Who's Watching YOUR House?

Luke 12:32-40  

  

 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  

"Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.  

"But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour." 

 

 

Who's Watching YOUR House? 

 

Because we watch way too much HGTV, "staging" has become part of our vocabulary.  

If you're selling or buying a home, you know how important staging is.  

Staging is when you take your house and pretend someone better lives there.  

A decorator comes in and makes it look like Barbie's Dream House.  

You put in new drapes and pillows and lamps.  

You create a sim house 

with stuff you'd never buy for yourself because it clashes with juice stains and cat hair.  

They're not your household effects. 

They're special effects.  

It's all staged. 

 

 

 

 

A while back, my wife and I went to a Model Home showing.  

It was a weekend and nobody was around, not even the realtor. 

You know how model homes are.  

Staged to perfection.  

Living plants out front.  

The new house smell greets you at the door and reminds you - your house will never again smell this good.  

This realtor had really put on the dog.  

The living room had lovely knick-knacks.  

Like simulated family photos.  

Embroidered pillows.  

An aquarium with live fish. 

By the kitchen there was a little desk, with telephone and an appointment calendar.  

With appointments.  

And a stack of mail. 

And a coffee cup.  

With coffee still in it.  

 

It was right about then that we looked at each other and realized:  

The Model Home was NEXT DOOR.  

This was somebody's REAL home.  

Oh... sh.....oot. 

 

And that's the true story of the time your preacher and his wife committed a home invasion. 

 

We'll never know.  

We'll never know  

We'll never know 

if the owner of the house was out walking his dog,  

or quivering in a closet loading a shotgun. 

All we know is that the owner failed -- on a biblical basis to pay heed to scripture.  

So it was really his or her fault. 

 

For Jesus says, 

"...know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into." 

He warns (in direct quote in the King James), "Be ye therefore ready." 

 

Not staged. Ready. 

Not suited up in simulated saintliness. 

"Be ye therefore ready." 

For the Lord is coming to your house. 

And the Lord is NOT one who knocks. 

 

-- 

 

 

There's a distinction between staging and preparation.  

The two are easily confused.  

Especially in religious life. 

Staging is pretend.  

Staging is counterfeit.  

Staging is an imitation of life.  

Staging is the illusion of a real Good life. 

 

I once got an email from a Christian Magician who wanted us to pay him to come perform at our church.  

He would amaze people into following Jesus.  

However, he wanted us to know he himself was NOT Jesus.  

His website had the disclaimer, "The Amazing [Kevin?] does not perform miracles.  

"He merely performs illusions." 

"Illuuuuusions, Michael." 

I have to tell you: I was tempted. 

If The Amazing [Kevin?] can turn water into wine, that's worth investigating. 

 

But, no, by his own admission, he is neither a miracle-worker nor a sorcerer, hopefully, because Revelation 21:8 says "those who practice magic arts will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur" – and that is NOT kid-friendly. 

Staging.  

Staging is so much easier than having to be truly amazing. 

 

 

Every so often I get behind a car with a bumper sticker that says, "Read the Bible." Or 

"Keep the Ten Commandments." 

They don't even say, "Please."  

No explanation.  

Not enough room.  

Keep 'em. Just do it, y'all.  

 

Surely, keeping the Ten Commandments is a very good thing. 

Everyone should do it.  

But why stop there?  

 

A careful reader of scripture would know that God was just getting started with those tablets.  

Jewish teachers will tell you there are 613 commandments in the Old Testament.[1]  

Christian scholars have counted one thousand five hundred commandments in the New Testament.[2]  

Together, that's one-thousand six-hundred and sixty-three commandments.  

1663 boxes to tick.  

But I think you know -- that even if you could keep all those commandments, so what?  

Would that get you into The Good Place? 

Or just make you paranoid? 

Or arrogant. 

That like Lebron James, you were setting records every time you suited up? 

"I've kept one-thousand-four-hundred-fifty-one." 

"Beat that, hoser." 

 

My dog  

My dog obeys far less than ten commands - two, maybe three if I have a treat in my hand - but that's not what makes him a good boy.  

Rote obedience – or being bribed with treats – or being threatened with a newspaper (if you can find one) – is just spiritual staging.  

You're just arranging the furniture in order to negotiate a better price. 

