Chapter 28: All God's Children

Sunday morning was just another miserable September day in Southern California, sunny, about thirty percent humidity and temperatures expected in the low hundreds. It had been quite a while since we had been to church and our Sunday morning routine wasn't really up to the challenge. Fortunately Tom and Karen knew us well enough to plan for the later of the two service times. Figuring that the greatest challenge would be parking, people trying to leave while others were still arriving, we left early and arrived before the first service ended. It took a while but we did manage to find a couple of spaces near the back of the sanctuary. Getting back out was going to be a chore but then we weren't really in any hurry. Mom and Dad were dressed casually, he in khakis and polo shirt, she in a nice summer dress. Allison had insisted that we dress up for the occasion. She was in a nice dress and heels and I actually had to borrow a tie from my dad again. I wondered if maybe it was time I started looking closer at my wardrobe. The three inch heels brought Allison up almost to my height. It was a different view of her than I was used to and I decided I liked it. If it was possible she was even more breathtaking than usual.

There was a small crowd gathered outside the main entrance, just to one side so they wouldn't block the people coming out. People were chatting, hugging, shaking hands, meeting and making friends old and new. We had only been there a few minutes when the Davises showed up. Tom and Karen were dressed similar to my folks, Mark was wearing slacks and a dress shirt, but no tie, and Shannon and Allison had apparently been planning ahead. They actually had matching dresses. The only difference was that Shannon was wearing pumps so for once we were all about the same height. I shook hands with Mark and Tom, and then kissed Karen and Shannon each on the cheek. Tom was already showing signs of improved health. He was walking faster than I had seen him move in months. Not fast by any means but there was a strength and confidence in his stride that had been missing before. All things considered this seemed like the perfect place to be today. We chatted quietly for a few minutes and then the doors opened and the crowd from the first service emerged. There seemed to be two basic groups, those still carrying the lingering effects of their time with God, and those making a mad dash for the parking lot and freedom. Eventually the doors cleared and the late crowd began to file in. It was an old fashioned chapel with hardwood pews and lots of stained glass. I decided to take advantage of the time to look around a bit so as the others found us seats I wandered around the sanctuary admiring the craftsmanship and dècor. Everything was very well maintained and polished to a high shine. The auditorium was slowly filling up and as I finally headed to my seat something caught my eye. It was a girl - yeah I know, Jimmy noticed a girl, go figure. It wasn't her that caught my eye so much as the people around her. In a rapidly filling room she was like an island. I watched as several groups moved past her, disapproval etched on their faces. There wasn't another person sitting within six or eight feet of her.

She was dressed in black jeans, a black tee shirt apparently pulled over a white one. Her hair was a bright, bright red with just a hint of orange, but you could see the dark roots growing out. She had piercings in her lower lip and right nostril, as well as a barbell stud at the edge of one eyebrow. I couldn't count the earrings in the ear I could see. She seemed oblivious to the scornful stares of the people passing by. I thought she was just looking down and ignoring them but then I realized she was praying. Anger burned hot within me at the thought that these people, these devout children of God, obviously felt she had no place in their church. I walked back over to where everyone was sitting. The row behind us was still mostly empty so I slid in behind them, leaned over and kissed my mother on the cheek.

"This is great and I'm glad we came, save an extra seat, I'll be right back."

She turned towards me and started to ask, "Jimmy what..." something in my expression stopped her and she just nodded.

I walked around the front of the chapel to avoid the crowd. Despite the rapidly diminishing supply of seats, my mystery girl was still holding her own; the seats directly in front and behind her, as well as half the bench next to her were still empty. I tried really hard to keep my face and eyes neutral as I walked up to her. Her head was still down so I simply stood beside her and waited.

After a few seconds her head came up and she noticed me, "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't..."

I interrupted her, "No need to apologize, I didn't want to disturb you. Are you saving these seats?"

"No," she said softly, her eyes sliding downward again slightly.

"Well then, there must be something wrong with them because apparently no one else wants to sit here. My family is sitting over on the other side. Why don't you join us?" She looked at me like I had grown antlers, but I just reached for her hand and said, "Please?"

She studied my face for a moment, I think she may have been searching for some sign that she was being set up. Then she took my hand and stood up, pulling a small backpack out from under the bench and slinging it over her shoulder by one strap. I realized then it wasn't a pack but a pack-style purse. I'd seen them in some of the specialty catalog flyers that came in the mail. That was an expensive purse for a young girl to be carrying. She barely came past my shoulder which put her height around five feet; she had a very slight build and delicate bone structure. I pulled her hand through my arm and started moving up the aisle.

As I passed the next row I heard a woman whisper to her husband, "Thank goodness she's moving; can you believe someone coming to our church dressed like that?" I felt the girl tense beside me. I probably should have let it go but something inside me snapped.

I casually turned and stood the girl behind me next to the stained glass window with the Chalice design. "I'll be right back," I said softly, then turned back to confront the whispering woman, and in a not so quiet voice I said, "Excuse me, but this is not 'your church, ' it is God's house and while it's been a while since I have been here, the last time I checked everyone was welcome here." Without another word I turned away to offer the girl my arm once more.

She had the most unbelieving smile on her face as she took my arm. "Why did you do that?"

"Because someone had to and I was there. My name is James by the way, but you can call me Jimmy, all my friends do. What's yours?"

"Phoebe."

