Asbury Free Methodist

April 9^th, 2023 – John 20:1-11

By Rev. Dr. Brent Russett

            The last time some of us were in this sanctuary was Good Friday. It was a sombre service. A holy moment. It was a sombre service; A holy service. The cross, the cross – although Christ went to war and won, it was a gory mess. The service was reflective, ponderous, for some,maybe  even heavy.

            But this morning, the darkness has turned to light, and we say to each other He is Risen, He is Risen indeed. He is alive, and even the Easter lilies in the shape of trumpets seem to herald his glory. In some ways, it is like emotional whiplash from one extreme to the other.

*****

            “Did you hear about the singing group called “The Resurrection” that was scheduled to sing at a local church? When a big snowstorm postponed the performance, the pastor fixed the outside sign to read, “Resurrection postponed.”

            How do you feel this Easter Sunday morning? Did your mood match the occasion when you woke up? Or did you feel like postponing Easter Sunday? Are you wondering how some folk can get so excited? You are happy for them, but just not quite “there” yourself?

            Often our reality is that while it may be Easter Sunday, we still live in a Good Friday world.” (paraphrased Connie Stinson Luther Rice Baptist Church)

            That was the disciple’s reality on Easter Sunday morning. They were so steeped in grief that they couldn’t believe. Even in verse 8, where it says John went inside the tomb – it records

John 20:8–9 (NIV)

⁸ Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. ⁹ (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

            He believed that the tomb was empty but not much more than that.

            It was Easter Sunday, but the disciples were still living in a Good Friday world.

            And then there was Mary. She was cemented into that Good Friday world,

John 20:11–15 (NIV)

¹¹ Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb ¹² and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

¹³ They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” ¹⁴ At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

¹⁵ He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

            How do you mistake the resurrected Lord for a gardener? It is easy to do when you live in a Good Friday world.

            I have been there. The problems were so large. The darkness was so deep that God spoke, and I missed it. It was only in retrospect that I could see the work of God and that I could hear the voice of God. My journal is filled with times when – it was Good Friday – and God spoke –, and I missed it.

            Have you ever been there? I know some of you are camped out in Good Friday right now. Some of you have received a bad word from the doctor. Some of you are going through immense relational strain. Some of you are challenged by your kids, or by your parents. Some of you are in a hole financially. Some of wrestling with your thoughts, your addictions, your doubts, your anxiety and fears. It may be Easter Sunday, but the world you live in looks a lot like Good Friday.

            If you are there, you will know that it is hard to hear the voice of God. If you are there it is easy to act like the disciples did. Look at verse 19

John 20:19 (NIV)

¹⁹ On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders…

.

            It was Easter Sunday evening. Jesus had risen that morning. But the disciples had barricaded themselves in a room because they were in fear of the other shoe falling. Are we going to be arrested? Are we going to be killed too?

            Some of you do an amazing job just to make it to church and to work – because if you did what you felt like – you wouldn’t be here. You know it is good for you to be here. But if you followed your feelings – you would be curled up in a ball on your bed.

            Often our reality is that while it may be Easter Sunday, we still live in a Good Friday world.”

*****

            But I love the story of Mary. She is in the garden, the tomb is empty, and she is crying her eyes out. She sees two angels seated where Jesus’ body had been – they speak to her and ask, “Why are you crying?”

            It’s a Good Friday world, and it doesn’t matter if there are angels in it. Things were bad on Good Friday, and they are worse now because I don’t even have a place to go and grieve.

John 20:13 (NIV)

.. “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”

            The supernatural was all around her, but she couldn’t see it. She didn’t want to see it. What does it matter anyways?

            She turns around and sees Jesus but doesn’t recognize him. He asks her a question.

John 20:15 (NIV)

¹⁵ He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

            If he had been a stranger to the drama that was unfolding, this would be a logical question – But Jesus was no stranger – He knew why she was crying. He knew who she was looking for.

            Sometimes the best that God can do when we are stuck in Good Friday, and we are oblivious to the supernatural is to ask us questions. Questions that make us realize what we are doing. Questions that make us realize who were are looking for. Questions that help us to realize what we want. Questions that lead us back to himself.

