Today’s Word from Pastor Jim…
My friend Bob Wheeler was raised in Texas; he was a standout baseball player, business owner in Langley, a devoted family man, and a member of TLC. Midway through his brave battle with cancer, shortly before he died, Bobby shared his perspective and testimony at our Thanksgiving service. Having been raised with strong doses of law, he found grace in his later years. Grace lifted Bob up and set him free to love as Jesus loved. Consistent with his upbringing he called me “Preacher.” New to the Lutheran understanding of Christianity he asked me, “Preacher, why don’t we ever have altar calls?”
It made for a good conversation. In the end, I maintained that we had altar calls every other week. We invited the children of God to come forward, to assume the posture of a beggar, and lay their very lives before God as they received the bread and wine of Holy Communion. The invitation to join in the meal goes out to all who are gathered. It is an opportunity to renew our commitment to follow Jesus, as we bathe in the amazing grace of the one who gave his life, that we might be set free to live.
For the past 10 months we have not had the opportunity to join the parade of the broken, rubbing shoulders, sharing hugs and tears, as we lift our hearts to heaven receiving bread and wine as words of grace are spoken. It has been a long season of isolation and disruption. The movement started by the Rabbi in the Galilee was built on two foundational truths; the adherents were invited to follow, and all were welcome. Both are equally important and true.
No one was meant to be conscripted, coerced, or born into Christianity. The invitation was to be extended, and then the individual could choose to join the movement or go in a different direction. The movement was voluntary, and no one was to be excluded. All people, all races, all genders, the marvelously diverse children of God of every land were to be welcomed at the table hosted by Jesus.
With a shout out to Bobby Wheeler, I would like to extend an altar call to each of you. Every morning as you get out of bed, I hope that you will choose to follow Jesus once again, not for a decade, not for a lifetime, but just for the day. One day at a time in 2021, accept the invitation to follow Jesus; the invitation to love more and to judge less, to forgive others as you have been forgiven, to speak words of grace and hope, to work for justice and peace, knowing that justice and peace always begins at home. An altar call — every morning, make the life-changing decision to follow Jesus in loving service, in generously supporting the poor and hungry, and in being more patient and kind.
My plan for 2021 is to wake up and say, “Jim, how about one more day? How about showing up for the party today? Can you be intentional in following Jesus today?”
I love you Bob Wheeler. You left us too soon. But thanks for reminding me that it is all about grace. Grace received and grace extended.
We are closer to the end than the beginning.
Much love,
Pastor Jim
