Acts 11

This week I'm speaking on Acts 11, the passage of Scripture in which Peter explains his vision of animals, including some that were at that time ceremonially unclean.  He is told to arise, kill and eat.  His response and the explanation he gets serve as the foundation for sending Christ's message of love out to the gentiles.  The world forever changed with that vision, as now the message of Jesus was not only reserved for the Jews but for all.  Love all equally, because He does.

Friday I saw such evidence of this in the experiences I had throughout the day.  In the morning, the team of teachers with whom I work went to a neighboring school to observe some really cool teaching ideas.  While there, I saw a sign on the wall that said "Respect Others and Their Differences."  I immediately snapped a picture on my phone to use on Sunday, because I thought it was so appropriate.

When I returned to school I spoke to the substitute teacher who had filled in for me that morning.  I asked how things had gone, working with the extremely messy clay I'd been teaching the past several weeks.  He told me that the first thing that had happened was that a boy had come into the classroom and handed him an adult-sized apron, which made his day.  I knew exactly which boy this was, because he did the same thing for me a few days prior.  He's what might be referred to as a "special" child, and this small expression he made toward a stranger, with no other reason than to be helpful, really touched me.  This little boy just sees a need and takes care of it, with no reward expected.

The final big thing I'd seen Friday was when my wife Harriet and I went out to a special Valentine's dinner.  She had seen an ad the day before in the Henry County Local (where our church is) that advertised a special sweetheart's dinner at a small restaurant/antique shop.  It was located in a remote little town a few miles past our church, which is in a pretty remote spot itself.  I called on Thursday night to make a reservation, and then when we arrived Friday night the Mom-n-Pop that ran the place treated us like special guests.  I believe we were the only non-regulars there, so perhaps we were the only ones that benefited from their ad.  We loved the dinner and had a great time in this tiny, quiet town on the Kentucky River.  After we finished eating, we were browsing the antiques shop, when a two-man bluegrass band came in.  The mandolin player happened to be a pastor from our capital city, Frankfort.  Our hostess described him as looking like Moses, which I guess he did.

These random experiences touched me Friday, and confirmed to me that the Scripture that drew me in for the week was the exact right one.  I had seen a written confirmation of the concept posted on a school wall, then had heard of one of my students--a special needs student--welcoming my substitute, then had been treated very hospitably by complete strangers in a locale that wouldn't be called glamorous by most.  I felt humbled and blessed.