrate His love for you, look at Jesus.  If you want to know how much God wants to be involved in your life, look at Jesus.

Nelson Searcy & Jennifer Dykes Henson, "The New You." page 87.

Only Luther could describe baptism in this way

Jesus sticks Himself in the water so that when we go into the water we come out with Him.

As found in "Why Am I Joy:Fully Lutheran?" by Matthew C Harrison, page 142

Through His Blood

I have to have some blood drawn today.  I have a surgical procedure coming up in a couple of weeks so I need give some of my blood away for testing.

Drawing blood is a relatively easy procedure.  Usually, I'm in and out in about five minutes.  Still, there's a needle in involved.  When it's all over with, I'm usually pretty glad to get back to my car and drive away.

I reluctantly give blood.  Jesus willingly gave His blood.  For us.  For our salvation.

Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood.  Acts 28:28b

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us.  Ephesians 1:7

And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through His own blood.  Hebrews 13:12

But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.  1 John 1:7

A nurse sticks a needle into my arm to draw a little blood.  A Roman soldier drove nails in Jesus' hands and feet.  Later, a spear was driven between His ribs, puncturing His heart. 

It is easy for me to give blood.  To give His blood, it cost Jesus His very life.

I give blood to be assured of my own health.  Jesus gave blood not for Himself but for the whole world.  Whoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.  From John 3:16.

So, while I'm having a little blood drawn, I'll use that time to breathe a silent prayer, thanking my Savior for shedding His blood for me and for all who trust in His sacrifice that brought forgiveness and new life. 

Through His blood.

Join us in God's house this Sunday!

Saturday morning...a couple of cups of coffee, devotional reading from Run the Race, talking on the phone to the youngest daughter and her family, and now a minute or two on the blog.

I'm thinking about this weekend's worship and I imagine these words, from the psalmist, are spoken with great enthusiasm and joy: I LOVE THE HOUSE WHERE YOU LIVE, O LORD, THE PLACE WHERE YOUR GLORY DWELLS!

God's house is a place of respite and refreshment.  As we walk through the doors of the sanctuary, we remember the words of Jesus; Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)  We find a place to sit and prepare our hearts to meet our loving Lord - we hear His Word of forgiveness, He speaks to us through the Scriptures appointed for that day, He meets us at the communion table where he invites us to take and eat...take and drink..this is the true body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, given and shed for the remission of all your sins.

Do you have need to be in God's house this weekend? Sure, you do! Who doesn't need a place where the worries of this world can be left outside on the front step of the church? Who doesn't need to hear that no matter what you face, you have God's assurance that you need not fear anything because God is with you. (Psalm 23:4)

So, join us this weekend for worship - Saturday at 5 pm and Sunday at 8, 9:30 and 11 am.  You'll receive a warm welcome when you worship at Life in Christ!

Far Side Friday

Now that I own a dog, this cartoon makes perfect sense!

A prayer for living out the faith

God of power and mercy, only with your help can we offer you fitting service and praise.  May we live the faith we profess and trust you promise of eternal life.  Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

How to tell the difference between male and female flies

The Pastor's wife walked into the kitchen to find her husband stalking around with a fly swatter. "What are you doing?" She asked. "Hunting flies" He responded. "Oh. Killing any?" She asked. "Yep, 3 males, 2 females," he replied. Intrigued, she asked. "How can you tell them apart?" He responded, "3 were on a beer can, 2 were on the phone."

What comes to mind when you hear the word "creation?"

Creation is God's work.  This is what we confess in the First Article of the Apostles' Creed - I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

But God's creating work is not limited to this world we live in.  His handy work does not end with fields of beautiful flowers or majestic sunsets.  God is doing His best work in each of us.  He has give us life and everything we need to sustain this life.   He gives us the help and protection we need to keep the old evil foe at bay.  He treats us as a loving father who cares for and nurtures his dear children.

