THE FIRST "COME TO JESUS" MOMENT

 

A “COME TO JESUS” MOMENT

 

In 1975, maybe it was ’76, I was driving under the influence of alcohol in St. Joseph, MO.. I drove by the same police officers at least twice at 3-5 miles per hour, and finally they pulled me over. I failed their sobriety test and they took me into custody, even though I kept telling them that a couple of small town Barney Fifes had no business arresting a man of my status. They were not impressed with my attitude and they locked me in a cell. Come morning, we all rode in a van to see a judge, and while we were getting into the van, the driver told me to sit up front with him. Looking at my suit, he told me that I didn’t have to sit with all of the drunks in back. He meant to be thoughtful, but I knew… that I was just a drunk in a suit! A drunk in a suit! It hit me hard. It got my attention and I knew that I was in deep trouble. So, for the first time, I came face-to-face with who I had become… and I prayed that somehow, in someway, God would clear my mind, forgive my sins, and lead me out of the abyss I was in!

 

For me it was a “come to Jesus moment,” and in recent years, I’ve heard the words- “come to Jesus”- more frequently than I like because the phrase seems a little flippant and a bit disrespectful to me. Yet, there are times when we need to confront the truth. There are moments when we need to get deep and lay our cards on the table. There are times when we need to assess where we stand and come to grips with what it means to be saved and “in Christ,” According to Webster, a “come to Jesus” moment is a moment of sudden realization, recognition, or comprehension- and it that’s the case, the 6^th chapter of John is an example of a “come to Jesus” moment!

 

People follow other people for a variety of reasons. The person they follow may have a talent that they can hardly live without, or wisdom that they can’t find anywhere else, or charisma that attracts followers everywhere around. People follow other people to “fit in,” and to be part of something that’s transforming. There are a lot of reasons for following someone, but in most cases people follow people… who give them what they’re looking for!

And this has always been the case. Long before any church council told us what to believe and do, the people of the land followed Jesus because he set them free from the demons who possessed them, because he healed them and reunited them with their families and their communities, because he listened to them and gave them hope. Jesus attracted people because they believed that he could (and would) meet their needs. But there comes a time when a mature Christian begins to see that being “in Christ” has nothing to do with getting whatever we want! Jesus will never turn us away, but He is NOT our vending machine or ATM! As we mature in our faith, we begin to see that “being saved” leads us into a life of service and sacrifice!

 

After he fed the 5,000, Jesus returned to Capernaum, and when the crowd found out that he was gone, they crossed the sea and confronted Jesus… and when Jesus saw them, he accused them of seeking him for nothing more than another free meal. Free meals won’t save you, he seemed to say. Work for the food that gives you eternal life, he told them, and they asked him what that they needed to do for eternal life. And Jesus answered, “believe in me!” Trust in me because I AM the bread of life! Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst! The bread. The fish. Your gated community, the size of your bank accounts, the important titles that you may have, the important people whom you may know, and your considerable charm- if you trust in these you will die. But if you trust in me as your source of life, you will not be disappointed.

 

Next Sunday, we’ll see that the banter between the crowd and Jesus gets more intense because the people cannot understand and are offended by … Jesus’ insistence that salvation is not possible at all unless we “take in” the flesh and the blood that Jesus sacrificed at Golgotha. The body of Christ- take and eat! The blood of Christ- drink your fill! This was the message… and many of those who were following him… walked away, saying that his teaching was too hard and harsh. Many followers who would have gladly settled for another meal… walked away because Jesus was asking for more than they wanted to pay. Then Jesus turned to the twelve and asked, “Are you going to leave me too?”

 

It may have been the first “come to Jesus moment” in the sense that people are using the phrase now. The crowd crossed the sea to hear a good message, to be healed, and to receive another fish sandwich. But then the moment became deeper and more demanding. It was something beyond the joy of fellowship and even the thrill of being healed. It was a moment when they were asked to show their cards and reveal the extent to which they really believed.

 

It was direct and unmistakable- THE BODY OF CHRIST, TAKE AND EAT- THE CUP OF SALVATION, DRINK YOUR FILL-and serve, pray, give, and love until you hear the words you long to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Amen

THE GOOD LIFE

THE GOOD LIFE

 

O, for the good life! We all want the good life… but we don’t quite know how to get it, or even what it is. Is it a life of wealth? Will money bring happiness and, if so, how much money will it take and how long will it last? Plato noted that an “unexamined life” isn’t worth living, and Maslow said that becoming who we are is as good as life gets! A painter must paint. A singer must sing. Does the good life rest on family, or friends, laughter, good deeds, or the choices we make? The “night life,” the singer sang, “ain’t no good life”… but a life without song isn’t all that good either.

