March 16, 2004	Read Luke 7: 17-23
And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard:  the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them.
THE CALL IS HEARD A friend of mine from college, who is now a pastor, was raised “in the church” as a youngster.  After Confirmation (or whatever they called it at his church), he became less and less active.  By the time he left for college, he was not attending church or Sunday School at all.  For the first two years of college, he searched for some group to belong to, some cause to join, for something.  As he explained it, he knew he felt a persistent “call” but could never find what he was called to.  This “quest” became so ridiculously far-reaching that he even tried to join the Black Panthers -- the last place a rural, white kid was likely to belong.  Despite all this questing, he never gave church another chance; he was so sure it was not his answer.  Eventually, he decided to pledge the fraternity I belonged to.  One of the qualifications to join was to be Lutheran.  That part didn’t interest him at all, but he figured it wasn’t a big deal and he could “snooze” through the “indoctrination” with minimal effort or attention.  A little, halfhearted involvement quickly progressed to complete commitment.  Thirty-some years later, his passion for the Lord still burns brightly.  Heavenly Father, help us persevere through the many distractions that keep us from opening our eyes to see you and opening our hearts to receive you.  Grant each of us the fulfillment that comes only from being yours.  KEITH MARTIN

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