Liberty Church
Nov 2006
When We All Get to Heaven
Friends This morning. NPR.. Martin Marty, probably knows more about American Christianity than anyone else.. God’s greatest gift to us: He said.. “probably friends.” Today: some of my greatest gifts.. my friends. “They’re the part of God we can reach out and touch.” . Just a Closer Walk. (Ruth Cully’s organ.)
Luke Crawford.. tiny little kid crawling around the pulpit during the children’s sermons.. Jr. High, high school, and even got to direct him in a play at Illinois College. Been a member of our Abraham cast at New Salem. He and Jessica will soon be having their first child.
I’m constantly surprised by the way God uses friends. Valentine’s Day.. many years ago. Helen called, “Don’t worry, beloved, the angels are surrounding you?” Blessed Assurance.
Brock Gaultney ….A young friend… came up last week at a fundraiser for Pathway to say hello. Said he’d come to listen to Dave and I play… but the real treat: when I asked him to play for the crowd. Listen to the gift God has given this young man. (A very hard piece….Dave and I have both tried it.) I guess it would be possible to keep the faith in a vacuum .. without friends and fellowship… but I’d hate to try it. Eddie Franklin… prisoner East Berlin Yemin for a year (Paul Findley) . .. wrote scriptures on walls… sang the songs from his Sunday School.. Here are a couple: Jesus Love Me Amazing Grace Brad Barnes… Moved to J’ville several years ago after doing some professional theatre. Since then: New Salem, Passavant Follies and other venues. Administrator of the Alvin Eades Center. Jodi Heitbrink… Hard to keep a straight face. Andrew Waters…Triopia, Greenville, Victory in Jesus …Thanks to my friends today.. best friend of all…