 

What is the “good life” made of? Well, there are almost as many suggestions as there are people. Stay curious, travel, trust yourself and others, take chances and accept risks, choose relationships over possessions, be disciplined, be present, quit people-pleasing, forgive yourself and others, keep family first, live generously, live gratefully? When the people of God reached the Jordan River, Joshua cried out, “Choose this day whom you will serve, the gods your fathers served, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Choose this moment… to get involved in something that will result in a lot of pain, or to be true to your God and to those who love you! Choose this moment to serve yourself… or to serve your community. Choose this moment to speak the truth in love… or to say what you think others want to hear. Choose this moment to thank God for your daily bread… or to let it go because you’re dining in public.

“Everything you are comes from your choices.” Jeff Bezos noted, and Anne Frank added, “Our lives are fashioned by our choices. First we make our choices. Then our choices make us.”

 

The “good life,” it seems, is not out there, somewhere, waiting to be found… but the product of the choices we make as we walk through life! We don’t have to surrender to God, but we can; we don’t have to love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves, but we can; we don’t have to invest in Bible Study, worship, and ministry, but we can. We don’t have to choose the path less traveled, but we can. We don’t have to forgive the one whom we need to forgive, but we can.

 

According to Proverbs, Solomon must have believed what many of the old folks believed in my youth- that the good life is built on obedient love and prudent decisions. The good life will be ours… if we honor God, obey our fathers, hang out with good kids, and stay far, far away from unruly women. The good life is measured more by the restraint we’ve shown and the good deeds we have done… than the fun we’ve had Honoring God is the foundation to a good life, but beware of unruly women and rowdy men! Invest in knowing the Lord and show that you know the Holy One by using accurate weights in the market. Don’t get drunk on your own wine.

Let me close with some of the ways in which Christ lived a good life here on earth:

1. His life was all about love! Love for God and love for our neighbors!

2. From beginning to end, His life was all about forgiveness! He came into the world to save our souls and died with the words, “Father, forgive them,” on his lips.

3. His life was filled with prayer! He prayed well into the night, he prayed very early in the morning, he prayed daily and thanked His Father for daily bread, he prayed at Gethsemane, and just before he died. He loved to talk with his Father!

4. His life was about invitation and acceptance. Jesus drew scandalous circles of grace because people of all sorts found hope, healing, comfort, and direction in his presence.

5. Jesus didn’t judge others and he had trouble with those who did

6. Jesus knew that people needed money to meet their needs… but he reminded us to lay our treasure up in heaven,

7. Jesus always spoke the truth in love!

 

Love. Without judgment. Know that you are accepted. And forgive… until people think that you’re crazy. Pray big prayers, little prayers, formal prayers, casual prayers, pray before meals and pray as you drive around. Love others as you find them and help them become all that they can become. Give until others call you a “fool,” and you will have the good life. Amen!

DON'T TUG ON SOPERMAN'S CAPE

 

DON’T TUG ON SUPERMAN’S CAPE!

 

You don’t tug on Superman’s cape.  You don’t spit into the wind, You don’t pull the mask off of the old Lone Ranger… and you don’t mess with Jim! Do you remember that song? You don’t tug on Superman’s cape, you don’t spit into the wind, you don’t pull the mask off of the old Lone Ranger, you don’t play with fire… and you don’t mess with Sin, which will always cost you more than you wanted to pay and keep you longer than you wanted to stay. You don’t tug on Superman’s cape, you don’t spit into the wind, you  don’t pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger… and you don’t mess with him, meaning the devil, diabolos, the tempter, the manipulator, the deceiver, the liar… because he will make a mess of your life! 

         You see, in the beginning Christians were persecuted because they didn’t “fit in.” They marched to a different drummer. They held different values and they measured “worth” in a different way.  When Paul planted the first churches, the word "Christian" (first used in Antioch) was a noun. Rather than being a "Christian merchant" or a "Christian mechanic," Christians were men and women who dedicated their lives to Christ. They weren’t people who attended church more frequently, or were a "bit nicer," to strangers. or more likely to attend church. They were intentional about worshiping Christ and they showed their love for him in the way they lived their lives.

