At Bible study yesterday, we were studied Luke 14 – 19. It made us squirm. Going through Jesus’ sayings and teachings we asked, “What does Jesus actually mean here? Surely we aren’t to take this literally, are we?” For example, I asked if it made sense to “leave the 99” to “find the 1” (Luke 15: 1-7). If you were watching 99 sheep and 1 wondered off, would you really leave the 99 to go find the 1? It doesn’t sound practical. A mother in the group replied, “Of course you would – I did that for my daughter.” She told the story of a terribly sick daughter and how she left others to care the other children while she cared for the one. I realized, you leave because of your great love of all the sheep collectively and individually, and in this mother’s case, all her children – including this daughter who needed her most.

Last night, I starting wondering, “What does leaving the 99 for the 1 mean for Joy Lutheran as it goes through transition?” Who are the 99? Who are the 1? When we discussed the Prodigal story (Annie often says this should be called the Prodigal Father, not the son – hopefully more on that in a later blog) – we talked about how we’d be upset with a Father focused so much attention on a wasteful child while ignoring us, the faithful child.

I suspect that as we think about calling a new Pastor, we might feel the same. We likely believe we should call someone who serves us, the faithful, the folks who have been here, coming regularly, paying the bills and working hard. But, what if God is calling us to call someone to help us go out and find the 1? Is Joy Lutheran the place where we become Disciples who help bring about the Kingdom of God? (Jesus, Others, Yourselves) Are we the people who make Luke’s upside down thinking a reality in this community? What would a church for the 1 look like? What would the 99 look like? How do we make God’s will our own, on Earth as in Heaven? Who do we call to learn to love as God and this mother love?

Read Matthew 18:1-5 and remember, God loves you UNCONDITIONALLY!

 Mike