Good morning everyone!  Ok, it may not be morning before you read this, but it’s morning somewhere right?  🙂  According to what I’ve read, we could meet in person if we really wanted to.  I sure do, but I’m also concerned for the welfare of those among us who are less healthy.  We’ve decided to wait at least a couple more weeks.

Last Sunday was great!  we had more participation from membership than we have had since going virtual.  People are figuring out how things work and we’re smoothing out the rough spots.  We are still missing a few, but hopefully they will join today.

We are going to try something a little different this week.  Instead of opening up the Facebook live session right at 2:30, we will use the conference line only until it is time for the message.  This should cut down on the feedback problems we have been having with people trying to be on both the conference line and the Facebook page at the same time or in the same room.  Anyone who doesn’t have the conference line number can contact one of us directly or through the church sites.  If I’m able to limit the audience, I’ll put it in the Facebook event as well, but don’t count on that.

Have you ever felt excluded.  i would be surprised to learn that anyone hasn’t experienced this at some time, but I think it’s safe to say that people with disabilities face it more than most.  The world just isn’t designed for us, even with recent efforts to make accommodation.  Anything that makes one different can be a cause of too much or too little attention.  How much deeper does the pain go if you think that God excludes you too.

Sadly, some churches can make us feel this way.  It’s not just the garden-variety discrimination we’ve come to expect.  We’re told that we are the way we are because we don’t have enough faith.  we become targets for those who are convinced they can fix us and then told it’s our fault when it doesn’t work.  I’d much prefer that you ignore me.  Thank you.

Churches are never going to be perfect.  They are full of people after all.  But what are we to do when even God seems to reject us?  Many people have stumbled over a verse from Leviticus 21:21 forbidding any priest with a defect from offering sacrifices to Yahweh.  I’ll confess, it bothered me too.  I guess I have to admit it still stings a little, even though I have a better understanding now.  What I want to share with you is how God led me to that understanding and showed me a truth that I will cherish for the rest of my life.  It came from a simple verse in Matthew 21:14 which says, “And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.”  What a picture of redemption!  Jesus would soon complete that redemption with Himself the perfect high priest and the perfect sacrifice.  We’re all born defective.  Whatever our physical condition, we have a fatal condition called sin.  Jesus is the only cure.  We may have to wait for glory, but  our bodies will eventually be restored.  Of far greater importance is the restoration of our hearts.  You are not excluded.  You are loved!  Jesus illustrated this by letting those into the temple who were normally kept out and healing them.  There’s much more to say about this and I hope you’ll be able to join us for the complete message.

Love y’all!

Larry