 

 

So, when Jesus speaks about the man whose house was broken into, he's talking about something more than staging. 

More than putting up a sign saying, Open House, in the yard of your neighbor you don't like. 

Jesus is talking about preparation. 

 

Preparation, is an act of hope.  

Preparation is not amazing.  

Preparation can be kind of boring. 

Preparation is the unpleasant act of doing your homework (kids).  

Homework today will not make your life feel real good.  

Homework is dreaded preparation in the hope that someday you might have a good, real life.  

See the difference? 

Jesus did. 

 

Jesus preached all the time about the difference between a real good life and a good, real life.  

One is staged, an illusion.  

The other is hopeful, true.  

A good, real life takes preparation - because you never know who or what's going to be walking in your door.  

Sometimes literally.  

A good, real life takes preparation because events good and bad WILL invade your personal sanctuary. 

And when they do, which do you want?  

A pretty, staged faith?  

Or good, real faith? 

 

-- 

 

 

I think the end of today's scripture is really at its beginning. 

Jesus is apparently talking to people who are afraid.  

Afraid of what?  

We don't know.  

Afraid of intruders?  

Afraid of terrorists?  

Afraid of active shooters?  

Or immigrants? 

Or trans people beating your children in sports? 

It's a long list getting longer every day. 

Nearly 1663 items long. 

 

Fear is fear. 

Fear makes you stockpile whatever makes you feel safe.  

Jesus says to the fearful ones: 

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  

 

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." 

 

You see, even though Jesus uses illustrations about theft it's not about the thieves.  

It's not about the loss.  

 

The stuff that can be taken from you?  

The physical stuff?  

Your possessions, some of which came at great price?  

Jesus says, sell 'em.  

Sell them and give the money to the poor.  

I don't think he's saying it as a commandment.  

Although if you can pull it off, good for you.  

 

I think Jesus is trying to make a bigger point.  

If your life is just staged,  

if your life is about looking real good, or feeling real good,  

or ticking off the boxes real good, then,  

you get what you pay for.  

And that's all. 

 

If your life is about the fear of losing things, then, you might get to keep what you've paid for – but for how long? 

 

But, if your life is about the people who make life worth living, then, you're stumbling into something better. 

 

If your life is a work of preparation,  

if your life is good because it is real, real in Christ,  

real in spirit,  

real in love and  

real in mercy,  

...if your life is true to Jesus's spirit of holiness, then, 

you will find treasure inside your doors and out.  

You will find your treasure in your heart.  

You will find your treasure in the things you love, in those people you love, who are with you now, and in those whose spirit is with you always. 

 

-- 

[1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/613_commandments 

[2]https://www.cai.org/bible-studies/1050-new-testament-commands 

What's In YOUR Wallet? Really?

Luke 12:13-21

James McTyre

Trinity Presbyterian Church

August 3, 2025

In my Bible, the title of this scripture is, “The Rich Fool.”

People don’t realize it, but these titles aren’t part of the Bible. The Apostles didn’t write headlines. They didn’t tweet pithy one-liners describing what they’re about to say.

These headers are written by the Bible Editors. And who, you ask, are the Bible Editors? They’re probably nice people. Some of them might be religious. Some might have seminary degrees. I’m betting most of them are English Majors, desperate to find employment after four years of reading Sylvia Plath and attempting to start the Great American Novel with their 22 years of life experience. College graduates, who got Masters’ degrees to make themselves more attractive to employers paying more than public schools. Who are now terrified that their skills are already replaced by ChatGPT and they’ll soon be back, living at home, and working at Starbucks. Who lucked into a job with Zondervan or some other Bible-publishing, Bible-marketing, and Bible-selling corporation. Who, perhaps, are reading the paragraphs of divinely inspired gospel for the first time and wondering who this Jesus guy is.

So, after hours of staring at a blank Microsoft Office screen, finally come up with their one-line masterpiece, which they have test-group workshopped with their partner they’re definitely going to be spending the rest of their life with, their volunteer writing coach, and their cat.

And now, here it is in final, edited form: “The Rich Fool.”