            Then look what Jesus did. Verse 16: “Jesus said to her “Mary.”

            Jesus called her by name out of Good Friday. He said, Mary. In that moment, Mary recognized him.

            John 10 talks about the good shepherd.  

John 10:3 (NIV)

³ … the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

            For those of you who are in Good Friday – the best thing that can happen to you is that you hear Jesus call you by name. It will change your life.

            Oh, it may not change the doctor’s diagnosis, or fractured relationship, or the financial deficit, or the stress-filled circumstances, but it does change your life. I know it has mine.

            There was a period when my life was really difficult. During that time, I acquired a spiritual director. The job of a spiritual director is to ask good questions. They also suggest ways to make space for God. One of their main tasks is to help you identify the fingerprints of God in your life.

            When I was seeing my spiritual director, I was stuck in Good Friday. I told my spiritual director all the pressure points in my life. The strained relationships, the fears about the future, and the doubts about the present. I was so like the disciples who had locked themselves in that room. There were good things, even God things, happening all around – but I couldn’t see it. I didn’t really care to see it.

            Some of you think that that shouldn’t happen to a pastor. All I can tell you is that I am on a spiritual journey just like you, and it is my privilege to walk with so many of you and have you walk with me.

            Just like Jesus, my spiritual director asked me some questions about what I really wanted and what I expected from God. Those questions begat other questions. Those questions uncovered what I really wanted; what I really needed was the life of Jesus at the core of my soul.

            During that time, I served on the board of a Christian Liberal Arts college in Western New York State. I was sitting in one of the many board meetings I attended Houghton College, and we were looking at the same old things: student enrollment, tuition, financial stability – and my mind started to wander – or more like it was a God moment. I didn’t hear an audible voice, but I did hear Jesus call me into a friendship with himself. He invited me into a dialogue. It was like he called me by name.

            And when that happened, there was a qualitative difference between where I had been and where I was. Things stayed the same, and everything changed.

            I am telling you about my journey, not because I think I am anything special. In fact, I believe quite the opposite. We are on the same journey. And while God deals with us each differently, he leads his sheep out and calls them each by name.

            For those of you who, in this phase of your journey, are camped in Good Friday – I want to tell you that there is hope. My fervent prayer for you is that you will hear Jesus call you in such a personal way – that it shakes you right out of Good Friday into Easter Sunday, even though the circumstances may not change.

            I love Mary’s response.

John 20:18 (NIV)

¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord.”

            When you move from Good Friday to Easter Sunday, when you encounter the living Christ – our responsibility is just like Mary – we need to testify to the fact that “we have seen the Lord.”

            And I know that is the experience of so many of you. Many of you would resonate with the Hymn writer Charles Miles who wrote,

I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

• Refrain:
  And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
  And He tells me I am His own;
  And the joy we share as we tarry there,
  None other has ever known.

 He speaks, and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

            I know that there are many of you here who can say, “I have seen the Lord.”

            But the disciples were still stuck in Good Friday. Luke 24 it tells the story of Jesus on the road to Emmaus.

Luke 24:17–27 (NIV)

¹⁷ He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. ¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

¹⁹ “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. ²⁰ The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; ²¹ but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. ²² In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning ²³ but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. ²⁴ Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

²⁵ He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” ²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

 The two men walked along with sadness written across their faces. – they did not recognize Jesus. But as the story unfolds, we see that they had heard Mary’s testimony – I have seen the Lord. – But that testimony didn’t take them out of Good Friday – but it started them on a journey of questioning – and then they had a personal encounter with Jesus.

Luke 24:28–35 (NIV)

²⁸ As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. ²⁹ But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

³⁰ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. ³² They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

³³ They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together ³⁴ and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” ³⁵ Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

            Did you see how Jesus’ questions and the women’s testimony helped these men move from Good Friday to Easter Sunday?

******

            For those of you who have moved into Easter Sunday, those stuck in Good Friday need your testimony. They need to hear how you have encountered Jesus.

            And did you notice that once the disciples moved into Easter Sunday, and they encountered Christ – they started to encounter him again and again and again.

