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Does a Muslim need to become a Christian in order to follow Jesus?

By Jeremy Myers
56 Comments

Does a Muslim need to become a Christian in order to follow Jesus?

This is a guest post by Jim Baton. Jim is an author and peacemaker between Christians and Muslims. Learn more at www.jimbaton.com

Note from Jeremy Myers: If you would like to write a Guest Post for RedeemingGod, begin by reading the Guest Blogger Guidelines.

They say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but a book with a poorly arranged or offensive cover rarely tempts you to pick it up and look inside. On the other hand, packaging that’s attractive to you can move you to take a closer look.

muslim womanA few years ago a young Muslim woman came to us in great need. She had encountered Jesus through a dream and a dramatic healing, loved him whole-heartedly, and loved reading the Bible. But her family reacted as though she was betraying them and was hunting for her to kill her!

At first I thought her biggest issue would be the rejection of her family. I was surprised when she said that she came to us to learn how to tell her family about Jesus in a way they could understand. And the deepest struggle in her life was actually that she felt like a fish out of water in the church!

My family had lived for many years in a Muslim nation and understood this complex social dynamic well. The young woman had left a community where religion and extended family were a part of every aspect of her life. Losing that sense of community created a profound loneliness. She knew no one she could share this faith-journey with who was from her own language and culture.

Meanwhile, she’d been accepted into a local Christian community of a different ethnicity, language and culture, that encouraged her to dress differently (remove her head covering), eat differently (try some pork!), pray differently (fold your hands), change all her holidays (dropping Idul Fitri for Christmas), and so on.

She never felt like she belonged. She never felt like she could be herself.

Then we told her something that brought life back into her eyes. She told us this was the best news that she’d ever heard.

We told her she didn’t have to become a Christian to follow Jesus.

What did we mean by that? We meant that she didn’t need to join a local church, change her habits and holidays, or start identifying herself by the religion of “Christian.” She had already received the Gospel—she’d received Jesus. He is the Good News, and he doesn’t require us to accept him with unwanted, even offensive, packaging.

What would be better, we told her, was if she would bring Jesus into her world of head coverings and kosher food and Idul Fitri celebrations, and into her family.

Muslim burka

Jesus experienced a similar encounter in John 4 when he met the Samaritan woman at the well. The religious culture of his day dictated that there should be a firm wall between Jews and Samaritans, between men and women, between the righteous and the sinner. Jesus didn’t call out to her from his side of the wall for her to change before she could approach him. He crossed over to her side of the wall.

When she brought up the theological wall that should separate them (the proper place of worship), Jesus emphasized that what God was really looking for was worship that came from the inside—“worship in spirit and in truth.” The word “spirit” is the same word for “breath”; the word for “truth” is where we get the word “reality.” God was looking for those whose very breath called out to him; whose worship was real.

The Samaritan woman got this revelation—she could be a worshipper too, just the way she was! She raced back to tell her village, and brought Jesus home to them. So we have the very first account in history of an entire village believing in Jesus as their Messiah, and they weren’t even Jewish! They were from a different religion! They may have never accepted the truth if Jews had brought it to them in a Jewish package, but Jesus broke through every wall for them. They got the Gospel because they got Jesus.

There are people all around us from different ethnic, cultural and religious (or non-religious) backgrounds who have no interest in our churches or our institutional Christianity. They feel they wouldn’t fit in there. But that doesn’t mean they might not want Jesus. They may need to encounter him freed from our unwanted Christian packaging. It may require us going to where they are instead of waiting for them to come to us.

Today my Muslim friend still covers her head, eats no pork, and celebrates Idul Fitri. She’s also introduced her whole extended family to Jesus, and many have received him as their Messiah too. She’s learned to build friendships with Christians, while being herself, and letting Jesus incarnate once again into her skin.

She got the Gospel—she got Jesus.