It’s very good. It’s good enough to assist readers, guide believers, inform skeptics, and impress their mothers. Best of all, it will justify their meager publishing house paycheck, pay part of the rent, buy a few beers, in cans, groceries at Trader Joe’s, and provide them half a month more of what we have come to know as a (quote) lifestyle.

The editor whose headline will soon stick like super glue in the minds of a statistically significant sales demographic of Bible-buying readers, scanners, Facebook posters, holds an index finger above the touchpad, takes a breath, and clicks, “Send.”

A day’s work is done. The Slack status is set to “away.” The laptop top of the company-provided computer is shut with pleased sigh.

The tennis shoes are laced, the afternoon run begins, and the world will know the man from Luke 12:16-21 as, “The Rich Fool” for the shelf-life of this edition of this translation of this version of this English-language Bible.

All of this is to say that when you read your Bible, don’t take the headlines as the word of God.

It’s highly likely that these tweetable one-liners are more often written by poor fools than rich ones. People like you and me who just want to get to the next paycheck with health coverage, a little disposable income, and a barn big enough to start a 401(k).

 

The difference between a rich fool and a poor one is a matter of perspective.

In either case, word of emphasis is “fool.”

The difference between a fool and a wise person isn’t what’s in their wallet, their bank account, or their crypto vault. The fool-meter rises or falls based on the self-awareness in our minds, in our hearts, in our souls, or whatever internal wallet we carry – most often physically located in – where else? Our back pockets.

Our money, our phones, our personal weight rests not where our mouths are, but down and around at the other end.

The Fool is not the rich man in the Bible building barns for his wealth. The Fool is anyone who thinks wealth or its lack determines the value of our souls.

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you.”

Night or day, rich or poor, foolish or wise – what's in our wallet isn’t enough to pay life’s rent.

--

I was coming out the door of Taco Bell one lunchtime, having enjoyed the richness of a Supreme Gordita, when a man stood waiting for me on the other side of the door.

I thought he wanted to come inside, so I held the door for him.

He started muttering at me.

“Uh, oh,” I thought. I recognized him as one of the street people who I’ve seen walking up and down.

Beard. Wild hair. Pants in various levels of zipped.

I walked on, and figured he’d go on inside, which is what he looked like he was going to do.

On the way to my car, and above all the sounds of the street, I could hear muttering, following me. Real close.

I turned around and there he was, about two steps behind, muttering about how I was coming out of Taco Bell and wouldn’t stop, and he needed a dollar and a quarter.

I stopped carrying cash back in the 1900’s.

So I was being honest when I told him,

“I’m sorry, I don’t have it.”

“Well how about just a quarter, then?” he said.

He was lowering his price, fast.

“I’m sorry, I can’t help you,” I said to him.

And I got in my car and drove off, the weight of a Supreme Gordita weighing heavy on my stomach as I watched him in my rear view mirror going into Taco Bell, seeking out his next prey.

I hope you don’t think less of me now. I think less of me, because of deeply engrained religious guilt.

Ministers are supposed to know what to do in these situations.

We’re supposed to do the right thing.

I’ve been told that the right thing to do is to say no to handing out money, but to offer to buy a meal for the person.

I could have done that. But I had drank a lot of Baja Blast and needed to be on my way.

What would Jesus have done?

I couldn’t escape the feeling that whatever Jesus would do, I hadn’t done it.

Was it that I didn’t want to spend the money? Was it that I didn’t want to spend the time? Was it lack of concern? Was it selfishness?

Or is handing out money to street people just a bad idea?

Maybe all of the above.

I went back to my office, sat down, and read this week’s lectionary passage.

The one where the rich guy is told:

“You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?”

“Whose value meal will that be after you’re gone?”

Sometimes God has a really nasty way of making a point.

The dilemma of what to do with your money – how to earn it, how to use it, and how to give it away – was as much a part of life in Jesus’ time as it is in ours.

Jesus talked an incredible amount about money, but it’s funny, we don’t read those passages in church very often, except at Stewardship season.

I think the point God might have been trying to make in my life – not at the pearly gate of heaven but at the door of the Taco Bell is the same point Jesus is making in today’s passage.

It’s always Stewardship season.

Every day, we’re faced with the decision:

Am I a rich fool? Or a poor one?

Am I as wise as I think I am? Or am I a fool?

Are the people nearest me rich? Or poor? Or wise? Or fools?