            For those of you who have moved into Easter Sunday, we need to hear your testimony. We need to hear how you encountered Jesus in the stories of scripture. We need to hear how you encountered Jesus while you took communion. We need to hear how you encountered Jesus in the words of a little child. We need to hear how you encountered Jesus in worship. We need to hear how you encountered Jesus in the face of a stranger. We need to hear how you encountered Jesus in the face of the poor, the sick, and the imprisoned. We need to hear how you encountered Jesus in your quiet time and in your spirit. Or if you are strange like me, we need to hear how you encountered Jesus in a board room.

            As we tell our stories of encountering Jesus – it paves the way for others to encounter him personally.

            This is why I am a fan of small groups where people can regularly share their stories with each other. We need venues to say, “I have seen the Lord.”

            One of the things that I want to happen in our church is that we hear testimonies in our church services of how people have encountered Jesus in their everyday life. We want to hear those stories – but we need people to step forward and say I have an encounter with Jesus that I want to share. If that is you, send me an email.

            There are a number of you here who are camped out in Good Friday like I was. My prayer for you is that you hear Jesus call your name. There are a number of you who have moved into Easter Sunday, and you are encountering Jesus on a fairly regular basis. I celebrate with you. 

            There are some of you here who have been wondering what the heck I have been talking about. You know that Jesus is a historical figure, but I have been talking about him like he is present today.

            That is because we believe that he is spiritually present in a very real sense. We believe that the most important thing that can happen to a person is to enter into a relationship we the God of the universe.

            In fact, all of Easter is about God making a way so that we can walk in a relationship with him. He deeply desires that you would know him and walk with him. He wants to walk with you through the Good Fridays and Easter Sundays of life. He wants to be your friend.

            If you want to learn what I means to become God’s friend, I encourage you to send me an email, and we can get together. Or just start attending church for a while, and you will hear more, and when you are ready, we can help you become a friend of God.

            For those of you who are stuck in Friday – I will remind you, that it may be Friday but Sunday’s coming.

Asbury Free Methodist

April 9^th, 2023

John 20:1-11

Reworked from 2014

The Resurrection of Jesus

CONNECT

            The last time some of us were in this sanctuary was Good Friday. It was a sombre service. A holy moment. It was a sombre service; A holy service. The cross, the cross – although Christ went to war and won, it was a gory mess. The service was reflective, ponderous, for some,maybe  even heavy.

            But this morning, the darkness has turned to light, and we say to each other He is Risen, He is Risen indeed. He is alive, and even the Easter lilies in the shape of trumpets seem to herald his glory. In some ways, it is like emotional whiplash from one extreme to the other.

*****

            “Did you hear about the singing group called “The Resurrection” that was scheduled to sing at a local church? When a big snowstorm postponed the performance, the pastor fixed the outside sign to read, “Resurrection postponed.”

            How do you feel this Easter Sunday morning? Did your mood match the occasion when you woke up? Or did you feel like postponing Easter Sunday? Are you wondering how some folk can get so excited? You are happy for them, but just not quite “there” yourself?

            Often our reality is that while it may be Easter Sunday, we still live in a Good Friday world.” (paraphrased Connie Stinson Luther Rice Baptist Church)

            That was the disciple’s reality on Easter Sunday morning. They were so steeped in grief that they couldn’t believe. Even in verse 8, where it says John went inside the tomb – it records

John 20:8–9 (NIV)

⁸ Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. ⁹ (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

            He believed that the tomb was empty but not much more than that.

            It was Easter Sunday, but the disciples were still living in a Good Friday world.

            And then there was Mary. She was cemented into that Good Friday world,

John 20:11–15 (NIV)

¹¹ Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb ¹² and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

¹³ They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” ¹⁴ At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

¹⁵ He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

            How do you mistake the resurrected Lord for a gardener? It is easy to do when you live in a Good Friday world.

            I have been there. The problems were so large. The darkness was so deep that God spoke, and I missed it. It was only in retrospect that I could see the work of God and that I could hear the voice of God. My journal is filled with times when – it was Good Friday – and God spoke –, and I missed it.