In Paul’s time Christians were in a distinct and unwanted minority. They worshiped and served a little known Galilean who had been crucified for sedition… and they insisted that he was God! They refused to worship the Roman emperors and and their gods. They simply didn’t ‘fit in’… and they were under attack from local authorities, synagogue leaders, angry family members, and in Paul’s view, they were also being attacked by forces of evil and the Devil himself! They were not able to serve Jesus and blend in with those who didn’t at the same time. They weren’t able to compromise and they were persecuted in the ways that people who are “different” always are: their friends kept their distance, invitations to community events dropped off, and people made a point of belittling their commitment to Jesus. They were hauled before courts and pressured to deny Christ… and the Devil marshalled a constant attack of temptation, doubt, and ridicule!

When Jesus began his ministry- after he was baptized and heard his “Father’s” voice of approval, he was pushed into the wilderness and tempted by the devil. He was tired, hungry, and disoriented, and the Devil kept telling Jesus that his suffering was not necessary… and that there were easier and softer ways of reaching his goals. Your Father doesn’t want you to go hungry, so turn these stones into bread and eat your fill. Your Father doesn’t want you to labor anonymously, so make a name for yourself by jumping from the highest point of the temple! If you want to help a world of suffering people, worship me, Satan said, and I will give all of them to you. Jesus was on the most important journey ever taken, and he overcame the temptations to pursue his Father’s needs on his own terms… by claiming God’s word.

Well, if follows that, if the Devil would attack God’s Son, he will most surely attack us! So, Paul warned the Christians at Ephesus and the Christians in Illinois… that they are under attack. He wanted to remind us that this attack will be like the one that Jesus experienced. We would be tempted to abandon our walk with Christ, or to make it about ourselves, or to settle for an easier way, to compromise our work for Jesus or denounce if altogether. This will surely happen because we don’t want to be an outcast.

Well, it turns out that we can defeat our enemy… if we are intentional about serving our Lord, if we KNOW that we are in God’s hands, and if we start each day by putting on the armor of God, which includes: 1) the belt of truth, because it is the truth that sets us free and it is “truth on which we stand!” Speaking the truth in love is the language we speak.

Our strength is lodged in our minds and in our hearts. So we put on the breastplate of righteousness… which Billy Graham described as a bullet proof vest for our soul! If we wrap ourselves in Christ’s righteousness, the arrows that threaten our resolve will simply bounce away. In a time when many believers were coerced to deny Christ, Paul noted that we need to buckle our shoes of peace, because they will give us firm and unshakeable footing! The helmet of salvation is knowing that we are saved, in Christ, forgiven and redeemed. The shield of faith provides sure protection because faith cannot be shattered. It endures all things… and the sword of the Spirit- the word of God, is the same weapon that Jesus used three times when he was tempted by the Devil.

         As we go into the world, we will walk in confidence if we are clothed in Christ. And knowing this, we will be able to

1. Speak the truth in love;
2. Distance ourselves from temptation;
3. Forgive and love others as God has forgiven and loved us; and
4. See and respond to Christ when he appears in the least among us, or at the family table.  Amen.

     

GET INTO THE BOAT

 

GET INTO THE BOAT!

It was sometime in the 80s. We were living in Omaha and I decided to paint the trim that ran under the roof of our home. I could do this with a step-ladder for most of the house, but on the north side, the peak of the roof was 29 feet high and my fear of heights was a huge problem. I would approach the ladder with a great deal of bravado- nothing to be afraid of- and rush up the rungs with my paint brush in hand. But as I neared the top, my legs froze and I hugged the ladder. When I finally made it to the top, I would reach out with one trembling hand and paint another inch or two of the trim… before I scampered back to the safety of the ground.

I was terrified! Scared to death, and I have never gotten over it! My late brother, Randy, on the other hand, was afraid of the sea…thalassophobia which seemed to call to him when he was on the shore. And it is this fear- thalassophobia- that many people in the ancient world had. Several ancient cultures had flood stories and many people in that time believed in sea monsters and other sources of danger. On the 5^th day of creation, Gen. 1:21, God created the great sea monsters, and except for Noah and his family, God destroyed humankind with the great flood. Jonah tried to run from God, but he was returned to his starting place in the belly of a “big fish.” With God on his side, Moses divided the sea, which allowed the people of God to escape from the Pharaoh. Otherwise, the great sea would’ve kept God’s people in slavery.