As His children, we recognize that we disappoint our Heavenly Father.  We sing against Him in our thought life, the words we speak and the things we do.  In repentance and faith we come to our Father and express our sorrow over our sins.  We claim the forgiveness won for us by Christ at Calvary.  We the Lord to help us live holy and pleasing lives.  This is the prayer of the psalmist David.

Prof. John Burg writes: David is praying in Psalm 51 for a miraculous act that can be performed by God alone.  His prayer can be answered only through the work of the Holy Spirit, who alone can work repentance, faith and a willing spirit...Because this renew is never perfect in this life, David prays that the Spirit will keep him steadfast...so he will not fall again.

If possible, read Psalm 51 today.  Pay special attention to verse 10: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Let David's prayer be your prayer too.  Blessings!

What does it mean to "confess?"

The word, "confess," means to speak the same thing as God does about our sin.

William Weedon, "Thank, Praise, Serve and Obey," page 75

CS Lewis wisdom

Everyone thinks forgiveness is a great idea until he has something to forgive.

From "Mere Christianity"

Lord, loosen his tongue!

Lord, Loosen His Tongue!

            

           When my dear, sweet wife and I were blessed with our first child, we were over the moon with joy.  I remember walking into the nursery each morning and quietly watching our little daughter sleep.  I couldn’t get over the fact that we two had become three.  We praised God for this wonderful blessing.  Our lives had changed.  But we couldn’t wait to see where life would lead us. 

Parenting is a very rewarding experience.  Parenting is also a lot of work.  It’s a 24-7-365 kind of job.  And there is a certain feeling that when you’ve raised those kids and they go off to college or get married and get a job or pursue some dream that they have, you, as a parent, have reached some sort of invisible “finish line.”  Of course, that’s not true.  There is no finish line.  You are always a parent.  They are always your kids.

            

            Being a grandparent is different.  Your happiness at the birth of a grandchild is different.  Now you are happy and excited for your kids, that God has blessed them with the gift of life.  You look forward to loving that baby and, as the child grows older, to spoil them – within reason – and to impart wisdom and guidance as the opportunities arise.

            

            We are blessed with seven grandchildren. These children provide a joy that I can’t explain.  But people around church tell me that I light up when I see one of those precious grandkids.  That sounds like a pretty good description of what your grandchild can do to you.

            

             I say all of this because an incident that St. Mark describes in his Gospel – the healing of a deaf and mute man, found in chapter seven.  Some of the man’s friends brought the fellow to Jesus and asked for the Lord’s help.  Jesus responded in a way we haven’t seen from Him often.  Verse 33 reads: After He took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put His fingers into the man’s ears.  Then He spit and touched the man’s tongue.  Sometimes Jesus heals with a simple touch and sometimes just by speaking a word.  In this case, what better way to communicate to a deaf and mute man what the Lord intended to do for him?

            

            Next, Jesus sighed deeply and then spoke one word: Ephphatha, which means “be opened!”  The good news in verse 35 reads: At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.

            

            This text is meaningful because, shortly after his birth, my oldest grandson needed his tongue to be loosened.  At a time when toddlers begin to form words, my grandson could only make a few sounds.  Fortunately, my daughter and her husband quickly sought help and learned that my grandson had apraxia.  In laymen’s terms, those with apraxia know in their brain that they want to communicate with words but, for some reason, the brain and tongue don’t seem to work together.

            

            Given this diagnosis, night after night, my family and I would pray, “Lord, loosen his tongue! Help him to speak!” And, at just the right time, the Lord answered our prayer.

            

            Not as dramatically as the story of the deaf and mute man but amazing just the same.  With the help of a caring and patient speech therapist, my grandson slowly began to form words.  The difficult consonants became easier to speak.  Certain letters that he couldn’t pronounce suddenly became easier to say.  The progress was slow but still remarkable.

