Romans twelve. The lifestyle chapter. If you want to know how apply Christianity to life this would be good chapter to memorize.
This morning I can’t stop thinking that this chapter is the Mayberry RFD of Christianity. Our pastor for the last 27 years has been Rory Lewellyn. One of his favorite TV shows is the Andy Griffith show which is about a simple little rural town called Mayberry. It is set in the simpler times of the early 1960s Over the last 27 years Mayberry has come up frequently in Rory’s sermons. Now to me, the Andy Griffith show will always be linked to my faith in and my following of Jesus. Romans 12 seems like the back story for the characters of the Andy Griffith show but my life isn’t fictional, I don’t have writers feeding me my lines. Life is real and Romans 12 gives me, gives us, the guidance we need to live in reality, here and now, even through a pandemic.
-Bullet points-
Offer our bodies as living sacrifices
Don’t conform but be transformed by renewing our mind
Be humble and also know that we have a place in the body of Christ and so to we have a job to do for and with the body of Christ
Love, love with sincerity
Be joy full, be hope full, be patient full (?)
Be real with those around us, cry and laugh when appropriate
Be humble
We don’t get to get our revenge. Our story should never make a good spy novel.
Live at peace, as far as it is possible, with everyone
Give your enemy his needs, food and water
Do not be overcome with evil but reverse that, overcome evil with good
And now, like the show begins and ends with a dad and his boy whistling while walking to the fishing hole, I will whistle a tune and smile. Knowing who I am and whose I am. I Probably won’t fish for fish but I might fish for men. A very mayberrian life.
Epilogue. Our pastor Rory is retiring and moving out of town. He has been a faithful friend and guide and teacher to Mary and I and our family. This Sunday will be the his last Sunday in our churches “pulpit“. (We don’t actually a pulpit, he usually preaches from a music stand). We wish him well and send him with many blessings onto and into his new adventures in service and ministry. We are forever changed because of his serving us here. May God bless and provide and guide you Pastors Rory and Debbie Lewellyn and bring much more fruitful ministry into your life. Thank you for sharing your life and faith with us. We love you both.
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