" The Connection "

Monday afternoon Chris Oyer walked in with an armload of mail from the church's mailbox. We were experiencing computer problems and Denise and myself, along with Nancy Gillis were trying to get my office computer whipped back into working shape. We were able to download a few software programs, but, ultimately, we gave in to our pride and called Chad Yancy. There is nothing like knowledge and skill to solve a problem!

Anyway, Chris emptied her arms of the mail, and I started perusing through it. I noticed a rather large envelope marked Olan Mills. I tore it open and there was the proof of our new church directory. Eagerly, the four of us began to scan through it and see the pictures of families and individuals that make up our community of faith. There are pictures of young ones and old ones. There are picture of people working and people playing. Pictures of laughter and solemn study. You are, no doubt, going to appreciate the hard work and many hours spent to bring this task to reality.

Now, undoubtedly, when a work of this magnitude is put together there will be a few mistakes. It took us a while to notice an obvious one. The Olan Mills people had put my name under Pastor Tom's picture and his name under mine. I didn't realize that I had lost so much hair since I moved to Alabama, and I had failed to notice that Pastor Tom had gained some weight over the past seven months. But, we had – at least in the church directory. I guess it was a pictorial lesson in things are not always as they appear.

Any of our family would have looked at the directory and known the pictures and the names were wrong. But, to someone unfamiliar with us all would have appeared right. Appearances that match the reality of who we are are important. There is a connection between the faith we profess and the image we project. Call it morality. Call it an ethic. Jesus taught and lived in a way that showed people the kingdom was not only about religion. Jesus called people into a kingdom of faithful, trusting living and serving among people. And Jesus calls us to be persistent in faith and consistent in action as we move along the journey that is our calling into that kingdom.

We teach our children a song that has these words, " This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. " What does that mean except that we confess that the light of God that has come into our lives in the person of Jesus is going to be the light that guides all of our decisions and all of our actions. It is a high calling and a demanding confession. Through the mentoring of Jesus and commitment to the church and unwavering trust in God, both the calling and the confession are possible. Thanks be to God!

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Mark