            

            Now, at age 10, my grandson has no trouble communicating with his parents, family, teachers, friends and total strangers! Years ago he used to sit on my lap during children’s messages.  He had no problem responding to my questions or adding his own comments to the story I was telling. At the time, a newer member of our church was surprised to learn that he had apraxia.  “He talks so well and so clearly,” she said.  “I think there have been a few times when he was going to take over for you and do the message himself!”

            

            My oldest grandson, a pastor? Maybe God loosed his tongue so that he might one day proclaim the Gospel of Jesus to others.

            

            I wouldn’t mind that at all.   

Jesus and some unlikely friends

Could it be possible that the Pharisees could be concerned for Jesus' life? After all, their aim has been to do away with Jesus one way or the other.  Tomorrow, Jesus shows us how we can keep Running the Race even when supposed friends try to drive us from the course marked out for us.  Come and join us - 8, 9:30 or 11 am.  Hope to see you at Life in Christ!

I double-dog dare you to go to church!

Someone gave my dear, sweet wife a daily calendar with sayings from Max Lucado's books.  I got a kick, as they say, from the March 13th entry: I dare you - I double-dog dare you - to expose your worries to an hour of worship.  Your concerns will melt like ice on a July sidewalk.

I know that I have often brought my worries to church with me.  On those days I've prayed that the Holy Spirit would help me see that God is bigger than my worries.  The reading and preaching of His Word helps me understand how God was there to help Moses, David and Jeremiah and others when they needed His help; if God was there for others, surely He will be there for me.  Kneeling at the altar to receive the Lord's Supper brings the assurance that God forgives me when my worries get the best of me; I can leave those worries at the altar and let God deal with them.

So, I double-dog dare you to join us for worship this weekend. Today, our usual Saturday service takes place at 5 pm; Sunday worship at 8, 9:30 and 11 am.  We will continue with our "Run the Race" sermon series, focusing on Luke 13:31-35.  Also, my little group will lead the 9:30 worship.  We've added a new song, appropriate for the Lenten season.  It's an old Chris Tomlin number called "Kindness."  We added a third verses that ties into "Run the Race."  We're pretty excited about playing the song, so if you appreciate God's Word but prefer modern Christian songs, be there at 9:30.

Have a blessed weekend!

What to do when God makes a promise

My devotional reading is taking me through Genesis and today I read chapters 15-18.  Later, I discovered this quote in my journal from Martin Luther:\

Here (Genesis 15:6) is the most appropriated place, the Holy Spirit wanted to set forth expressely and clearly the statement that righteousness is nothing else than believing God when He makes a promise.

From "Treasury of Daily Prayer," page 58

Here's why you should join the church choir

Top Reasons For Joining The Church Choir

- You're running out of clean clothes and the robe saves on laundry.

- The church is usually crowded and you want to make sure you always have a seat.

- You've just been selected for jury duty and you want to get use to sitting with a large group of people.

- The collection plate is never passed to the choir.

- There's a clock in the back of the church and you want to know when one hour has passed.

- For years you have wanted to know who sits in the back of the church but were afraid to turn around and look.

Discovered on the BeliefNet Website

Today, eliminate hurry

Hurry is the greatest enemy of spiritual life in our day. You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.

Dallas Willard, from "Unscripted," page 160

Do you think Martin Luther loved his wife?

I wouldn't give up my Katy for France or for Venice - first, because God gave her to me and gave me to her; second, because I have often observed that other women have more shortcomings than My Katy (although she, too, has some shortcomings, they are outweighed by many great virtues); and third, because she keep faith in marriage, that is, in fidelity and respect.  A wife ought to think the same way about her husband.


