Serving One Another

Serving One Another                          5/10/15

Isaiah 58, Mark 10:35-45

The Path of Discipleship:  Sermon 10

Two Wednesday’s ago, about 7 o’clock in the evening, I was in front of the television when I heard a vehicle stop in front of the school.  I knew this because of the loud country music which made its way into our home all the way from the car radio.  I assumed the van had stopped because someone was using the crosswalk.  Much to my surprise, the driver put the van in park, walked to the back, opened the hatch, took out a garbage bag and threw the garbage bag over the school fence, with this bag landing smack dab in the middle of the play area.  He then drove away.

I was shocked.  It threw me in such a way that I didn’t know what to do.  As he drove away, the simplest thought came seconds late:  go get the license plate number.  Apparently, the television had made my mind more numb than I realized.

In the next few minutes, a whole wave of thoughts rushed through me.  Surely, this must have been a crazy person, so it was probably just trash.  But what if it wasn’t?  What if he was a mad man?  What if there was something harmful in the bag?  Should I call the police?  Well, I decided on calling our school board representative, and after his assurance that he would come take a look, I tried to get back to normal.  But it was such a unique experience in life that it took me about an hour to stop thinking about this bag.  Sure enough, when I woke up the next morning, the bag was gone, and the world was still moving.  So I moved on as well.

Until this past Wednesday evening, around 7:30pm, I heard music once again from a stopped vehicle.  “Oh no”, I thought, as I jumped out of my seat.  Sure enough, it was the same man and the same van.  And the same man in the same van threw another garbage bag over the school fence. 

Gifted with wisdom and experience from the week before, I ran out of the house onto the porch.  I raised my voice at the driver.  “What are you doing throwing garbage?” “Stop throwing garbage on school property”  I was loud enough that my wife came running down the stairs.  But the man just drove away.  I saw him put his turn signal on and go down Railroad Avenue, and I secretly hoped he wasn’t turning around to come give me a piece of his mind.  Though if he was, I was ready.

Well, I called the school board member, who then called our good mayor, who also happens to be in law enforcement.  I saw our Mayor pull into the school yard a few minutes later.  He proceeded to walk toward the garbage bag, and as I came walking over, he asked “Ken, is this the garbage bag you saw the man throw?”

“Yes”, I replied.

It was several copies of the next day’s edition of the Hunterdon County Democrat newspaper.

Oops.

Have you ever had one of those moments where a flood of different thoughts and feelings came over you at the same time?

I felt very, very small.

I felt a laugh of relief come over me, and that in God’s great sense of humor, I now had a story that I will repeat in sermons the rest of my earthly days.

I felt the grace that came from our kind Mayor as we chuckled.

I felt stupid at all the anxiety and wasted thought and energy:

Why didn’t I just go over last week and see for myself?

In hindsight, the obvious answer, so simple, had eluded me.  I had let it elude me through my reaction.

During Lent and Easter, we are learning about the Path of Discipleship.  Focusing on classic expressions of Christian living, we want to move from being tourists to being tour guide leaders as we invite others to follow Jesus Christ.  The columns on our map are part of an invitation to take some steps in 2015.  Today’s theme is from the Serving column.

Serving is similar to my conclusion from the newspaper incident.  The simplest answer is often our next step as Christians.  Serving one another, and serving the Lord, is so simple.  Why does it elude us?  Why do we let it elude us?

In Isaiah 58, we find three waves of if/then logic.  The first wave is found in verses 1-9.  Isaiah reasons with the nation:  If you are doing these things…you shouldn’t, as he then lists several unhealthy behaviors. If you are doing these things, Isaiah reasons, then you should do this.   And if you do this, then here is what I will do, the prophet promises on behalf of the Lord God.  The second and third waves are a bit simpler, “if you do this, then I will do this”, God covenants through the prophet.

“If you are doing this”

Isaiah, and more importantly, the Lord God, see some problems with the behavior of Israel.  If you are doing these things, you are not in a spot of spiritual health. 

• If you say you seek God but forsake God’s commands
• If you tell God you’ve done something, but accuse him that he didn’t see it.
• If you acknowledge that you are humble, but that God hasn’t noticed.
• If your fasting is accompanied by quarrelling, strife and fisticuffs

If these things are what you are doing, it is important to ask

“Is this what God wants?”

And

“Is this too small of a way to live?”