Every day, when our lives are demanded of us, how will we answer the demand?

What’s in YOUR wallet?

And how does it matter?

Does it matter?

Sam Jackson – and maybe Jennifer Garner -- is waiting for our answer.

--

Between me and the man at what we shall euphemistically and generously call, “the restaurant,"

Between him and me, I know which one the people Jesus hung out with most resembled.

And I would imagine the audience would have gotten a good chuckle out the rich fool’s plight.

They might have said something like, “Hey, Elon. Who’s the smart one now?”

“What’s in YOUR wallet, rich boy?”

I think Jesus’s parable would have been comforting.

To them.

To those of us who do have things in our wallet, the story stings a little. Or a lot.

The question isn’t whether we’re rich or whether we’re poor.

The question is whether we’re wise... or fools.

Today and every day, our lives are demanded of us.

Today and every day, our assets are demanded of us.

Are they indexed to the market?

Or are they measured by the generosity, the wisdom, the love, of Jesus?

What does it mean for us to be “rich toward God?”

Today.

Neither Sam nor Jen is asking.

Your conscience is asking.

Your soul is asking.

Your God is asking.

What’s in your heart?

And where is it located?

Our Sister, The Resister

2016-07-17 Lk 10:38-42
Our Sister The Resister

---

Brief Summary

This sermon reflects on the story of Mary and Martha, where Martha is busy serving while Mary sits and listens to Jesus. The pastor explores how society often praises people like Martha who stay busy and productive, while Mary's quiet act of sitting and learning was radical in her time. Mary broke cultural norms to be close to Jesus, showing that sometimes the "better part" is simply to be still, listen, and resist distractions, expectations, and busyness to focus on what really matters.

---

Family Discussion Questions

1. Who do you feel more like today – Martha, who was busy and distracted, or Mary, who sat still and listened to Jesus? Why?

2. What are some things in your life that keep you "busy in the other room" and away from being close to Jesus?

3. What would it look like for you, or our family, to "choose the better part" this week?

---

38 Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." 41 But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42 there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."
 
It's not the heat; it's the humidity.

Actually, it IS the heat.

AND it's the humidity.

I take the dog for walks around 9pm.

He needs to walk.

I need to walk.  

But even when the sun is sinking low, Bandit resists.  

Too hot to get in steps, says he.

He sits down in the street, or lays down on the grass and refuses to move.

He looks at me like this.

That Gen Z stare.

I pull the leash.

I encourage him with sweet talk.

He stares.

I preach to him about the sin of sloth.

He yawns.

I inform him that as a preacher I am unaffected by yawning (and occasional snoring).

Yall start bringing your cpaps to church, that's when I know I'm in trouble.

I explain to Bandit, distant cousin of Krypto, the Superdog, we must be up and on our way, for we have about half a mile to go before we sleep.  

We have steps to count.  

A schedule to keep.

We must resist the temptation to sloth.

 

Now, I'm sure Pensacola isn't the hottest place this side of Satan's lair.

I imagine Jerusalem can get pretty toasty, too.

But, in the Bible, when Our Savior healed the lame, not one of them said, "But, Master, it's too hot to rise up and walk."  

"Have you seen the heat index?"

Sitting still and sniffing the evening breeze (what breeze there is) serves no productive purpose.

But.

If you're a follower of Jesus, do you always have to be productive?

Is your product, your content, your output what Jesus really wants?

In the scripture today, Martha says, "Yes."  

Meanwhile, Mary just sits there, sniffing the breeze, listening to Jesus teach with big, puppy dog eyes.  

Mindful and demure.

Which sister are you?

Which sister is right?

--

 

Do you feel guilty when you are serving no productive purpose?

Of course you do.

This is a church full of Marthas.

Type A movers and shakers.

We might shake a little, but by God, we're still moving.

Some people say you should be still in church.

It's what we tell children.

"Be still, Hezekiah"

But church Marthas (like moi) say,  

"Get busy."

Join a committee.  

Get a workout opening your wallet.

Stand up, sit down, repeat these words.

Get your heart rate up.

It's good for ya.

 

 

Do any of you have a sister, Martha?

I think at least one of you IS a sister Martha.

Or perhaps you have a brother, Marty?