Luther's Works, "Table Talk," page 8

I was with you though My footprints were not seen

Psalm 77 has been instructional and inspirational for me.  It demonstrates that we can be open and honest with God; how the art of remembering God's grace in troubled times leads us out of those times; that God is truly with us even when we cannot see Him.  Martin Luther offers these thoughts on Psalm 77:

The 77th psalm is a psalm of instruction. The psalmist uses himself as an example of how to find comfort when affliction comes and the conscience is troubled, as if God is angry with it.  He says that he was so troubled that he could not have any sleep or even speak.  But this comfort follows: The psalmist can fight off the thoughts with which he futilely suffered, and he can grasp instead the thought of the mighty works of god in the histories of old. Here we find that God's work was to help the miserable, the troubled, and the abandoned, and to throw down the self-secure, proud scoffer, for example , when he delivered the children of Israel from Egypt. 

For this reason His paths are called "hidden." He is there to help when we think that we are totally abandoned. We should learn this well. God intends by this psalm to show us and teach us His manner of helping, namely that he never abandons us when things go ill. Instead, we should wait upon His help at that time with the greatest confidence and not believe our thoughts.

From "Reading the Psalms with Luther."

The communion of saints...

The communion of saints cannot be seen because it is a communion of hearts.

F.E. Pasche, "Daily Bread," page 244

God's Great Exchange

Do you remember these words to one of the great hymns of the church?

Jesus, Thy blood and righteous
 My beauty are, my glorious dress
With these before my God I'll stand
 When I shall reach the heavenly land.

The hymn writer expresses well the great truth - apart from faith in Christ, the righteousness we can offer before God the Father is our own righteousness and goodness. But according to Scripture, "all our righteous acts are like filthy rags," before God.  Our good works are not "good enough" to please God.

Where you and I are powerless to save ourselves, God provides the perfect remedy in His Son, our Savior.  Jesus died on the cross, paying the wages of sin in our place.  In exchange, God has credited the perfect life of Jesus and His death to sin to our account.  This is "God's Great Exchange," captured so well in 2 Corinthians 5:21:

God made Him who had no sin
 to be sin for us,
So that in Him we might become
 the righteousness of God.

God's great exchange - His free, unmerited grace given as a gift.  That is what Jesus was willing to do so that dressed in His righteousness we have no fear in coming before the Father.  Jesus perfect sacrifice and resurrection from the dead are more than "good enough" for us!

Best tips for using social media

First, I try to open a media site only when I have need to post or respond.

I don’t open it because I’m bored or have a spare moment. Those spare moments are reserved for staring at walls, which is infinitely more useful.

This is to say, I try to treat social media like work. I go to it once in the morning, once in the early afternoon, and once in the evening to put out content that I think will help someone or to engage with someone who is responding in a healthy way.

Second, I avoid unplanned scrolling.

Unplanned scrolling usually means I’m hungry for something to catch my eye—and plenty of strange, dark, and bizarre things are happy to catch the eye on social media.

Planned scrolling can be very different. If you carefully curate what is in your feed and when you will scroll, the dynamic radically shifts.

But in general, I believe we should be wary of the flicking thumb notion. The restless thumb often correlates to the restless heart.

Third, I turn off notifications.

There is no good reason I (or any human being) needs to know in real time who is liking my posts when and how much. There are some useful purposes for these stats, but not as an every-moment affair.

Fourth, I don’t use social media in bed.

Beds are most useful for rest and sex (and sometimes reading a book).

Social media is many things, but it is not a place of rest and should not be a place of sex—even though there are colossal temptations to use it for both.

Mixing social media and bed tempts me to confuse these lines and there is an easy way out of this unfair fight: throw the phone out of the bed.

Fifth, when I come across mean things said about me or someone I love, I employ the timeliness strategy of any veteran parent: ignore the temper tantrum. 

Words are not nearly as useful as silence. Social media is a useful medium for some things but anger is not one of them.

From "The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose For An Age of Distraction," by Justin Early, published by InterVarsity Press

An unwanted visitor

As we continue to focus on our ministry theme. "Run the Race," I have it on good authority that we will have an unwanted visitor at services this weekend at LICL. Apparently, there has been some kind of request about "equal time."  I guess we'll find out what it's all about.  Come and see us - today at 5 pm or tomorrow at 8, 9:30 or 11 am.  This visitor's story should be very interesting.