But if you find yourself in this state, you can get out:  If you are doing these things, then here is what you should do instead:

• You should loosen the chains of injustice
• You should untie the cords of the heavy yokes people bear
• You should share your food with the hungry
• You should provide poor wanderers with shelter
• You should clothe those who have no clothes
• You should not turn away from family

In the grace of the Lord, if we live righteously, God has said ‘then this will happen’

• Your light will break forth like the dawn
• Your healing will quickly appear
• Your righteousness will go before you
• God’s glory will be your rear guard
• You will call, and God will answer “Here I am”.

Serving God and one another involves doing what is right.  If you’ve found yourself trapped, then do what is right, and do what is right before you, and God’s goodness will be with you.

God’s healing will be as beautiful as the light of dawn.  God’s road will be a walkway of righteousness that you can follow.  God’s glory will be your security and protection.  And instead of 58:4, where the prophet teaches, “You cannot fast as you are and expect your voice to be heard on high”, instead of that, you’ll hear God’s yes.  You will hear God’s answer and his declaration, “Here am I”.

This first wave speaks to us an essential lesson:  Not on your terms.  You cannot serve God and others on your terms.

The second wave invites us to leave the yokes of oppression, to stop with the finger pointing and malicious talk.  Spend on those who need it, and satisfy those who have been oppressed.  If you do these things, then I will do this:

• Your light will rise above the darkness
• Your night will become brighter than noon
• The Lord will always guide you.
• The Lord will satisfy your needs and strengthen your frame
• You will be like a well watered garden, a never ending spring
• You will rebuild the ruins and raise up foundations that have fallen.

What glorious work the Lord does when we say yes to him.  This second wave teaches an important lesson:  We often know what to do.  For example, it isn’t rocket science to stop talking maliciously.  Just stop.  Stop today.  Stop right now.  And don’t go back.

The third wave in the chapter beckons us to stop breaking the Sabbath, to stop doing only as we please on the Sabbath.  If we honor the Lord first, if we keep his day honorable, if we give honor by not going our own way, doing what we want and speaking idle words.  If/then.  Then this is what the Lord says he will do:

Then you will find joy in the Lord.

This chapter closes with authority:  The mouth of the Lord has spoken.  If we have done wrong, but turn and do right, then the Lord has promised to work in delightful, life-giving ways.

The disciples, especially James and John, sons of Thunder, wanted God on their terms:  “Teacher, we want you do for us whatever we ask”. 

Have you ever engaged in a conversation where the first words spoken immediately tell you ‘this isn’t ending well’.  Servants of God would say the opposite of James and John, “Lord we want to do for you whatever you ask”.

Jesus accurately called the disciples on their response.  They had no idea what they were asking.  When we commit to serving God, we are open to hearing God’s voice, God’s call, God’s way.  When we serve one another, that is, care for those who are in our lives, the best and most honorable way we know how, we are open.  But when we commit to our agenda, to self in unhealthy ways, we can’t see.  We can’t see the simple and clear. 

Scripture declares:

If any of you lack wisdom, you should ask God, who gives  generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given.  But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt.  (James 1:5-6)

The call to serve one another is quite simple.  We can hem and haw, we can struggle and resist, we can plan alternative routes to attempt to find what we want.  We can waste time and energy and thought.  This is what I regretted about the garbage story.  I gave my time away, when in hindsight, I should have just gone over and checked the bag out.  What a waste!

The call is simple:  be like Jesus.   “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45)

Jesus has already done the work of salvation, but not everyone has received the message.  Therefore, serve one another in love, so Jesus may be pleased, and the good news might get out, and that Christ’s message of salvation might take root in people’s lives. 

Govern Meant

Govern Meant                                     5/1/15

Mark 3:13-15, Acts 1:12-17, 20-26, Acts 6:1-7

The Path of Discipleship, Sermon 9

Rev. John Ames, main character in Marilynne Robinson’s amazing story Gilead, tells his son:

Sometimes I have loved the peacefulness of an ordinary Sunday.  It is like standing in a newly planted garden after a warm rain.  You can feel the silent and invisible life.  All it needs from you is that you take care not to trample on it.

Perhaps, this is what God meant when he talks of government:  Perhaps the most important thing we do is what we don’t do:  trample on what is beautiful and good and from above.

