My Heart is Strangely Warmed

No, my heart was not strangely warmed by listening to an explication of the Book of Romans, but by witnessing four beautiful young men from detention mix and mingle with the people of Rainier Beach UMC at the first Clover Youth Mission Team meeting on the premises.

They ate food, they laughed, they drew pictures, they played games, and they chit-chatted.  And I skunked one of them in a rousing game of dots and lines. Overall, it was fabulous. And you know what? It was a glimpse of the Kingdom of God in the here and now. Nobody judged them. Everybody loved them. And in the building, Christian and Muslim ate side-by-side, East African and Euro-American and African-American and Fijiian all at the table together. Now that is the Kingdom of God.  All the children playing together with the values of listening and loving.

Yes.  My heart is strangely warmed.

A silly moment before the real picture.

So serious.

 

Hot Chili! Jammin’ Music! Fun Games! New Friends!

Methodist Covenant Prayer by John Wesley

Methodist Covenant Prayer
by John Wesley

I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.

Amen.