What dogs say

Now that I have a dog, I'm glad to know what all the barking is all about!

Leave it entirely up to God

Think for a moment about the wedding at Cana. Mary the mother of Jesus, became aware of her neighbor's need. The wine had run out! It was about to be a shame and disgrace for the family of the bride. So look at what Mary does. She takes her neighbor's need into her heart, carries it to her Son, and dumps it squarely at His feet.  Here is a trouble that she (Mary) cannot fix; but what is there that her Son cannot fix. She doesn't tell Him how she thinks He should fix it. She just prays (if you will) and leaves it entirely in His hands.  That is what it is to call upon God in trouble. God invites us, "Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you will honor Me." (Psalm 50:15)

From "Thanks, Praise, Serve and Obey," page 135

Honey, where's the remote!

Mrs. Smart was fumbling in her purse for her offering when a large television remote fell out and clattered into the aisle.

The curious usher bent over to retrieve it for her and whispered, “Do you always carry your TV remote to church?”


“No,” she replied, “but my husband refused to come with me this morning, and I figured this was the most evil thing I could do to him legally.”

Throwback Thursday/April 2014 - Getting Even?

A friend of mine had been wronged by another person.  What was surprising to me was how well he was dealing with what had happened to him.  When I asked my friend how he was going to handle the situation he replied, "George, I don't get mad; I get even."

That's often our first response, isn't it, when someone has slandered us or taken advantage of us or has hurt us in some way.  We'd like to pay them back and make them feel the pain that we've suffered.  We'd like for them to know a sleepless night or an upset stomach or a throbbing headache.  We even begin to think that we won't really be happy until we've gotten some kind of revenge. 

The apostle Paul knew what it was like to have his service to the Lord be criticized and condemned.  He know what it was like to suffer punishment for no good reason.  He knew what it was like to be on the run from enemies and their evil plans.  If anyone ever had a reason to "get even" it was Paul.

That's what makes chapter 12 of his letter to the Romans so amazing to me.  He encourages his readers (and that includes you and me) to "bless those who persecute you," and "do not repay evil for evil."  Easily said but how do we manage to suppress our desire to get revenge? Only through the power of the Lord who enables us to set aside worldly patterns and "be transformed by the renewing of your mind."  Ask the Holy Spirit to continue His transforming power in Your life so that you might become a "living sacrifice" who continually seeks God's will for your life.

Have a blessed day!

Gift

Lord Jesus, take this life of mine

 Worthless as it may be

Cleanse it, and fill it, and make it shine

 That it may be bright for Thee

Ruth Bell Graham

Promises, Promises

"For God could not retain and fulfill His promises in us if He did not kill that stupid, proud and sinning flesh in us."

Martin Luther, from "Treasury of Daily Prayer," October 19

What is worship?

Worship is the launching pad for life.

Rosaria Butterfield

Ashes

O Lord, throughout these forty days
 You prayed and kept the fast
Inspire repentance for our sins
 And free us from our past

Be with us through this season
 And all our earthly days
That when the final Easter dawns
 We join in heaven's praise

"O Lord, throughout These Forty Days," #418, Lutheran Service Book, Concordia Publishing House

Praying to yourself?

Can you imagine coming into God's presence to brag about yourself?  In effect, that's what happens in the instructive story Jesus tells in Luke 18:9-14.

Two men come to the temple to pray.  The first, a Pharisee, prays: "God, I thank You that I am not like other people - robbers, evildoers, adulterers - or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I have."

This is a prayer to himself! The Pharisee peppers his prayer with the personal pronoun, "I!"  He stands by himself in the middle of the temple so people can see and hear him.  The Pharisee wants nothing from God.  He has himself! What more could this proud and self-righteous man want?