Speaking about the Messiah, Isaiah describes:  He shall be called wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.  (9:6-7)

During Lent and Easter, we are looking at a Map of Discipleship, which contains specific steps for us to take in 2015.  We want to move from our Christian faith as a tourist experience, to that of deepening participation.  The name Christian, implies we follow, are a student of, the teacher, our Lord Jesus Christ.  Today’s column that we are considering is Governance.  It might be at first glance, the least inspiring of the columns, because it is filled with words undergoing transition, like “Membership”, “Moderate” and “presbytery”.  But these words are not unvalued.  Membership is declining in groups across the spectrum, but the importance of a public commitment to a group should be given more weight. 

We learn in Acts that when the church needed new leaders, it prayed, and God took care of them.  So we should be cautious to disparage things like membership, and leadership within the congregation.

What does it mean to ‘govern’?  The roots come from the Latin word which meant ‘to steer’.  To govern means to “exercise continuous sovereign authority over” and to “control and direct the making and administration of policy”.  A tertiary definition, “is to control the speed of”.  Sovereign, by the way, is supreme excellence”.  So when we speak of God as Sovereign, we acknowledge that God is supremely excellent.

What does the Scripture say about God’s plan for governing? 

God, in the creation story, makes male and female in his image in order to “rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air” (1:26).  This command was given before the fall of humankind, so I can only imagine what it was like for humans to rule when their intentions and actions were without sin.  It must have been amazing.  God’s desire for his creation was that men and women would rule the earth:  and this rule would be good.

With countless historical examples in mind, we might read into the text that ruling is a bad thing.  But by definition, it concerns matters of supreme excellence.  To rule the earth was a call from God for God’s glory.  Modern scholarship has attempted to move us away from harsh words like ‘rule’ and ‘lord’.  Attempts are made at renaming ‘the reign of Christ” and “the kingdom of God” with the word “realm”.  Realm, mind you, isn’t a bad word, just we don’t need to apologize for God the Lord, his rule is quite good.  And it will continue despite whatever the next terminology will be.

Abraham is given land and a promise.  Out of him will rise a nation.  They will live in the promised land.

Moses brings Israel out of Egypt and is given a law for the people.  The law will shape society, and provide justice and freedom to the people.

The lowest point in Israel’s history occurs in the Book of Judges, which were really tribal warriors, rather than a courtroom arbitrator.  During this period, it is written the tragic words, “Everyone did what was right in their own eyes”.  Supreme excellence was not the way of the land:  selfishness, and a lack of accountability, governed individuals, with little regard for anyone more than you.  Today’s world should read the Book of Judges with caution.  Their downfall was that “everyone did what was right in their own eyes”.

Israel, later in its history, wants a King.  God had told them he would be their king.  But that wasn’t enough.  So Saul is made king.  Scripture says that God grieved that he had made that decision.

David succeeds Saul, and it is David’s line that will eventually produce the Messiah.

Throughout the generations, Israel endures multiple exiles by Babylon and Persia, and the Empires of Greece and Rome.  They make the best of difficult situations.  But they always do so with one eye on their coming Messiah.

Jesus proclaims that he is Lord.  His audience would have been shocked, for Caesar was the Lord, a son of the gods.  Now Jesus declares that He is the Lord, the Son of God.  This message is what shapes the rest of history.  If we confess with our mouths Jesus is Lord, we shall be saved.  And the kingdom we enter is one where the Lord is the Good Lord. 

These ideas and verses from Scripture speak to humanity, and to that which is larger than a single congregation.   How are the passages chosen for today’s service helpful as we think how to govern ourselves?

Presbyterian structure for congregations include the Session (elders) and Deacons.  A Pastor is called a ‘teaching elder’, and the session members are called ‘ruling elders’.  Deacons are charged with looking out, and Elders charged with looking over.  And so the Elders should look broadly at a congregation, and the Deacons look to show specific care to individual within a congregation and community who are in need of a little support. 

There are lessons from both Acts passages for our role in governing a congregation.  In Acts 1, we see the church seeking guidance for how to proclaim the message of Jesus risen and ascended:

1.       The church prays when it needs new leadership, or guidance because of new opportunity.

2.       The church prayers came from men and women gathered together.

3.       Will Willimon writes:  “Everything that happens does so as a necessary fulfillment of Scripture and the purpose of God”. (Acts Interpretation series, pg. 23)

The lesson here is that all of our work should help fulfill, or be a response to what we know of God’s will in Scripture.

4.       Matthias is chosen through a combination of God’s ways—the casting of lots, and human thought.   

In Acts 6, we see the church considering adding gifted individuals to fulfill a ministry.