The sea was a mysterious and threatening thing for sailors and passengers alike, and this was certainly the case with the Sea of Galilee… where sudden, strong, and short-lived storms often occurred. This brings us to our passage today. After Jesus finished teaching about the kingdom of God, He said, “Let’s go to the other side”… of Lake Gennesaret (another name for the Sea of Galilee). Let’s get into the boat and go to the other side, and he meant “now,” without returning to Peter’s home and preparing for the trip. Jesus meant that they should get into the boat “now.” So they got into the boat, not long before a “great windstorm arose and their boat was filling with water.” The disciples were bailing out water and becoming increasingly frantic- so they woke Jesus up and questioned whether he even cared if they died. Rather than responding to such a question, Jesus rebuked the wind and the storm subsided. It was over. Everything was fine, and Jesus asked two questions: why are you so afraid, and have you still no faith? According to Mark, when Jesus calmed the sea, the disciples were filled with great fear yet again, asking one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Well, I hope each of you will give some thought to this brief passage, What did it mean? What does it say to us? And I will start with 5 observations of my own:

1.    The disciples were professional fishermen. They were the sons of professional fisherman, and they must have been familiar with the sudden storms that arose on this sea. So, why were they so terrified? Maybe it was their experience that gave birth to their fear.

2.    Getting into the boat is half of the battle. Unless we get into the boat, we will not experience the journey and we will never grow to be the men and women we were called to be. God calls and we respond… or not. We get into the boat… of not, and if we don’t go, we will miss out on all the things we might have see and all the blessings we would have received.

3.    Going to the other side can be a frightening thing! Who or what is on the other side? Will I be harmed or changed in ways that I don’t want to be changed? Will I be liked or will I be treated with disdain? Will the experience be worth the uncertainty that I will endure?

4.    Who was it that questioned whether Jesus cared? What kind of a question is that? I’ve been in my share of storms- you have too- and I’ve prayed to my Lord! I’ve sometimes wished that God would have said “yes,” instead of “no.” or “now,” instead of “later,” but I’ve never thought that God didn’t even care.

5.    Who is this man who can calm the sea and wind? This is a great question. Who is this man who has authority over the forces of nature? At its core, FAITH is more a matter of trust than intellectual assent. Faith is living as if what we claim and hope for… is true. Faith is actually believing that God’s eye is on the sparrow and that God has the whole world in His hands. If we can get a firm hold on the fact that the man who is sleeping in our boat… is GOD, we can rest easy and get a little sleep ourselves, If Jesus is God, we have nothing to fear! Nothing at all! Absolutely nothing! Amen!

 

 

WHOM SHALL I SEND?

 

WHOM SHALL I SEND?

 

Well, summer is upon us, and next Sunday, we will begin our worship hour at 9:30. it's also Memorial Day weekend, and once again we are called to honor those who gave their lives by answering our country's call to love freedom more than life. When I was in Rock Island, we conducted dozens of funerals at the Arsenal, and while I was waiting for the service to begin, I would sometimes walk around the graves… and take in the courage, the grace and the holiness of it all. Many “ordinary” men and women have given their lives so that we can live our lives in freedom, and we recognize them today!
      But we are also gathered to thank those who answered God’s call in their own lives- giving their time, their tears, their prayers, and their labor… ministering to others… because they were called to! In the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah was in the temple when it was suddenly filled with the presence of God. Angels showed up and Isaiah was overwhelmed by a feeling of unworthiness. He was justified by the touch of a hot coal and then he heard God asking, "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us!" And Isaiah shouted out, "Here I am! Send me!" Send me to go to where I don't know and use me for as long as you please. Send me! You know the Bible includes several "call" stories- Jonah, Samuel, and Paul among them- but I want to focus on God's call in our lives… because we're all being called to serve.

Each of us is called to do something that needs to be done for others in Christ’s name. Some of us are called to preach, some are called to teach, and some are called to sing or play music... and if God is calling you to do such things, you ought to do them. However, most callings have nothing to do with a far away mission fields or church stages. Let me mention Tammy Boggs, CL Palmer, Bill Seelye, and all of those who worked on building and grounds over the years. They served our Lord by keeping our lights on and our doors open! And I want to mention the servants who feed and clothe our neighbors, year after year, without much fanfare, because they have heard God’s call. And I think of those who host are church fellowship events- who set the beautiful tables and bring the food for our Seder meal, and who carry food and the tables across main street, so that we can serve ice cream and pies to the good people in Knoxville!   

