I was reading a book yesterday that my 2 year-old daughter picked off of my shelves in my office.  She picked it - I think - because it was small (unlike many of the huge books on my shelves...theologians tend to be wordy).  It was a book from the 1950's that talked about rules, order, rituals and traditions in churches. 

One section was entitled:  "Rules of a Preacher."  Rule # 2 read, "Be serious.  Avoid all lightness, jesting and foolish talking.  Converse sparingly and conduct yourselves prudently..."

If I ever get to the point in my ministry where I "avoid all lightness, jesting, and foolish talking...and converse sparingly," I'm going to quit being a preacher. 

The work of the Gospel includes laughter and conversation...lots of it.  Even German Lutherans need to laugh and talk.

I visited St. Joseph's hospital in West Bend today.  And after seeing a parishioner, I checked out their chapel (St. Joe's is a new hospital, and I love hospital chapels...usually).  I walked in and to my left was some writing from the Koran, to the right was the Star of David, and next to me was a cross.  The stained glass window had a saying which said something like, "Let there be peace on earth, and let that peace start with me." 

I'll never go into that chapel again.

I started to read the verse to John, "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep..."   "And my sheep know me!"  John proudly, and loudly exclaimed! 

John is what most would call "developmentally disabled."  I would call him, "faith enabled."  He knows Jesus; Jesus knows him.  He loves Jesus.  Jesus loves him.  He loves going to church, and taking communion, and saying the Lord's prayer out loud.  He gave his pastor a hug, and, truth be told, his pastor needed a hug that day.

Jesus once said, "Anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

Sometimes I forget what that means...John reminded me this week.  Thank you, John.  God, please bring more like John into my life on a regular basis, so I am reminded of what simple faith is. 

One of the hardest things in life is to walk in someone else's shoes...see the world through their eyes...   In fact, some people have stopped trying.  Life becomes about me and what I want and what I need.  Thank God Jesus wasn't like that.  In Matthew 14:13-14 we read, "Jesus withdrew by boat to a solitary place (after hearing of the death of John the Baptist).  Hearing of this, the crowds followed  him on foot from the towns.  When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick."