This past week I had the privilege of leading a sacred event I've participated in and helped with many times over the years, but never led. I administered the Lord's Supper to a Bible study group in a home. I've done weddings, funerals, baby dedications, wedding vow renewals, and hundreds of baptisms, but this was a new first for me.
The mother of a young marine killed in Iraq 2 years ago, whose family attends Hebron and I've grown close to, asked if I'd conduct this for their women's study group, as part of a commissioning for a group member traveling to India on a mission trip. I said I'd be honored.
There were about 15 ladies, all seated in the living room. I shared some words from Charles Spurgeon about the sacredness of the Communion, then read the Last Supper account in Matthew 26:26-30. I led it very traditionally- we had a loaf of Jewish challa bread which I broke, prayed over, then brought around to each lady there, who broke off a piece. Then I prayed over a chalice of grape juice, and brought it around as well, with each one dipping their bread in it. We then ate the bread/juice, and spent time in quiet prayer, while Rich Mullin's song, "Peace" played low. We next brought up the lady going on the mission trip, knelt and laid hands on her, and committed her life & work to God. We closed with a hymn, just like Jesus' followers did. We then shared lunch together, which was delicious.
It was a great honor to guide this special event, and we surely felt the presence of God's Spirit there. It really reminded me of how intimate the first Supper was with our Lord & His disciples, and how this not only commemorates the death of Christ for our sins, it also was meant to bind our hearts to each other as His beloved children. I think that is often missed today, in our big, efficient ways of doing things in our churches. We inadvertently diminish the sacredness of moments like this, when we should be sharing them together from the heart, and savoring the time together with our Lord.
Rich once wrote, "I don't know which is more beautiful- the calling of the ancient stars, or the assembling of the saints."

I'm still reading Manning's "Ragamuffin Gospel", and God is using it and His Word to speak to me daily.
I just finished a chapter called, "Grazie, Signore", which means "Thank you, Lord". He begins with a touching story of a young woman who has had to undergo facial surgery to remove a tumor from her cheek. Her mouth is now slightly twisted, due to a tiny nerve that had to be severed to remove the tumor. As the doctor sadly explains the permanence of this side-effect to her, the husband stands by her side, gently stroking her hair & face. The doctor steps back, and watches in humble awe as the young man bends over his love, and whispers, "I like it. Its kind of cute." He then twists his own lips slightly to conform to hers, to show her that their kiss still works.
That story grips my heart for some reason. It almost moves me to tears every time I read it. That kind of love & compassion is truly beautiful, humbling, and of God. In fact, it is a picture of the love of God for us, displayed in Jesus Christ.
"He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21
Manning concludes the chapter with a heart-felt prayer of praise, which I desire daily to make my own-
"Grazie Signore, for your lips twisted in love to accomodate my sinful self, for judging me not by my shabby good deeds but by your love that is your gift to me, for your unbearable forgiveness and infinite patience with me, for other people who have greater gifts than mine, and for the honesty to acknowledge that I am a ragamuffin. When the final curtain falls and you summon me home, may my last whispered word on earth be the wholehearted cry, 'Grazie Signore.'"
Rob

I've been re-reading a book I recommended to a friend, a book called "The Ragamuffin Gospel" by Brennan Manning. I've actually read it 2x before, and everytime I return to it, God speaks to me more, and points me deeper into His heart & His Word.
Manning's main purpose is to expose the falsehoods we have fallen into as the modern church, namely that we no longer understand the grace & love of God, and have replaced these with a gospel of good works, personal discipline, and self-denial. He says, "The bending of the mind by the powers of this world has twisted the gospel of grace into religious bondage and distorted the image of God into an eternal, small-minded bookkeeper" going on to say "Too many Christians are living in the house of fear and not the house of grace."
Grace means we have been bought, paid for, and are wholly accepted by the One "who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20)
Love means we are completely and passionately loved & pursued, without reservation and without condemnation, by the "furious love of God" as Chesterson called it. "He is the only God man has ever heard of who loves sinners," Manning writes.
I love his explanation of the true gospel of grace-
"This is the God of the gospel of grace: A God, who out of love for us, sent the only Son He ever had wrapped in our skin. He learned how to walk, stumbled and fell, cried for His milk, sweated blood in the night, was lashed with a whip and showered with spit, was fixed to a cross and died whispering forgiveness on us all..." then rose again to prove it.
Its less about doing, more about being. Not about us, all about Him.
I'm still reading...more to come.
Rob

Watching the news lately, it seems like the world is spinning out of control. Our ecomony is crumbling, mortgages & credit have dried up, gas is scarce & expensive, prices of everything keep climbing, we are still in a severe drought here in the South, people's jobs are in jeopardy, church giving & attendence is down, we face an uncertain political future, there are growing enemies around the world getting bolder, and the moral & spiritual foundations are being rapidly eroded around us. These are uncertain, unnerving times.
I tend to fret about what I see happening in the world around me. How will these affect my life in the years ahead? The lives of my children & grandchildren one day? What will America, the world, look like 5, 10, 20, etc. years from now?
I was reminded yesterday in my morning quiet time that God is still on His throne, still in control. He brought to mind several Bible passages-
"I've never seen the righteous forsaken, nor His children begging for bread." Psalm 37:25
"My God will provide for all of your needs according to His riches in glory." Philippians 4:19
"...do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:25-34
I will rest in Him.
Rob