Maybe she or he goes by another name, an alias, to hide the biblical truth of their git-it-all-dun right now nature.

Martha-Marty.

Maybe yours isn't a sister or brother, but a friend, a parent, a child who's ruthlessly concerned about correcting your shortcomings.

Pointing out where you missed a spot.

How you could have done better.

No matter how hard you work, no matter how well-off you become, Martha-Marty is always going to call and ask what you're DOING (in that tone) and if you've been taking your medicine and if you've lost those pounds yet.

A skilled Martha-Marty helps you by finding opportunities for improvement.

It's their spiritual gift.

Why, you could even be sitting at the feet of Jesus and they'd still find fault.

Well, actually, Mary was.

Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus himself.

And not even that was good enough for her Martha.

Sisters. Sisters.

 

--

And then, there's Mary.

Sweet little Mary.

I'll bet Mary didn't even hear the clanging pots and pans in the kitchen. Focused.

Imagine, leaving her poor Martha to do the work of serving 13 men in the baking heat of the day, toiling over a burning oven, while she, little Mary, just sits.

On the cool ground.

Not even walking.

Slacker.

Mary didn't only lack initiative; she lacked compassion.

She cared not.

She neglected her job, her duty to her own sister.

Not even Jesus would deny that.

Jesus, who presumably did not go home hungry that night.

Jesus and his stomach benefitted far more from multitasking Martha than from meditative Mary.

 

And yet.

 

Let's not pretend we don't know how the story ends.

Jesus pronounces benediction over Mary, and scolds Martha.

Read it again. He does it every time.

 

'Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing.

Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.'

 

--

 

I have heard so many superficial, modern-day interpretations of these words.

"Don't be so busy."

"Slow down and smell the roses."  

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."  

Yes, but it keeps people off Jack's back.

The beauty of obeying your inner Martha is that you earn your resentment fair and square.

It's your part, which will not be taken away from you.

And so at your funeral they can say, "Yes, he worked so hard, and he was always very resentful."

Nobody wants that.

To go beyond the superficial, modern-day nagging not to multitask, you have to think about what productive purpose Mary might have served, if any, and the two sisters' purpose beyond fixing supper.

 

--

 

Our ideas about Mary and her sister are colored by our own society.

Maybe Mary truly was allergic to work.

A real medical condition.

Made her tired and sweaty.

Took time away from scrolling scrolls.

After all, the little deadbeat was still living in her sister's home.

 

But we don't see Mary through the eyes of people who would have read and heard this story back in Jesus's time.

Back then, for a woman NOT to be in the kitchen – was sinful.

Mary was a bad girl.

A woman's place was in the kitchen, or the birthing suite, producing baby boys.

Furthermore, for a woman to be educated, openly schooled by a rabbi, was unheard of.

You start letting females read, and drive cars, and vote – they'll start to think they can... become president, or some other silly idea.

Back then, for a woman to be taught by a religious teacher, to be regarded as a disciple, in this case an apostle, who saw and heard (and helped fund the ministry of) the living Christ, was scandalous.  

Practically impossible.

Mary was a rebel.  

Mary was the resistance.

Mary was the one committing acts of equality and inclusion.

Sorry, it's in the Bible.

 

Mary is a dangerous, uppity, example.

She did not know her place.

For her to dare sit at the feet of Jesus, equal with his hand-picked twelve men disciples, well.

Martha's fussing was not mere sibling rivalry.

Martha spoke for all those who wanted Mary to get back where she belonged and to stop this non-violent sit-in against tradition.

Mary, meanwhile, is a poke in the eye of any Martha who sees her as less than what she is, a disciple of Jesus Christ.

If we are Martha-ish, Martha-fied,  

Then Mary is our sister, the resister.

 

 

--

 

If you have been outside this summer, you know that every seat is a hot seat.

Physically, politically, socially, this heated season of life is the summer of our discontent, disagreement, maybe discouragement.

People want you to move, in one way or another – to the left, to the right, to the extremes.

They push and they pull to motivate you to support this cause or that, this side or that, this person or that.

I mean, really.

You turn on the news and you can almost hear Jesus saying,  

"Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things."

Oh, and here's another thing to worry about.

Here's another.

We'd all like things to be just great.

Again.  

Or maybe for the first time.

