Twelfth Sunday After

Today's Saying

Discipleship means allegiance to the suffering Christ… It is a joy and token of His grace. …Dietrich Bonhoffer

It is Sunday in Pigeon Falls and Pastor Joan is putting the finishing touches on her sermon.

Here is a part of that sermon:

I was at a Wedding reception a few weeks ago and a man , who had had a little too much to drink came up to me. He stuck his finger in my face and said “ What about dead babies, huh? What do you have to say about them”

How do you answer that?

I said “ That’s a good question come to my office during the week and we’ll talk about it.”

He walked away muttering “ Stupid Pastors never give you a straight answer.”

I assume the question behind his finger was “ How can you believe in a good and loving God in a world that is not good, not loving, and certainly not kind.

How can you believe when babies die?”

Usually I am asked that question by people who don’t want to believe.

They always have that smug , now I’ve got ya, look.

And they do.

I don’t know why babies die. I don’t.

I don’t know why the poor suffer. I really don’t.

I don’t know why God gave us free will. I really don’t.

I could spend this entire sermon telling you the things I don’t know.

But this I do know.

When the guy with the smug look walks away having stuck it to the preacher I hear a voice saying “ Will you too go away?”

Will I throw it in and become a teacher or a social worker?

In this age of unbelief walking away is far easier than staying.

But I suppose it always has been.

But then I hear myself joining Peter and saying “ Lord where shall I go. You have the words of eternal life.”

I don’t follow Jesus because of proofs.

I follow Him because he is for me the Truth and the Way.

He gives me joy and peace. He sets me free.

In Him I am alive.

Lord where else can I go. Your it.

You’re the One.