1.       Because the church is proclaiming its message, the disciples are growing in number.

2.       Change causes conflict.  A dispute arose challenging fairness between who received distribution of food.

3.       Why is it not right for the Apostles to wait on tables?  Is this work that is below a spiritual sent one?  I don’t think so.  But it is work that is different from what Jesus told the Apostles to do.  Mark writes that Jesus chose them to “send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons” (3:15). 

4.       The people that the Apostles call to do the ordinary work of food distribution need to have a certain dynamic:  They are to be full of wisdom and the Holy Spirit.  This confirms that all work of the gospel is important work.  Preaching and driving out demons and waiting on tables can all glorify the Lord.  And there are people out there to do that specific work.  And your work, what you are called to, can be a display of the glory of God.  Paul writes:  Whatever you do, whether in word or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3:17).

As a result of people doing the work they are called to do, and not anything more or less, the word of God spreads.

This is good news:  for God is all powerful, and his rule is good.  Jesus is the Lord, and he is a good Lord.  Our job is to steer people toward the life of the Lord.  And also, not to trample on the grace that comes to us.  Biblically, that is what govern, meant.

A Friend from Long Ago

Some of the stories special to me as I sell my book

Having moved back to the area where I grew up has been a delightful experience.   From time to time, I will drive and see places that once were familiar to me, and say prayers or have thoughts of the homes, years before, that I had spent time in.

I remember playing with Scott, who lived on Rock Road.  He moved away near the end of elementary school.   Years went by without thinking much about him, and through Facebook arose the chance to see his posts, including a delightful picture of him and his daughter.  A truly beautiful picture, one that makes you happy, knowing how happy it makes the people in it.

I had opportunity to sell my book at the Shad Festival last weekend.  Many thanks to the Lambertville Presbyterian Church for their kindness in letting me set up a table.

Well, sure enough, Scott walked up with his family.  He, and his love, their children, and grandma.  Yes, it took me a minute to put two and two together.  We took a few minutes to catch up on life's basics.  And they went on their way, enjoying a wonderful day at the Shad Festival.  Happiness came to me, and stayed throughout the day, by way of this wonderful moment.

The next day, I received a message from Scott.  Dana had read their book to the children that night.

What a special thing.  How deeply I feel gratitude.  I am grateful that this story went into a home of someone, who, when I was seven, was part of my childhood.  Thirty five years later, my daughter is seven.  And my love story to her is one that resonates with people throughout this land, including people like Scott.


Tonight, I finished an amazing book:  Marilynne Robinson's Home.  What an amazing book, and almost as good, in my mind, as Gilead.  Marilynne ends the book, with the main character acknowledging, "The Lord is wonderful".

I join in that truth as I think about life's friends:  the Lord is wonderful.

The Path of Discipleship: Study Hall

Study Hall                                      4/26/15

Psalm 78:1-8, Matthew 11:25-30

The Path of Discipleship:  Sermon 8 in series

One year while in high school, I chose to take a study hall as one of my electives.  I have three remembrances of that time in the South Hunterdon Cafeteria.

1.       Only the first half of the 45 minute period had to be quiet, during the second half you could move around and talk with your friends.

2.       They opened the cafeteria during the second half of the period, and usually freshly baked chocolate chip cookies were sold.  They were so good.

3.       I remember playing paper football during the period.

You may notice there is one key word missing in my recollections of my least productive elective in high school:  Study.

My hope is that we do not approach Sunday morning like a study hall:  a place where most people ignore the opportunity before them in order to goof off and waste time before you are “freed” to do what you want.  

We’ve been talking during Lent and Easter about Discipleship.  Christians, by their very name, are disciples:  we are followers of Jesus Christ.  The three congregations in our shared staffing agreement are talking about specific ways in which to better our relationship with Jesus Christ.  We are looking at a guide that will move us from tourist to participant in the Christian faith.  At the end of Easter, I’ll be asking you to choose specific steps you want to take in 2015.  Today, we speak about Christian Education.

Stockton currently offers Christian Education opportunities.  They might not compare with the waning years of Christendom, but they are doing some good things.

Our Sunday School is led by good, salt of the earth teachers, who care for the five regular students, and are consistent in their teaching Christian faith to these regulars.  Our Palm Sunday play showed all of us that there is depth of spirit in our young people.  Would it be great to have 20 students each week?  Yes.  But perhaps the next step is to invite those who have received baptism in this place to learn about the One who has claimed them.

