I'll have a party today.

Who does Jesus say to invite to parties?  During the children's sermon we read Luke 14:12-14 find out:

Then he turned to the host. “The next time you put on a dinner, don’t just invite your friends and family and rich neighbors, the kind of people who will return the favor. Invite some people who never get invited out, the misfits from the wrong side of the tracks. You’ll be—and experience—a blessing. They won’t be able to return the favor, but the favor will be returned—oh, how it will be returned!—at the resurrection of God’s people.”

We talked about inviting the unpopular kids, the kids who sit alone at lunch and those who aren't invited anywhere.  When I was wrapping up our time together a little girl raised her hand.  She quietly and sincerely said "Billy and Suzy aren't invited to birthday parties.  I'll have a party today and invite them."

And then I melted into a puddle.  I'm out.

I love children.  She heard Jesus' words and was ready to act.  This afternoon.  TODAY.  

Thanks be to God for the challenging words of children. 

What does a pastor look like?

What is a pastor?
What does a pastor do?
What does a pastor look like?

One Sunday our children's minister Sally asked the kiddos these questions.  They had a wide range of answers and thoughts to share.  I enjoyed listening to their ideas.  At the end of the lesson the children followed Sally out of the sanctuary for children's worship.

Sally later told me she revisited some of the questions during discussion time.  "What does a pastor look like?"

"He wears a suit and a tie."  Great observation!  That's what our senior pastor wears every Sunday.  And then another little one raised her hand.

"Yes?" Sally asked her.

"She has big hair and wears big necklaces and high heels."  I fell out when Sally told me.  We laughed and laughed and laughed.  We still laugh.

And I still have gargantuan hair, enjoy the pop of a big necklace and wear high heels.