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16 God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life. 17 God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him. John 3:14-21 CEB  Rev. Frank Sherard When I was a kid, things were a LOT different than today. BOY do I sound like my parents! Argh!!!! Well, anyway, it’s true (they said that as well!). I remember staying out playing ALL THE TIME. I just had to be home for supper, usually signaled by a very loud whistle from my dad and him hollering, “Frank, supper!” and then home again for bed when the street lights came on. Today, I literally get into arguments with my 9 year old who feels like she should have the run of the apartment complex when she wants, where she wants, and however long she wants. But, like I said earlier, “Things were a lot different when I was a kid.” This is the reality our scripture shows us here today. Jesus is pointing out the emphasis isn’t on the how, but the what of the message. Things always seem different when we look at them from the perspective of God’s truth and not with “worldly eyes.” I came home when I was supposed to NOT because I wanted to be safe & sound in my home or give my parents the peace of knowing I was safe and being respectful, NO, I came home because I KNEW I would be in deep doo doo if I didn’t. For me the message was personal (and potentially painful) if it wasn’t adhered to. But, the “truth” or message of scripture is WAY different. Just as God “claimed” Jesus at the river Jordan, so he (Jesus) is claiming us all in vs 17. We are not Master or Servant (Slave), Messenger or Author, we are B-L-E-S-S-E-D or as God put it “The Beloved with whom God is well-pleased.” To “know” something is intimate. To “know these things” is to understand “intimately” that we are more than the sum of our parts and we have a message of hope, love, and eternity to share with all of your children. - - - Complete and Sovereign God, help me to share the “truth” of the message of the love of Christ from the cross. Help me to be the truth at the root of the message and not the face or voice of the message. For it is in your holy name I pray. Amen. Click here to work through the Communal Lenten Prayer. Frank has been a Minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for over 20 years having served churches in Northwest Missouri and Louisiana. He currently serves as the Senior Minister for First Christian Church of Lafayette, LA and the Mentor Minister at Jerusalem Christian Church in Lafayette, LA. He has been married to his wife, Ashley, for 8 years and they have three beautiful little girls who keep them very busy. Rev. Frank is an alumni of Texas Christian University and is a very proud Horned Frog, the Sherard’s bleed purple! On top of TCU athletics Rev. Frank enjoys movies, he especially enjoys Star Wars and Star Trek.
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