"Friends In Christ" 

Romans 16:12-15 "Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them. Greet Philogus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints that are with them." 

Between the calls, emails, cards, texts, social media and personal contact over this weekend, I have been in touch and been touched by hundreds of people. Real folks with real names and real lives who share real memories with me. Some current, some from decades ago, some for all my life. Almost all are brothers and sisters in Christ. Many with whom l have shared ministry and mission with for years.

Like this passage of Scripture, real people with real names. Almost all of these names in Romans, we know nothing more about. They are noted once or at most twice in the Bible. They too are our brothers and sisters in the Lord.  This connection is amazing to me. Billions of believers through the years, connected by Christ. Wow! What a thing to consider.

Blessed, grateful and awed.
Pastor Fred