            Have you ever been there? I know some of you are camped out in Good Friday right now. Some of you have received a bad word from the doctor. Some of you are going through immense relational strain. Some of you are challenged by your kids, or by your parents. Some of you are in a hole financially. Some of wrestling with your thoughts, your addictions, your doubts, your anxiety and fears. It may be Easter Sunday, but the world you live in looks a lot like Good Friday.

            If you are there, you will know that it is hard to hear the voice of God. If you are there it is easy to act like the disciples did. Look at verse 19

John 20:19 (NIV)

¹⁹ On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders…

.

            It was Easter Sunday evening. Jesus had risen that morning. But the disciples had barricaded themselves in a room because they were in fear of the other shoe falling. Are we going to be arrested? Are we going to be killed too?

            Some of you do an amazing job just to make it to church and to work – because if you did what you felt like – you wouldn’t be here. You know it is good for you to be here. But if you followed your feelings – you would be curled up in a ball on your bed.

            Often our reality is that while it may be Easter Sunday, we still live in a Good Friday world.”

*****

            But I love the story of Mary. She is in the garden, the tomb is empty, and she is crying her eyes out. She sees two angels seated where Jesus’ body had been – they speak to her and ask, “Why are you crying?”

            It’s a Good Friday world, and it doesn’t matter if there are angels in it. Things were bad on Good Friday, and they are worse now because I don’t even have a place to go and grieve.

John 20:13 (NIV)

.. “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”

            The supernatural was all around her, but she couldn’t see it. She didn’t want to see it. What does it matter anyways?

            She turns around and sees Jesus but doesn’t recognize him. He asks her a question.

John 20:15 (NIV)

¹⁵ He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

            If he had been a stranger to the drama that was unfolding, this would be a logical question – But Jesus was no stranger – He knew why she was crying. He knew who she was looking for.

            Sometimes the best that God can do when we are stuck in Good Friday, and we are oblivious to the supernatural is to ask us questions. Questions that make us realize what we are doing. Questions that make us realize who were are looking for. Questions that help us to realize what we want. Questions that lead us back to himself.

            Then look what Jesus did. Verse 16: “Jesus said to her “Mary.”

            Jesus called her by name out of Good Friday. He said, Mary. In that moment, Mary recognized him.

            John 10 talks about the good shepherd.  

John 10:3 (NIV)

³ … the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

            For those of you who are in Good Friday – the best thing that can happen to you is that you hear Jesus call you by name. It will change your life.

            Oh, it may not change the doctor’s diagnosis, or fractured relationship, or the financial deficit, or the stress-filled circumstances, but it does change your life. I know it has mine.

            There was a period when my life was really difficult. During that time, I acquired a spiritual director. The job of a spiritual director is to ask good questions. They also suggest ways to make space for God. One of their main tasks is to help you identify the fingerprints of God in your life.

            When I was seeing my spiritual director, I was stuck in Good Friday. I told my spiritual director all the pressure points in my life. The strained relationships, the fears about the future, and the doubts about the present. I was so like the disciples who had locked themselves in that room. There were good things, even God things, happening all around – but I couldn’t see it. I didn’t really care to see it.

            Some of you think that that shouldn’t happen to a pastor. All I can tell you is that I am on a spiritual journey just like you, and it is my privilege to walk with so many of you and have you walk with me.

            Just like Jesus, my spiritual director asked me some questions about what I really wanted and what I expected from God. Those questions begat other questions. Those questions uncovered what I really wanted; what I really needed was the life of Jesus at the core of my soul.

            During that time, I served on the board of a Christian Liberal Arts college in Western New York State. I was sitting in one of the many board meetings I attended Houghton College, and we were looking at the same old things: student enrollment, tuition, financial stability – and my mind started to wander – or more like it was a God moment. I didn’t hear an audible voice, but I did hear Jesus call me into a friendship with himself. He invited me into a dialogue. It was like he called me by name.

            And when that happened, there was a qualitative difference between where I had been and where I was. Things stayed the same, and everything changed.