What do you think of how we responded to this woman? Should we have told her that to truly follow Jesus, she needs to give up her head coverings, start eating pork, and start celebrating Christmas instead of Idul Fitri? Or was our response in line with the Gospel and the example of Jesus, as we allowed Jesus to truly incarnate Himself and the Gospel in this woman’s life, family, and culture? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

God is Redeeming Church Bible & Theology Topics: church, Discipleship, evangelism, following Jesus, guest post, islam, muslim

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How does God talk to you?

By Jeremy Myers
21 Comments

How does God talk to you?

This is a guest post by Mike Edwards.

Mike asks questions in hopes one may reconsider any beliefs about God that may discourage one from pursuing God and spirituality. Mike blogs at: What God May Really Be Like – Misbeliefs About God. Visit his website to learn more about him and his books.

Note from Jeremy Myers: I am publishing several guest posts this summer as I take some time off to rest. I am also preparing for something HUGE this fall. Stay tuned! If you would like to write a Guest Post for RedeemingGod, begin by reading the Guest Blogger Guidelines.

how to hear God

It can be very confusing how one is supposed to relate to an invisible God.

Frustrations can lead to simply giving up having a meaningful relationship with one’s Creator. I understand that some people claim that God speaks to them directly, but this is not the experience of the majority of those who seek a relationship with God. Many may prefer that God would speak more directly but this doesn’t always leads to the results we may think.

The Bible suggests that God spoke directly with the first couple in the garden, but this experience seemed to wane as history progressed. And while Moses says he spoke to God face to face (Exod 33:11, when God sets out to communicate to the Israelites, He did so through the mediation of Moses, and by inscribing the commandments on stone with the finger of God (Exod 31:18). We don’t know exactly what types of communication these were but most would agree that God was no longer communicating in the same way He communicated with Adam and Eve.

Since God doesn’t speak audibly or write in stones to us, how can we know that we hear the voice of God?

Many of us talk out loud to God or we pray silently and then thoughts come into mind. Are such thoughts from the mind of God?

Well, there is some bad news and some good news.

We can’t know for certain that our thoughts are inspired by God, but the good news is God’s love is supportive not controlling. God gives us freedom to make decisions in an open future. Any number of decisions can be made in our situation. God does not predetermine our future. This indicates that while we want to hear more directly from God, God indicates His responsiveness to us by not predetermining everything we think, say, and do. He responds to us as we respond to Him. This means that while we may not be able to hear the voice of God, we can see His response to us through how life unfolds as we pray and communicate with Him.

God always listens

One benefit to God’s approach to us is that He always listens. Most of us want a good listener in a relationship. Very few of us want to be told what to do, or we would always take the advice of others rather than frequently having a comeback as to why one’s suggestion won’t work. Opinions are not always helpful or welcomed. Besides, one’s interference can prevent growth and self-satisfaction resulting from making independent choices. We want to be heard by another soul to talk out situations and share burdens that are heavy to carry alone.

If can be comforting to know God is always available to listen. We may be embarrassed to share our latest relapse with a friend. God doesn’t heap more guilt on us. God has endless mercy and forgiveness so we don’t give up no matter how demoralized we may feel. God is always available in times of loneliness. Friends can’t always be available in the middle of the night. We may feel that we are overburdening our friends by constantly going to them. God’s shoulders surely are much bigger.

god speaks to humans

But, I want to hear what God thinks!

We all want to know what God thinks. But the truth is that we already mostly know what God thinks. If you think about it, we already know most of what God thinks about most issues. Therefore, talking with God is mostly for emotional support.

And as for the issues where we want God’s input on our life decisions, God withholds His input because He wants us to make our own decisions.

It is helpful to think about moral versus immoral actions. When it comes to most moral issues, God has already pretty clearly told us in Scripture what the best course of action is.

But many decisions aren’t moral – what job to take, whether to move to a different city, etc. God doesn’t predetermine our future so we have to wonder the “right” decision. God doesn’t know if your partner is suddenly not going to honor their commitment when challenges arise. Wise decisions are simply taking into account past experiences, current circumstances, future aspirations, and going for it. God’s love is both freeing and uncontrolling. He doesn’t tell us what to do in such cases, because in some sense, He is just as excited as we are to find out what we will do and what will come of it.