      In Rock Island, we had three church members who attended funerals for people in our church and others whom they knew. No one asked them to do it. It wasn't official, but there they were- Vic, Dianne, and Don- at funerals big and small, to pay their respects, offer a little love, and to do what God had called them to do. In Rock Island, we also had a number of women who spent hours making Prayer Shawls for members and friends of the church, and here in Knoxville we have a vibrant Quilts for Valor ministry. And I must mention our Resale Shop because it's such an exciting place. Stop in, tell others about it, and don’t forget to thank those who give of their time and of themselves to receive gifts that God’s people donate, stock the shelves and fill our clothing racks, and staff the store… which is often crowded and filled with chatter.

      But what about you? What is God calling you to do? God is calling each of us through 1) our prayers; 2) our Bible studies; and 3) the issues that affect the lives of the people we know here. Get into prayer, get into study, and get into community... and you will have a much better chance of hearing God’s voice. God is calling us through 4) skills and talents that God has given us; 5) the events and issues that make us angry and break our hearts; 6) our tears and our own broken places; 7) and the causes that we are passionate about.

      Since I was a counselor for the Iowa Commission of the Blind in an earlier life and since Sherry worked for Access Living in Chicago for years, we are quick to notice things like ramps and large print Bibles. Some people don't give these things much thought, but they are passionate about poverty, gun violence, or drunk driving. Some people have a passion for inviting new people to church, others have a passion for reaching members who've drifted away, and still others don't give either group much thought. As a people we're blessed with different gifts, different stories, and different voices... and we will be stronger if each one of us responds to God when He calls us.
      In the year that someone I loved or something within me died, I was in church, as I had been a hundred times before, when I became aware that God was calling me. I'm not sure why I hadn't heard it before, but I heard God's voice just as clearly as I hear any voice. He was asking "Whom shall I send?" and "Who will go for us?"... and although I've never been one to get involved too deeply, I found myself raising my hand as if I was back in school. "Here I am," I cried, as I waved my hand in the air, "Here I am, send me!" On this Memorial Day, as we honor those who gave their lives in response to our country's call, let us open our own hearts and minds to God's call in our own lives. Each one of us has something to do for God- something that will bless us and some part of the community. Listen now.... listen and pray. Listen and pray, kiss a burning coal if you must. Then raise your hand and say, "Send me, Lord!" Amen.

 

BE LIKE MIKE

 

“BE LIKE MIKE”

 

Christians plant seeds and trust God with the rest. Some of the seeds we plant will fall on hard or shallow ground; some will be overwhelmed by weeds; some will blossom… but we are called to plant seeds of faith and hope as we walk through life. Some of these seeds are planted with words- with Scripture, prayer, and encouragement. Some of these seeds are planted by sharing spiritual insight and/or Biblical knowledge. But most of them are planted by men and women who share their love and faith with acts of service, love, and kindness.

 

Today, I want to lift up Mike Kelley because he planted more seeds for Christ- every day, in acts of compassion and love- than anyone else I’ve ever known. Mike Kelley was the “real deal.” He worked tirelessly to help others (without regard to status, color, and anything else) experience God’s love. Mike didn’t preach sermons, but he delivered a thousand through acts compassion and kindness! Mike didn’t attend Bible study and probably would’ve nodded off if he had. I don’t think Mike could’ve found some of the books of the Bible without looking up their page numbers… but in his life, he actually looked after the widows, welcomed strangers, fed the hungry, and did whatever he could for people in need.

 

Mike Kelley planted seeds for Christ everyday! He did more for me and Sherry than I can mention here, but he did the same for many, many others- individuals, families, and organizations (like church, Crime Fighters, and Rotary). He gave rides (to church and to other places). He repaired things that needed to be repaired. He helped people move and he often did most of the work. He built things that others wanted built. He delivered food, served food, and cleaned up… before he delivered the leftovers to others in need. He visited lonely people and greeted everyone with heartfelt enthusiasm, to let them know that God is with them. I knew Mike well for 25 years and I never heard him say or do anything that would degrade or harm anyone at all. Mike was something of a celebrity in Peoria and he received many awards and accolades. They were all richly deserved, but I think that Mike’s greater “awards” live in the hearts of those whom he loved and served!

