March, 16 2008 by Wayne.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived of the Holy Spir
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell.

The third day He arose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy *catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.

Amen.

I love reading and repeating this because it so capsulizes the basicessentials of what I/we believe…said in a succinct, precise language. Thus I share for your edification.!

Brother Wayne

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March, 16 2008 by Wayne.

I think these lyrics are in a country song of “Yesteryear”. I liked the words because it reminded me of home back in Coldwater Michigan.  My Father had a hay business and bought and sold hay from and sold hay to farmers (most dairy farmers).

One of the men he bought hay from was a “Casey Stengel” looking guy named Pug Johnson, who lived in the neighboring town of Kinderhook and was an early riser and would pull into our driveway at breakfast time.  My Dad would holler, “come on in Pug”, pull up a chair and have some breakfast with us.

Pug would do just that! I was always glad when Pug came because it was so fun to watch his mannerism and listen to him talk.

Well, last evening at dusk Scott and Levi knocked at our  door, sending our little dog Moxie into her usual barking frenzie. Barbara and I were surprised but glad to see them because it reminded us of years gone by now when that was a very usual experience for us…first when we were first married after our Jr year in college and we had fellow students over to our apt almost weekly it seemed, for soup and  Barbara’s nifty sweet but healthy bread rolls. Then when we taught at Lynwood Academy and had students over often… then when we were pastoring at  Burbank before we built a fellowship hall and our house and back yard was where we had weekly lunches…like Kristen and Nevill do.

So when Scott and Levi stopped by to return a CD I had lent to our Pastor, I could barely refrain from saying..come in boys,pull up a chair and stay a little longer.

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,…To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen Jude 1:23-25

Brother Wayne

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March, 16 2008 by Wayne.

After the Sabbath sermon yesterday I was standing near a handsome 6′3″ young man when he was stricken with an epileptic seizure. Immediately his brother (twin in size) wrapped his arms around him as he shook and gently cradled him down on the sanctuary rug. He talked to his now seemingly unconscious brother and kept kneeling next to him still with his arms around him and stayed that way with him until his brother was able to be raised and walk to a resting place to await emergency medical intervention.

This was such a penetrating spiritual experience for me I wanted to share it with you my believing family. It is one of the most spiritually scintillating moment of my life and it is not just the careful caring action one brother to another but…The antecedent to this.

My oldest son Scott, when about ten, I took he and his younger brother by 18 month, to the movie Billy Jack…which was an active packed kick your way out of a dangerous situation movie…and with a sound rider…”he ain’t heavy, he’s my brother”.

And from that day forward Scott often spoke those words to me on behalf of his brother in a variety of ways and times….The impact this phrase had on me each time he said it was then.. and is now… and was Sabbath, always profound… this added to the flood of emotion that came upon me as I watched one brother “carry/hold his brother” at a critical time and in a most caring way.  Even now as I write this one day later I can’t keep the tears from flowing profusely as I write.

• Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 KJVA

And I say unto you/us…Greater love have I not seen, than a brother gently laying down “his brother”  on the sanctuary floor…  to allow time for his recovery from a terrible unanticipated/unwanted moment in his life.  Because…”He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother”

Brother Wayne

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