We do offer Christian Education to our community through Vacation Bible School.  Would it be good to have more of the participants from VBS attend here regularly?  Yes.  But by attending VBS, they receive 15 hours of instruction in Christ’s message.  For some, they receive more in one week than a person who comes to Sunday School only 2 or 3 times a year.  This year, Ellie Brehme will be directing VBS, and we will partner with Nueva Esperanza and Grace Church from Titusville. 

Christian Education is not only for children.  It should be complemented by opportunities for all ages.  We do offer Friday morning Bible Study, as well as our annual Delaware Valley Summer Institute with our sister churches.  What we do not do, and might be helpful, is offer a Sunday morning class for adults.  If there is someone who would like to convene a group, we invite your prayerful consideration.

In short, as a small congregation, we do some things, and I am grateful for all who give of their time and energy.  I appreciate the devotion rooted under the work.  This week, I had coffee with David Shearer, we had a delightful conversation, which included an analogy he has been thinking about.  I’ve asked him to share at this time.

(illustration of the energy needed to take care of landscape)

When I think of David’s words, and Christian Education, the phrase that comes to mind is “its worth the effort”.  The Biblical support we will use this morning comes from a prayer and teaching from Jesus Christ, and a prayer and song from Asaph, storied singer of the Ancient Hebrews.

Jesus essentially tells his disciples that they shouldn’t always look for the flashy, the most deserving, the obvious.  God’s ways are mysterious and holy.  I think there is something delightful that 5 children in a small campus are hearing about Jesus and learning.  It goes against the grain of conventional wisdom.  Why was this so?  “Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure” (11:26)

God’s good pleasure is the phrase that can provide us fascination.  The Scripture provides some clues as to what gives God pleasure.

• In the book of Haggai, where the people were being commanded to rebuild the temple of God, the reconstruction was to be done so that God would have pleasure in what was created.
• In Ephesians, Paul writes that people who believe in Jesus have been predestined to be adopted as God’s children in Christ:  This was God’s pleasure.
• Also in Ephesians, Paul writes that it is God’s pleasure to make know his will to us.

We also learn about what does not give God pleasure, according to Scripture:

• God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked
• God does not take pleasure in anyone’s death
• God does not take pleasure in wickedness and ungodliness.
• God does not take pleasure in the blood of bulls and the sacrificial offerings
• God does not take pleasure in evil.

But God does take pleasure in the ways that his truth is made known to those who will believe.  John Calvin, commenting on why God’s wisdom is sometimes hidden from the wise and learned writes:    (New Testament Commentaries:  A Harmony of the Gospels, Vol II)

As the flesh is too greedy in self-praise, if the clever and learned were put first, the idea would soon hold sway that men acquired faith by their own skill or industry or learning. (21)

and

The reason why human wisdom is cast down is that it may not obscure the praise of the divine grace  (22)

If we accept the kingdom of God like a child, we may enter it, Jesus says elsewhere.  Here, he prays a prayer of thanks, that the children have received a gift.  And the grace that we find in this exchange brings pleasure to God.

God sent Jesus Christ into the world so that people might believe in him and be saved.  The end goal that Jesus invites us is to come to him, to learn from him (11:28).  When we come to Jesus, we find rest for our souls.  We find Christ’s yoke easy and his burden light.  Yokes unite two animals like ox, to work together.  A properly fitting yoke allows less of a burden on the animal.   Ancient farming practices often linked an experienced ox with a young beginner.  We find ourselves yoked with Jesus Christ when we come to him. 

Douglas Hare writes “Jesus may be saying: “Become my yoke mate, and learn how to pull the load by working beside me and watching how I do it.  The heavy labor will seem lighter when you allow me to help you with it.”

In other news, Hank Aaron and I have combined to hit 756 home runs in our careers. 

When we think of Christian Education, we should be asking, are people learning about Jesus Christ, his teaching and his call to follow. 

Asaph, the song writer from Israel, cements our work in its proper foundation.  Asaph set up a school of music during the time of David and Solomon, and has 12 of the psalms attributed to him.  Asaph uses history in Psalm 78 to teach us what our job is in preserving the faith, and why it is important.

When we think about Christian Education, teaching people about Jesus, what is our job?  Psalm 78 proclaims it is to open our mouth and tell the next generation.