 

Today, our focus is on our lectionary passages in Mark 4. Our focus is on scattering seeds of love and grace as we walk though life. Our focus today is on planting seeds of faith as we walk along. Some of us plant seeds by telling our stories of rebirth; some of us plant seeds by writing thoughtful books; some of us plant seeds by financing ministries that do God’s work; some of us plant seeds by providing food, clothing, and shelter to people who need to experience God’s grace; some of us plant seeds by accepting others as we find them; some of plant seeds by fighting for justice; some of us plant seeds by listening, maybe crying with, people whom Christ puts in our lives; some of us plant seeds by praying with and… for others; some of us plant seeds by forgiving others; some of us plant seeds for Christ by simply showing up or being present.

 

We’re are called to plant seeds of love, grace, and faith for Jesus, and in some ways, that’s about all we are called to do. In a sermon preached on March 10, 1522, Martin Luther preached about seeing the growth of the reform movement, saying, “I simply taught, preached, and wrote God’s Word; otherwise I did nothing. And while I slept or drank Wittenberg beer with my friends Philip and Amsdorf, the Word did everything.” Well, it seems that Luther was a seed planter too! We moved three or four times in Peoria, and Mike Kelley helped us three or four times… and he helped us in important and sacrificial ways. Mike and Linda owned a demanding business and they were committed to many other causes and needs, but… at 10, 10:30 at night, or so, when Sherry and I were sleeping, I would hear Mike’s big truck pull into our drive, and then I listened as he loaded whatever we needed removed (which was usually a lot)… and drove away!

 

Another seed, another sermon, about God’s love in action, another reminder that Christ is at work in our lives in ways big and small. It was just Mike Kelley doing what Mike Kelley always did. If you can preach like Luther, then preach like Luther. But if you have a boundless commitment to showing others- all others- that God loves them… be like Mike! Amen!

 

 

 

THANKING LUTHER RATMEYER  

 

Today I'm thinking about the angel who told the shepherds that a Savior was born in Bethlehem, and the late Rev. Luther Ratmeyer. The angel told the shepherds, who were never invited to much of anything, to go to Bethlehem and see for themselves. They were invited to join Mary and Joseph and the stood around the feeding trough that baby Jesus was sleeping in. I was not invited to join them, of course, but I was invited to know Jesus... by an angel named Luther.

 

It was in the late summer of 1976 and I was sitting on my cot on the 6th floor of the Eppley Treatment center. We were encouraged to spend time reflecting each day and maybe I was doing that. I don't recall, but when I looked across the room, Luther Ratmeyer was standing in my doorway. I didn't know him. I didn't invite him, and I certainly was not looking for a church. I was simply in the room when he asked to come in... to do what he felt he had to do... and what he would continue to do to the day he died... which was to tell lost and desperate people that Jesus loves them. He came to tell me that and also to invite me to trust in Jesus. He told me that Jesus had already forgiven me of the sins that haunted me as I sit there... and that Jesus would lead me into a life with purpose and joy, into a life that built people up instead of tearing them down, into a place where I would live in the moment and leave the rest to God. Lu told me that Jesus wanted me to experience the fullness of life and that I would... if I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

 

I was in a very vulnerable state and besides I was completely empty on the inside... so I asked Lu to lead me in the Sinner's Prayer, which he did, and when we finished, I experienced joy and hope for the first time in a long time. Me... me... who had totally lost my way, who had hardly ever been in a church, and who had never prayed any sort of prayer... me... who had committed sins just to cover over other sins... had been SAVED! Glory to God- my friends won't believe it- I've been saved!

 

Lu moved to Grand Rapids later on, to pastor a large church with a big staff... and I was happy for him. But when I last talked to Lu, he had moved on again... to a smaller church, where he could go out and tell people about Jesus! Lu wasn't geared to manage a big staff or to "run" an organization, but he was great at telling people that Jesus saves. That was his special gift and that's what he did to the end. I loved this man! I'm saved because he told me about Jesus and I'm a pastor because Lu was a pastor.

 

When Sherry and I were struggling with my "calling" to be a pastor, I came up with a compromise. I could be an "executive pastor" in a large church or maybe a Counseling Pastor somewhere. But when I told Lu about my plan, he told me to either be a pastor who leads people to Jesus, teaches the Bible, and preaches the Good News with conviction... or do something else for a living! So Sherry and I sold our home and moved into student housing.

 

Luther Ratmeyer was the "real deal." He was a "man of God," to use a phrase Lu liked to use, and I never thanked him enough for introducing me to Jesus. In my view, there are many angels and some of them have names... like Gabriel, Micheal, and Luther. Amen!