We were just reaching our row, "Nice to meet you Phoebe, these are my parents, Richard and Cyndi, our friends Tom and Karen, my best friend Mark, his sister Shannon, and my sister Allison. Everyone, this is Phoebe."

Everyone stood up, the men all shook her hand, Karen and Cyndi hugged her, Shannon practically ripped her arm off pulling her down the row to sit between her and Allison. Phoebe was looking more than a little overwhelmed; I'd almost say she was bordering on panic. I knew if I left them like that Shannon would chatter the whole time and end up getting us thrown out.

"I don't think so. Allison, slide down a little bit would you please." She gave me a wink and slid over to make room. People around us were trying hard not to stare as I slid into my seat between Shannon and Phoebe. Just as I did the music started and everyone surged to their feet.

The hymns were nice but I think I would have enjoyed them better if I'd known the words. I tried to follow along in the hymnal Phoebe had opened but I kept getting lost. About half way through she actually started pointing to the words so I could see where we were. That made it a lot easier. She had a beautiful singing voice, high and clear, and fortunately, loud enough to drown me out. Hey, I don't even sing in the shower.

After a couple of songs a man came forward with announcements and then they took an offering. As the plate made its way closer to us I felt Phoebe reach into an inside pocket of her jacket searching for something. Apparently it wasn't where she expected it to be as she quickly started fishing in other pockets, finally coming up with a crumpled one dollar bill. I watched from the corner of my eye as she said a silent prayer, kissed the bill and dropped it into the plate. The girls and I each put in a dollar and I made a point of not watching as Mark and the 'rents made their offerings. Phoebe was praying again and I took the opportunity to catch Allison's eye. She glanced at Phoebe and gave me a worried look over the girl's head. Something was really bothering this girl, apparently enough to catch Allison's attention. Without thinking I placed my hand on Phoebe's shoulder, bowed my head and said a silent prayer myself:

"Lord, you brought me here today for a reason, but I'm new at this, so I need your guidance, please give me the wisdom to see what needs to be done, and the strength and courage to do it. And whatever you do, please take care of Phoebe. Amen."

As I lifted my head a small voice whispered, "Thank you."

We sang another hymn and then the pastor came out. "Good morning, if you are a guest today I'd like to welcome you, and if you're a regular attender returning, welcome you back, and commend your bravery." There was a general chuckle as he went on, "If you received your sermon notes on the way in, I would like to invite you to hold them up in the air where I can see them. For those of you that did not pick up notes, don't worry about it, but next week when you come back, if you come back, please look for them in the lobby. If you forget, don't worry, the ushers will bring you a set. For those of you who do have your notes I would like to ask you to please hold onto them until next week, we've had a last minute program change. So please put those away and save them for next week. Now this next part may seem a little unusual in a modern setting but if you brought your Bible with you this morning, please open it to Deuteronomy 14:1, for those of you who are new that's in the front part that we call the Old Testament. It's actually on page two-sixty if that helps." There was another chuckle at this.

Phoebe was looking on as Shannon searched unsuccessfully for the right section. I heard her whisper, "Further back." At which point Shannon reached past me and handed her the book. At first she was startled, not believing that Shannon had given her her Bible.

I think she was worried that she may have offended Shannon, but then Shannon whispered, "I'll never find it in time."

Phoebe found the right section just as the Pastor proclaimed in a loud, strong, voice, "You are the children of the Lord your God. Read that again, 'You, are the children of the- ... are you reading this?" He started over and this time the congregation repeated it with him, "You are the children of the Lord your God. Now let's stop and think about what that says... 'You' is general reference, applied to everyone that believed in Jehovah God. God ... identified the body of His believers as His children. Young and old, rich and poor, slaves and free men, husbands and wives, everyone who believed in Him, He called His children. Now let's skip ahead a few years, let's look at the New Testament, turn to Romans 8:16, and read with me..." He paused to let them find their places. Again Phoebe found it very quickly and held the book where we could all lean in and see it. When the rustling of pages slowed down he began reading again, "'The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.' Does it really say that? The Spirit himself, a full member of the triune Godhead, testifies with our spirit?

"Picture yourself in a court of law, accused and condemned with but one witness on your side. Can you think of a better witness than God himself? Who can stand against His word? And this is the Spirit that proclaims, just as it proclaimed centuries before, that we are the children of God. You may remember these three guys, Matthew, Mark, and Luke? They hung out with Jesus for a few years and eventually they wrote down the stuff they thought was the most important. Don't try to keep up but you may want to write these down. Matthew 19:14, Mark 10:14-16, and Luke again in chapter eighteen, verse sixteen, all write about the same event, I think Mark wrote it best but you can read the others later. I'm going to start in verse 13 where it says, 'People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.' Verse fourteen, 'When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth; anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Verse sixteen, "And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them." Think about it, of all the things that Jesus said or did during his earthly ministry, all the stories told to them by the apostles while they were traveling around, all three of these guys chose to record this passage. They decided that this event was important enough that it required telling and none of them trusted the other guys to get it right."

There was another chuckle and he went on, "Now let's look at Luke's version a little closer. Starting in verse fifteen, 'People were bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.' Sound familiar? Verse sixteen, 'but Jesus called the children to him and said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.' I want to focus on that section for the rest of this morning. Before we begin let us ask God's blessing on our time, Father, what a privilege it is to be called a child of The Living God. To be able to one day stand before you and be called your child. Lord, open our hearts this morning and let us not just hear your word but carry it with us from this place. Amen.