Some relational decisions seem to have a touch of morality that we aren’t sure what God would do. God’s love is still freeing. God isn’t hiding. Should we forgive a mom and sibling for participating in favoritism? Neither admits to any favoritism but such actions are clear to most outsiders. The Bible can be used to suggest always forgive or forgiveness is only possible when one acknowledges wrongdoing. Jesus once said to rebuke others but if they repent forgive them (Luke 17:4). One may forgive to best deal with personal bitterness. Others may not forgive to avoid further bitterness since the guilty denies wrongdoing.

In relationships there isn’t always a “right” thing to do. It is more complicated for leaders of nations for they are making decisions for millions, thus governments best have checks and balances.

Still, a relationship with God isn’t about being told what to do. It is considering how a loving God may think on a matter and feeling free to make a decision based on your present circumstances. If you are insisting God guarantee a certain outcome, then you are asking God to be a controller. A loving God would speak audibly if necessary; otherwise, assume you have God’s blessings if it isn’t immoral or violating the rights of others. Don’t live in fear; live in the knowledge of God’s love. And don’t demand certainty, for this is something even God cannot guarantee in a free world.

I know some of what I have written is controversial. So what do you think? How can we hear the voice of God? How can we know what to do with certain decisions in life? How does a loving God help guide and direct us through life? Share your input and ideas in the comment section below.

God is Redeeming Life Bible & Theology Topics: guest blogging, guest post, hearing God, prayer, voice of God

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God’s Mirror, Our Looking Glass, and the People We Bump into

By Jeremy Myers
12 Comments

God’s Mirror, Our Looking Glass, and the People We Bump into

Grahame SmithThis is a guest post by Grahame Smith.

Grahame was most influenced in life by Christians who lived out their faith by rolling up their sleeves and taking risks by helping others. He is a Chaplain and Crisis Counselor and with his wife Rhonda has raised 3 children and is helping to raise 4 grandchildren.

Grahame has two sites where he interacts with people from many countries. They can be found at Soul Care Counselling and SoulCare

He has a passion in asking people to consider what the 21st Century Church should like through social media.

Note from Jeremy Myers: I am publishing several guest posts this summer as I take some time off to rest. I am also preparing for something HUGE this fall. Stay tuned! If you would like to write a Guest Post for RedeemingGod, begin by reading the Guest Blogger Guidelines.

counselingMonths ago, a man in his early 30s passed me in the hallway. I had got to know him at one of the workplaces I visit. As one often does in such circumstances I asked him how he was going. This is a question which can easy roll off our tongues perhaps with little thought of what may come next.

He actually stopped me and said “life is hard and I have made a mess of things.”

Now I have come to realize many years ago, God does provide divine opportunities for us to extend His grace to others. What do I do now I asked myself?

I could see in his eyes a lot of pain, and I had a meeting to go to. If I put him off, the chance to listen and perhaps to help is lost. The clock was ticking in my head; I really need to be at this meeting I told myself.

I said “Bill (not his real name), I have to be at a meeting in 5 minutes, I really want to chat with you, say in 2 hours?” I was thinking he would say no, instead he said “See you at 1300hrs!” (He’s in the armed services). From experience I’ve learned these opportunities involve a lot of emotion.

The meeting was difficult and draining so I didn’t feel up to my 1pm appointment.

When I arrived, Bill was waiting for me. (Not a good sign, I said to myself.)

I had accidently pressed an emotional button in Bill earlier that day, and so for next 2 hours he poured out his tragic story.

In short he had been deployed overseas for 10 months as a UN peace keeper and when he had come home he found that his marriage was over and his kids very distressed. He blamed himself for the mess. He saw himself as a failure as a husband, father and as a provider. His self-esteem was a rock bottom. So I was concerned for his safety. He said he had nowhere to turn to, except to me as it turned out.

