I had a great day at JOY yesterday with Stephen Ministry and Bible Study.  In Stephen Ministry, we were supposed to study “Ministering to those experiencing losses related to aging” (a topic near and dear to our hearts at JOY). But, we ended up finishing “Caring for people before, during and after hospitalization” (also a popular topic at JOY).

In Bible Study we focused on the Holy Spirit, starting with the first five chapters of “The Acts of the Apostles” (“Acts”). Sadly, I had to drop out for a business call just as we were digging in. (This serving two masters thing just doesn’t work very well …)

But what, you might ask, does any of that have to do with A Man Called Ove? Well, everything, of course. If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend this book by Swedish author, Fredrik Backman (and available at the library). God, the Father ,does not figure prominently in the book (other than having his name taken in vain once in the short appearance of an evil character). However, the Holy Spirit, though never mentioned by name, appears in almost every chapter.

{Spoiler Alert} The story is about a flawed, 59-year-old curmudgeon who has lost his wife, his job and his will to live (e.g. “losses relating to aging” and, in one chapter, Ove is at the hospital three times in the same day- our other Stephen Ministry topic). Ove does not believe in God or destiny, but wants desperately to join his wife in the afterlife and plans to do so by taking his own life. Through a number of “coincidences” which we recognize as “God-incidences”, his new, extremely pregnant and seemingly annoying, Iranian neighbor figures prominently in Ove’s rescue and redemption. Suffice it to say that I laughed and cried in equal measure and fell in love with Ove (that incomplete “Love,” which we all are on our own), his neighbors and his new found cat. I rejoiced in the way, flawed and isolated people in Ove’s neighborhood became a loving, supportive community of imperfect people made perfect through grace and love. I highly recommend it! (Did I mention that I really, really loved it?)

OK, but why mention the JOY Bible Study and the book of Acts? Let’s see – I rejoiced in the way flawed and isolated people in the Apostles’ neighborhood became a loving, supportive community of imperfect people made perfect through grace and love. I highly recommend it, too!

I don’t mean to sell either book short by comparison and I count myself lucky to have had the opportunity to read them together last week preparing for class. I’ll save the rest of Acts for another blog post, but may I recommend you read the first chapters of five chapters of Acts in anticipation? In the meantime, here’s a preview: Acts 4:32-37. Read it, and remember: God loves you UNCONDITIONALLY.

– Mike

Today’s Reading: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+4:32-37