            I am telling you about my journey, not because I think I am anything special. In fact, I believe quite the opposite. We are on the same journey. And while God deals with us each differently, he leads his sheep out and calls them each by name.

            For those of you who, in this phase of your journey, are camped in Good Friday – I want to tell you that there is hope. My fervent prayer for you is that you will hear Jesus call you in such a personal way – that it shakes you right out of Good Friday into Easter Sunday, even though the circumstances may not change.

            I love Mary’s response.

John 20:18 (NIV)

¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord.”

            When you move from Good Friday to Easter Sunday, when you encounter the living Christ – our responsibility is just like Mary – we need to testify to the fact that “we have seen the Lord.”

            And I know that is the experience of so many of you. Many of you would resonate with the Hymn writer Charles Miles who wrote,

I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

• Refrain:
  And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
  And He tells me I am His own;
  And the joy we share as we tarry there,
  None other has ever known.

 He speaks, and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

            I know that there are many of you here who can say, “I have seen the Lord.”

            But the disciples were still stuck in Good Friday. Luke 24 it tells the story of Jesus on the road to Emmaus.

Luke 24:17–27 (NIV)

¹⁷ He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. ¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

¹⁹ “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. ²⁰ The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; ²¹ but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. ²² In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning ²³ but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. ²⁴ Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

²⁵ He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” ²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

 The two men walked along with sadness written across their faces. – they did not recognize Jesus. But as the story unfolds, we see that they had heard Mary’s testimony – I have seen the Lord. – But that testimony didn’t take them out of Good Friday – but it started them on a journey of questioning – and then they had a personal encounter with Jesus.

Luke 24:28–35 (NIV)

²⁸ As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. ²⁹ But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

³⁰ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. ³² They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

³³ They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together ³⁴ and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” ³⁵ Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

            Did you see how Jesus’ questions and the women’s testimony helped these men move from Good Friday to Easter Sunday?

******

            For those of you who have moved into Easter Sunday, those stuck in Good Friday need your testimony. They need to hear how you have encountered Jesus.

            And did you notice that once the disciples moved into Easter Sunday, and they encountered Christ – they started to encounter him again and again and again.

            For those of you who have moved into Easter Sunday, we need to hear your testimony. We need to hear how you encountered Jesus in the stories of scripture. We need to hear how you encountered Jesus while you took communion. We need to hear how you encountered Jesus in the words of a little child. We need to hear how you encountered Jesus in worship. We need to hear how you encountered Jesus in the face of a stranger. We need to hear how you encountered Jesus in the face of the poor, the sick, and the imprisoned. We need to hear how you encountered Jesus in your quiet time and in your spirit. Or if you are strange like me, we need to hear how you encountered Jesus in a board room.

            As we tell our stories of encountering Jesus – it paves the way for others to encounter him personally.

            This is why I am a fan of small groups where people can regularly share their stories with each other. We need venues to say, “I have seen the Lord.”

            One of the things that I want to happen in our church is that we hear testimonies in our church services of how people have encountered Jesus in their everyday life. We want to hear those stories – but we need people to step forward and say I have an encounter with Jesus that I want to share. If that is you, send me an email.

            There are a number of you here who are camped out in Good Friday like I was. My prayer for you is that you hear Jesus call your name. There are a number of you who have moved into Easter Sunday, and you are encountering Jesus on a fairly regular basis. I celebrate with you. 

            There are some of you here who have been wondering what the heck I have been talking about. You know that Jesus is a historical figure, but I have been talking about him like he is present today.

            That is because we believe that he is spiritually present in a very real sense. We believe that the most important thing that can happen to a person is to enter into a relationship we the God of the universe.

            In fact, all of Easter is about God making a way so that we can walk in a relationship with him. He deeply desires that you would know him and walk with him. He wants to walk with you through the Good Fridays and Easter Sundays of life. He wants to be your friend.

            If you want to learn what I means to become God’s friend, I encourage you to send me an email, and we can get together. Or just start attending church for a while, and you will hear more, and when you are ready, we can help you become a friend of God.

            For those of you who are stuck in Friday – I will remind you, that it may be Friday but Sunday’s coming.