Much more has been said in the 10 sessions I have worked with Bill, even very recently. The impact of how Bill saw himself across his total life became the most profound part of the story. But over our time together, Bill came to know Christ as his Lord and Savior, and significant change happened.

We had considered in one session; 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 to 4:1-2, where it tells us, that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty in our lives. We are also told, as we gaze in the mirror of God’s word by the Holy Spirit, that we are transformed each day, more and more to the image of Christ.

Now Bill tried to describe to me what this verse did to him. He said the hardest thing he found was to try and see himself as God sees him. He had a strong belief he was a failure and was unforgivable but this was being challenged by a voice within him. Despite him finding Christ he would still go fishing in his mind “re-living past sins and kicking himself all over again”.

On one occasion I introduced a small mirror and asked him see his reflection and answer two questions.

1. Look at the mirror you are holding, what do you see, what do you think of yourself really, not your appearance but the inner you.

2. If God was looking back at you, what would He see in your opinion?

Both answers were similar. I then asked him to consider a list of bible verses that demonstrates God’s love for us and how He really sees us.

He told me the light bulb went on in his head. And amongst his tears he had got it. He said he could now forgive himself and his wife. Gods Mirror had become his Looking Glass helping to correct his false images, false assumptions, beliefs and helping him to avoid making poor choices when sorting his life out.

All this came out of a chance meeting in a corridor and me trying to find reasons why I didn’t have the time to chat. Divine opportunities just pop up, even if we don’t want them to!

Are you looking for the people God brings into your life? Keep your eyes and ears open! You never know who you might meet in the hallway.

God is Redeeming Life Bible & Theology Topics: counseling, guest blogging, guest post, marriage, pain

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5 Reasons God Is Happy And How You Can Be Too

By Jeremy Myers
9 Comments

5 Reasons God Is Happy And How You Can Be Too

Brandon DavisThis is a guest post by Brandon Davis. Here is what Brandon writes about himself:

I live in Ft. Worth, TX. I am married to my beautiful wife, Lacy. We have one little girl with us (Selah Rose) and one with Jesus (Haven Grace). We planted a church in 2008. Planting a church can be hard anyway but with a little girl with heart problems it can be much more difficult. We stayed with it though and she received a transplant after 2 years and left us in 2012 at the age of 3 1/2. We stuck with the church as long as we could but we just didn’t have the emotional stamina to continue. Plus we are very outward thinkers and our church was wanting to go another way (long story short).

In my time there I did all the things that church planters do … everything! I wrote study materials, preached, and composed newsletters on a weekly basis. My time there was good and as it turns out sermons are pretty much “verbalized copy” so I learned and grew a lot. We decided to start a business in copywriting so I can still use my gifts for the glory of God and help promote and edify others as much as possible.

Learn more about Brandon on his website: Brandon Davis

Note from Jeremy Myers: I am publishing several guest posts this summer as I take some time off to rest. I am also preparing for something HUGE this fall. Stay tuned! If you would like to write a Guest Post for RedeemingGod, begin by reading the Guest Blogger Guidelines.

Have you been to the psychology section of your local bookstore lately?

If you have, you have likely seen tons of books available on the subject of happiness. Each one promises a “secret” to it and places it within reach … well sorta.

It should come as no surprise that a market is out there to help us tap into what we want the most. With all the resources and experts out there telling us what we need to do to feel better and smile more, you would think that would be, right? Evidence shows that the reality is quite to the contrary. We are miserable.

God isn’t.

be happy like God

Straight out of the pages of Scripture we see that God is a happy God. Not that you won’t see some other aspects of God as he has to deal with us on numerous occasions, but the default character of God isn’t anger or wrath. Theologians tell us that for an attribute to be an attribute, it has to be what God was like before he created anything. And before God created anything he was happy. God is happy by default:

“You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” – Ps. 16:11 (ESV)

But why?

Is there something he isn’t sharing with us? Some secret?

No, not at all. As a matter of fact he shares more than just information with us, he shares himself. In doing so, he is revealing more than just tips, but a life lived where all can see. By observing him, we learn five things that make this God so happy. Not only that we can follow his joyous lead.