Work harder.

Work smarter.

Here's an AI to do the thinking for you.

Oh wait.  

It's a Nazi.

Don't ask why.

You wouldn't understand it.

Why is unimportant these days.

Just be this. Or be that.  

Be one of the "many things."

 

 

We don't see the courage it took for Mary to sit at the feet of Jesus.

It took so much courage for her to ignore the voice of Martha – to step outside her family, outside her tradition, outside the rules.

It took guts to turn a deaf ear to the faceless voices from the other room, the ones calling on Jesus to make that hippie nerd Mary feel guilty for choosing "the better part."

And maybe there's the catch.

Mary didn't want to be great – again or for the first time.

She wanted to be better.

 

--

Jesus tells Martha:  

"Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."

Mary's better part was sitting at the feet of Jesus and learning.

What would Martha's better part have been?

What is that "better part" for you?

It takes time for us to discern what is "the better part" for ourselves.

It takes prayer to discern what is "the better part" for our church.

It takes a lot of time to take Holy Cow surveys and go to meetings, and have votes, and be so stinkin' slow Presbyterians.

Sometimes it can feel like we're just sitting still watching the grass grow.

When everything in society is trying to open departments of efficiency,  

it takes courage to sit still and listen at the feet of Jesus,  

when so many hands are yanking your leash.

 

 

Psalm 46 says, "Be still and know that I am God."  

We forget how much courage that verse takes.

We've got more than enough heated argument, more than enough verbal violence.

We've got more than enough, "I told you so's" and "Tell her to" do this or "Tell him to" do that.

We don't need more guilt on our shoulders.

We don't need more snark and gossip.

We don't need more resentment.

We need the strength to sit at the feet of Jesus, to be still and know that we are NOT God.

And neither is anyone on the news.

 

 

To take the heat at his feet.

Who's to say this isn't our true, productive purpose?

To be resisters for Jesus's sake.

Resisters of what?

I don't know.

What do you have cooking that keeps you in the other room?  

What keeps you away from Jesus?

Which sister are you?

Which sister do you wish you were?

 

 

--

For further reading

 

[1]https://hinnewagenaar.frl/articles/it-will-not-be-taken-away-from-her/

 

https://eewc.com/Articles/a-new-view-of-mary-and-martha/

 

This Is Not A Competition

Luke 10:1–11, 16–20 
Trinity Presbyterian Church (USA) 
Pensacola, FL – July 6, 2025 
Communion + Baptism Sunday 

Brief Summary

This sermon contrasts competitive eating (like Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Contest) with Communion and baptism, reminding us that faith isn't about competition or excess but about peace, simplicity, and sharing God's presence gently. Jesus sent out 72 disciples with minimal belongings to bring peace wherever they went. In the same way, Communion and baptism are small, simple acts that carry great spiritual meaning. We're called not to force faith like hot dog disciples but to share Christ's peace quietly and faithfully in our daily lives.

---

Family Car Ride Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus told his disciples to travel light and focus only on sharing peace?
   (What does that teach us about how we should share God's love today?)

2. The sermon said Communion and baptism use only small amounts of bread, cup, or water.
   (Why do you think small, simple things can still be powerful signs of God's love?)

3. When have you felt God's peace this week?
   (How can our family share that peace with others in simple ways?)

---

Luke 10:1–11, 16–20 

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. 

He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 

Go on your way; I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. 

Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 

Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house!' And if a person of peace is there, your peace will rest on that person, but if not, it will return to you. 

Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. 

Do not move about from house to house. 

Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. 

Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.' 

"Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." 

¹⁷The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, "Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!" ¹⁸He said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 

¹⁹Indeed, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will hurt you. 

²⁰Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." 

 

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This Is Not A Competition

If you're like me… and I know at least a couple of you are… and you admit it.

If you're like me, you spent time this weekend doing one of the most honored rituals of our nation. Together, we tuned in and watched the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Raise your hand. Don't deny it. I know you did.

Competitive Eating.

It makes Lee Greenwood even MORE proud to be an American.

Many who participate and/or watch from a safe distance are moved to place their hand over their heart, and claw at it. My country, my cardiologist.