When we open our mouth, we should declare hidden things and things from of old.  We should declare what we have heard and known.   We should tell what our parents told us.  What valuable advice!  The content of our teaching should include instruction that might not always be highlighted in the world.  We should lift up those practices that have steadied God’s people throughout the generations.  We should teach the next generation what we have experienced:  those things we have remembered hearing and the things we have come to know are true.  And yes, sometimes our mothers and fathers proved to be wise, and what they instilled within us is worth telling again, even if it takes a few years for those seeds to grow.  It is funny how my father was so wrong about everything when I was 18, and so right about so many things when I turned 40.

We tell the next generation about the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power and his wonders.  That is the most honored content that we should deliver.

Asaph tells us our job, and he tells us why we should do our job.  Why should we open our mouths?

·         Because God has decreed laws for his people, and therefore, they are important to hear and know. 

• Because God has commanded that his ways be taught.
• we tell so that the next generation might know
• we tell so that unborn generations might know  (have we thought about the gospel message for your grandchildren’s grandchildren?
• So that people might put their trust in God, not forget his deeds, and keep his commands.
• Asaph also mentions so that stubbornness and unfaithfulness will not prevail and people will not forget the Lord.  Humanity without God would be a bunch of demons.

One man in Scripture who became like a demon, like an animal, was King Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon.  And yet, when he repented and believed, God rescued him:  He was then able to pronounce to the nations his pleasure:

It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.  How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders!  His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation (Daniel 4:2-3)

When we invest in the story that has come to us, open our mouths and tell it to people, including those newer and younger than us, we invest in what pleases God!  God’s pleasure becomes our pleasure, and God’s pleasure fills us with life.

I Hope They Are Well

Some of the stories special to me as I sell my book

One of the special sales I made was to a family with a young daughter with special medical needs.  It was one of those situations where the more you talked, the more you found out you had in common.

This family were foster parents to a medically fragile child. They foster in Pennsylvania, but we are in a similar program in New Jersey.  It was obvious the love they had for their daughter. 

We also shared a connection in that we both were graduates of Philadelphia College of Bible.  I was a few classes ahead of him, but he was pursuing pastoral ministry.

It is always delightful to find people that you share so much in common.  Our paths crossed on this day, and perhaps will not cross again in this world.  But it was delightful to share stories, to laugh together because of our firsthand knowledge of balancing church and children.  I wish peace upon the family.

My TIme at Stockton Elementary

Some of the stories special to me as I sell my book

One of the most special days that I've had in selling my book was an afternoon that I traveled across the street to the local elementary school, Stockton Elementary.  While our children are home schooled, I have a great care and delight in our school community.   I've was on the School board for 4 years, and president for 6 months.  I know many of the families, and enjoy the sound of children playing during recess and after school.

Principal Suzanne Ivans had invited me to come and read my book to the students.  We broke the event into two times.  The first group was the 4-6th grade students, followed by the younger students.  (It should be noted that Stockton is one of New Jersey's oldest, and smallest public schools, with under 60 students, kindergarten through 6th grade.  The attention the students receive is comparable to a private school. 

I had a great time with the students.  After reading my story, I answered at least 30 questions that the students had.  And the questions were really thought-provoking.  I was so impressed with these students.  I've been in Stockton long enough that the 6th grade class started at the school the same year I arrived in our town, so I've watched them grow up.   And if they tackle everything in life with that same spirit, there were many in that room that will do well!

The younger students were so cute.  This one girl couldn't understand that I didn't draw the pictures myself.  She must have asked me 5 times if I liked drawing the pictures.  It's ok, she has time :)   Maybe by my second or third book, she'll be a smart leader among the upper elementary students.  Until then, I'm glad she thinks I have artistic talent!

All in all, a delightful day among a great school community.

I Know This Grandma is Good on Her Word

Some of the stories special to me as I sell my book

Before Christmas, a grandmother purchased my book.  During our conversation, she revealed that she loves collecting Children's Books.  She has them in her home for when her grandchildren come to visit.  I easily imagined a warm and welcoming home, where this woman would welcome her children's children with open arms, and a safe space to be themselves and cuddle near with a good book.

I signed the book for her and all the generations that would gather in her home.   Just then, the woman's daughter yelled out, "Oh, hello Mr. Good".

"Mrs. Nelson!".

Well, my daughter's tutor's mother just bought my book.  Here I was offering words of blessing on this women's grandchildren, and it turns out I know them.  What a special moment that was!