1. God is Community

Christians believe in one God who is three distinct persons. It’s tough to wrap our heads around to be sure, but the point is, there was never a time when God was without community because that is his very being. It isn’t something he chooses to do now and then, it who he is.

We can’t be happy alone. People need people. We don’t just need any ole’ people, but those that are truly life-giving and seek our good. To have even one devoted friend is of enormous value. To be happy we need them.

2. God Creates

God created the world and rejoiced in what he had made. It’s in the opening account of the Bible.

Business manuals suggest that the happiest places on earth to work are those where the people feel the freest to create and not feel judged. Some of the happiest professions are those that allow and make room for people to be more creative. What does that tell you? It means we were made to create also.

3. God Gives

If I hear the statement, “Money is the root of all evil” one more time I’m gonna puke! The Bible doesn’t say this. It says “The love of money is the root of all evil.” Having lots of money can make you happy. If you give it away.

Harvard Professor Michael Norton wrote a book about this called Happy Money, the Science of Smarter Spending. In it he presents data to support his daily challenge to audiences:

“If you think money doesn’t buy happiness, try giving some away.”

He is right.

Those that give are happier than those who don’t. Imagine that! (Acts 20:35).

4. God is Thankful

Go back to the first chapter of the Bible again. What do you see? Not only is God creating, but he is thankful in the process. He turns to himself repeatedly to say, “Good job!”.

Being thankful takes work. We aren’t by nature. I know for myself I have had to sit down, shut up and make a list of things that I should be thankful for. It’s a pain, but by the end of that exercise, I am happier than before. Try it.

5. God beautifies

This one is hard to explain, but it is my personal favorite. God doesn’t just create; he fixes. He restores. He connects. In other words, God is not in the business of breaking things down, but ultimately building them up and making them better.

My wife loves to decorate and occasionally do makeovers for her friends. I love to write and do public speaking. Each of us in our own way are adding something to improve or at least point people to what is so beautiful to begin with.

If you want to be happy, find something broken and repair it. Find broken people and help them heal. See where people are struggling and come alongside them and lift them back on their feet.

The happiest being did all these to us. In what seemed like the ugliest event in history he…

GAVE Himself
CREATED sons and daughters
Established a COMMUNITY of THANKFULNESS
& is making all things BEAUTIFUL.

This truly is the Gospel of the blessed (happy) God – 1 Timothy 1:11.

God is Redeeming Life Bible & Theology Topics: guest blogging, guest post, happiness

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Mama’s Win Duh Box

By Sam Riviera
7 Comments

Mama’s Win Duh Box

Sam Riviera is a frequent and popular contributor to this blog. Many of his posts on loving your neighbors and ministering to the homeless have been among the most popular articles on this blog. Below is another one of his heart-wrenching and insightful posts.

pickup truck

A rusty old pickup truck piled high with an odd assortment of what looked like junk pulled into our gravel driveway one sunny spring afternoon. An older couple dressed like farmers from the back woods crawled out of the cab as I stood there watching.

“We’re your mama’s kin from back in the hills and hollers of West Virginia. Your mama wrote us and told us she’s doin’ poorly, so we come to help out for a spell. You must be her oldest child.”

“Uh, yeah, I’m Sam.”

“Well you can juz call us Annie and Un Kull. Where’s your mama, child?” Annie said. As I would soon learn, Annie did most of the talking and Un Kull didn’t say much.

I showed Annie and Un Kull (I eventually figured out they were saying auntie and uncle, but they pronounced it Annie and Un Kull and believe me, I’m not making fun of them) to mama’s room, a converted garage that my daddy had fixed up for mama when he was alive.

Daddy had died one wet and stormy March night a couple of years earlier. I remember mama and her brother coming home early one evening from the hospital where daddy had lay dying. Usually they came home later, when visiting hours were over. That night they came home right after supper with a hang dog look on their faces.