But then we have the tax collector.  Notice his position - standing at a distance, as if he is ashamed of coming into the presence of God.  Notice his posture - he looks down, places his hand over his chest in a sign of humility.  Notice his prayer - it's one for the ages: "God, have mercy on me, as sinner."

Unlike the Pharisee, the tax collector desires only one thing from God - mercy.

Do you suppose God grants mercy to sinners like the tax collector (and you and me?).

Jesus said, "I tell you that this man (the tax collector), rather than the other, (Pharisee), went home justified before God.  For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

Lent begins tomorrow.  We often talk about giving up something during this season that leads up to Easter.  How about giving up a prideful attitude? How about seeing others as having as much value as you? How about being willing to do the task you like the least? Let Jesus be your model.  The perfect man was willing to do the dirtiest deed of all - suffering for the sins of people like you and me.

And let the tax collectors prayer be yours too: "God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

The Sign of the Cross - a Confessional Gesture

Uncomfortable making the sign of the cross during worship or at prayer? Feel that it's too catholic?

Think of it like this:

A blessing from the head

 "My Lord Jesus Christ came down from heaven."

To the breast

 "And was incarnate for me."

To the right side

 "And was crucified for me."

To the left side

 "And entered into my heart."

Run the Race day

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.  For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:1-2.

Yesterday, we began our preparations to Run the Race.  At least 100 members and guests took up the challenge to put God first; to worship faithfully, read the Bible devotionally, pray consistently, and memorize Scripture weekly.  These are the training tools God has given us so that we can run the race of faith, pursuing the Christian life with Jesus.

Later, in the afternoon, Sherri and I joined our friends, Jackie and Leon, to see Tim Tebow's film, "Run the Race."  We saw two teenaged boys who will trying to deal with a life that saw their mother pass away and their father descend into alcoholism.  Sports seemed to be their way out of their poor, depressed town.  But God had a different plan for the two boys, one in which God brought something very good out of something very bad.

Christian movies don't normally have long runs in theaters so check out Run the Race while you can.

And, use this day to begin training for the running the race God has marked out for you.  It may seem like pure agony at times.  Life circumstances might leave you wondering "why race at all?" Use the tools with which God has given you.  Don't settle for same-old, same-old.  Run with determination! Run with purpose! Run the race of faith.  Jesus will be at your side.

We gather around the cross of Christ

The is the crucifix cross that hangs behind the desk of our Synodical President, Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison. 

It reminds me that we can come into God's house for worship through Jesus Christ.  He is the one mediator between a holy God and sinful people.  Through His sacrificial death and miraculous resurrection, our sin has been atoned for and we can come to God in worship where He serves us - His gifts of forgiveness, grace and salvation.

Join us for worship this weekend.  Today at 5 pm; tomorrow at 8, 9:30 or 11 am.  We kick off our 2019 ministry theme - RUN the RACE! Come and learn more on Sunday.

God bless your weekend!

What is one of the greatest enemies of spiritual life?

Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day.  You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.

Dallas Willard, as quoted in "Unscripted," page 160

Mourning Someone Else

Our church was saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our most valued members, Someone Else.

Someone’s passing creates a vacancy that will be difficult to fill. Else has been with us for many years and for every one of those years, Someone did far more than a normal person’s share of work. Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, or meeting to attend, one name was on everyone’s list, “Let Someone Else do it.” Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results, “Someone Else can work with that group.”

It was common knowledge that Someone Else was among the most liberal givers in the church. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed Someone Else would make up the difference.

Someone Else was a wonderful person, sometimes appearing superhuman. Were the truth be known, everybody expected too much of Someone Else. Now Someone Else is gone! We wonder what we are going to do.

Someone Else left a wonderful example to follow, but who is going to follow it? Who is going to the things Someone Else did?


When you are asked to help this year, remember—we can’t depend on Someone Else anymore.

Taken from Pastoral Care Inc. website