I was in the cellar working on cleaning up grandma’s box of old wooden butter molds, wooden spoons, and potato mashers. Uncle Bob came down the cellar steps with his hand in his pockets, looking as sad as I’ve ever seen him. I could tell that he didn’t know what to say.

“Your daddy didn’t make it.”

I thought the world ended that night. Even all these years later I can’t help but cry as I write that.

Daddy wasn’t around any more to convert any more garages, to plant his flowers and garden or to help out mama, my little brother and me. So here was Annie and Un Kull, which looked to me like a poor substitute for Daddy. But they were all we had. Or so I thought.

While Annie and Un Kull sat and talked with mama, I returned to the driveway to look over their truck and it’s load of whatever it was they had brought with them.

Someone had cut rectangular holes in the sides of the pickup bed and had wedged two by fours down into the holes. The tops of the two by fours were as high as the top of the cab. Cross pieces of rough one by sixes ran between the two by fours, effectively raising the sides of the bed as high as the top of the cab. Matching wooden swinging gates across the back completed the modification.

Several old upside-down wood chairs, and one upside-down wood rocker were jammed into a pile of burlap bags, boxes and an odd assortment of gardening tools, newspaper-wrapped unknowns and you-name-its that I didn’t recognize.

“Who’s the hillbillies?” My neighbor, Billy, a few years older than me, stood behind me surveying the truck and it’s contents.

“Mama’s relatives from West Virginia.”

“What they doing here?”

“They said they came to help out.”

“How long they staying?”

“Don’t know.”

That was really an insignificant conversation, but I remember it because I remember how embarrassed I was. Billy was too old for me to hang around with and he really never meant much to me but my hillbilly relatives and their rusty, junk-filled old pickup sitting in our driveway somehow terribly embarrassed me when Billy stood there asking me about them.

Later that afternoon Annie and Un Kull unloaded their truck and stashed their things here and there around the house and in the cellar.

“Looks like we brought everything we own,” Annie told me as they unloaded the truck and my brother and I looked on. “Well, almost. All the important things anyway.”

Annie thrust her hand into a burlap bag and produced a cast iron skillet.

“This here skillet’s been seasoned just right. It cooks the best corn pone cakes. You’ll see. Brought some good meal to make ’em with too. Doubt we can find meal as good as that ‘round these parts.”

We had corn pone cakes, spoon bread, and a vast variety of foods we had never heard of before Annie and Un Kull came to stay. Annie cooked, and took care of Mama. Un Kull fixed everything that needed fixing and planted us a huge garden.

One day not long after they arrived Annie pointed out the window box daddy had made for mama. He had built a long shelf outside their bedroom window, about three feet up off the ground, and a long wooden window box for that shelf. When he was alive he planted flowers in the box every spring. Since he had passed, the box had been empty.

window box“I brought a bag of my special sweet pea seeds and I think they’d do good in that there wind duh box right outside your mama’s bedroom where she can look out and see ‘em. They’ll cheer her up while she’s gettin’ better.”

I wasn’t sure mama would get better. She had inflammation of the pancreas, as the doctor called it. He said we’d have to see if she’d get better. Annie and Un Kull said mama just had a case of consumption, whatever that was, and they were sure she’d get better.

Annie asked for my help planting her sweet pea seeds. I helped and did as she instructed. Annie watered the box every couple of days and fussed over those sweet peas.

As the sweet peas grew, mama started getting better. I don’t know if it was the sweet peas, Annie’s corn pone cakes and country cooking, or what, but mama started getting better. Within a few weeks the sweet peas trailed all the way to the ground, and Annie wove the vines together to make a solid thicket of sweet peas outside mama’s window.

Those sweet peas were the prettiest shade of pink I’ve ever seen. I don’t remember a sweeter smell than those sweet peas in the early evening when mama sat in Annie’s rocker out there by the sweet peas.

“I think I could sit here forever smelling those sweet peas,” mama said. “Especially if I’ve got of plate of something Annie cooked. Made with love. That’s what makes her cooking so good.”

Mama continued to get better that summer. Even her sorrow over daddy’s passing seemed to gradually go away.

Me and little brother and Mama thrived that spring, summer, and fall that Annie and Un Kull spent with us. Some evenings Un Kull got out his banjo and we sang. We sang Gospel and some things that I don’t remember. Stuff mama and Annie and Un Kull knew. I do remember that silly song about “Daddy sang base, mama sang tenor, me and little brother joined right in there.” We didn’t have daddy, but we had Annie and Un Kull and mama, and me and little brother joined right in there.

The leaves on the maples were brilliant reds, oranges and yellows the day Annie and Un Kull told us they’d better be leaving soon so they’d be back to the hills and hollers of West Virginia and get their “little shack ready for winter before the snow flew.”

Mama, little brother, and I stood in the drive and cried the day Annie and Un Kull and their old pickup piled high with all their important things, including Annie’s famous skillet, pulled out and headed for West Virginia. Mama was feeling almost normal. Our house was in good repair and our hearts were glad once again. Annie and Un Kull had worked their magic on us.

It wasn’t much more than a couple of years later that I answered the phone late one evening.

“This here’s Mabel Corlett, neighbor to your Aunt and Uncle back here in West Virginia. I just thought you’d want to know your Aunt and Uncle were killed in a bad accident this afternoon.”

“What happened?” I asked.

“They were on a country road back in the hills, on their way to tend to some sick old lady. Some drunk t-boned ‘em and killed ‘em instantly ‘cordin to the sheriff. The funeral’s Friday if any of you can come.”

Mama and I made the trip. We learned from Annie and Un Kull’s friends and neighbors, which seemed to be everyone around those parts, that Annie and Un Kull took care of everyone around there. And here we thought it was just us.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen more people turn out for a funeral than that one. And the supper at the church afterwards was something I’ll never forget. The cooking was amazing, but I thought Annie’s was better.

“Your aunt and uncle never had a nickel, but they loved on everyone in these parts. The preacher could preach his sermons, but your aunt and uncle lived ‘em out. Those folks were Jesus in person to everyone they knew. I don’t think I ever believed before they came along. They jus’ made it real to me. How were you related, anyway?” Mabel asked.

“Oh, we weren’t,” mama said. They adopted me and my husband a long time ago and told us to call them Annie and Un Kull. They were more like family to us than most of our real relatives.”

“How did you meet them?” Mabel asked.

“They sort of appeared out of nowhere one day.”

“I didn’t know that, mama,” I said. “They weren’t really related to us?”

“No, son. It’s a long story. I tell it to you on the drive back home.”

When we got back home, I walked over to the window box outside mama’s bedroom window. It was barren after the winter. But spring had come and it was time to plant. Time to plant sweet peas and time to start planting what Annie and Un Kull had taught us.

I found my bag of sweet pea seeds. Annie had told me “Let ‘em go to seed and save those seeds, child. You’ll be glad you did. You can plant ‘em yourself. Do it like I showed you and you’ll have all the sweet peas you want.”

Little brother, who couldn’t go to the funeral with mama and me in West Virginia because he couldn’t get off work drove in just as I started digging in the flower box.

“What ‘ya doing, big brother?”

“Planting Annie’s sweet pea seeds. We’re going to have us a crop of pink sweet peas. Mama can sit out here in a few weeks in that rocker we got her for Christmas and smell those sweet peas at the end of the day.”

“You sure you can do that?” little brother asked. “No one could make flowers bloom like Annie.”

“Yeah, I think I can. Annie showed me how to make the flowers bloom. I think you know how too.”

Mama had a thicket of pink sweet peas that summer outside her window. Annie had taught us well. Annie and Un Kull had taught us a lot more than how to make the flowers bloom. They had also taught us how to bloom and how to share a sweet smell with others.

Another day, another time, I’ll tell you more about that summer Annie and Un Kull spent with us. I’ll share some of their stories and some of the stories of the flowers we’ve planted since then that have bloomed and have a sweet smell of their own.

God is Redeeming Life Bible & Theology Topics: guest post, Sam Riviera

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