Yes, the magnetic draw of this competition is one of the reasons we have to build border walls. Italy has its pizza. England has cold toast and beans. But nobody but nobody has Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Contest. More American than baseball and apple pie if it was made from various meat trimmings forced into casings formed by the small intestines of sheep. (At least the ones that "snap" when you bite them.)

God bless the USA.

--

Speaking of food,

today, we're sharing an even more sacred supper. We're sharing Communion. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. But honestly, as suppers go, it's pretty lite. It wasn't always that way. Back in Bible times, it was more like an all-you-can-eat potluck dinner. Eating (and drinking) got competitive. Really.

The Apostle Paul writes to the church in Corinth that they need to stop behaving like wild hyenas and act more civilized at the Lord's Table. The wealthy one-percent were arriving early and gorging on all the good food. They got drunk on the wine. And when the commonfolk finally got to eat, the kitchen was closed. Instead of showing God's kingdom, The Lord's Supper was just one more example of social inequality amplified. The rich rubbed their bulbous tummies while the poor people's stomachs growled for a bite. Communion got turned into its own form of competitive eating. Paul was not proud to be a Corinthian.

--

Jesus picked 72 disciples – just one and a half more than the number of hot dogs Joey Chestnut ate. Jesus sent 72 -- 36 preacher pairs – to be his advance teams. Sent them into 36 towns to scout out and prepare people for his FIRST coming. 

He said:

Go on your way; I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.

It's that new show "Barefoot and Afraid."

He was so strict he wouldn't even let them take their PHONES! Imagine traveling to some new town with nary a GPS. Not even a Triple-A Triptik. (Ask your parents. Triptiks were cool.)

72 preachers – with no money. No backpack. No shoes. Tell the truth. Would you want Trinity's search committee to pick a pastor who showed up to an interview like that? Holy Cow, indeed.

And then his next rule must have been super-size important, because he says it twice.

"Eat what is put before you."

"Only what they provide."

Don't be like your little brother and magically show up at the house with the best food. ("My mom said it was OK to eat here.") Pick a place at random and stay there. Be satisfied with whatever they offer you.

The only qualification – the only thing to look for -- is whether or not the people in the house have "peace."

"Whatever house you enter," he said, "first say, 'Peace to this house!' And if a person of peace is there, your peace will rest on that person, but if not, it will return to you."

The currency of these transactions – The one sign to look for – is NOT "Vacancy." Not "Air Conditioning." Not even the Ten Commandments in their front yard.

Let this ONE thing be a sign unto you. If you find a house of PEACE, with people of PEACE, where your blessing of PEACE is received, there's your sign. And it's a sign from God.

…eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 

And that's the plan, Stan.

--

I think sometimes, Christians believe that for the good of the heathen we bump into….

Or for us to get God's gold star of approval….

we think we have to cram Jesus down people's throats, because we're the hot dog disciples. Doesn't matter if the person's already full. Doesn't matter if their tastes are different than ours. Doesn't matter if they're on Ozempic.

And then we think we have to keep SCORE of the number SERVED, like it's a competition.

Evangelism, the way Jesus presents it, is about the gentle exchange of peace. Go about your ministry without your baggage. Leave your emotional, spiritual, competitive trappings at home. Do your ministry without illusions of what makes for success.

And that's like the intention behind how we share the Lord's Supper. You're not going to get stuffed here today. You won't be force-fed anything. We share small pieces of bread and small drinks of a cup – we share them in God's economy of peace. There's one thing on the menu. And the leftovers don't get counted.

Same with baptism. When we baptize, we don't haul in a firehose. Jim Green would have our heads. We sprinkle just enough water to be a sign of peace. We share the peace in promises. Child-size portions, baby-size. Peace be with you. And also with you. That's enough. And it is good. Very good. The peace of Christ in bread, cup, and baptism is enough to get you through your whole life.

And that's just delicious.

--

On the Fourth of July, at the Nathan's contest at – where else? – Coney Island, the co-founder of major league eating (and I'm sure they'll put that on his tombstone) – co-founder Joe George Shea welcomed back (quote) the Michelangelo of competitive eating, Joey Chestnut, after his one-year suspension for eating a plant-based hot dog -- with these words:

"…there are those who stand immortal. Not through the grace of heaven but through their own triumphs. I speak of this man. Formed from the shards of shattered angels. Wielding the white sword of righteousness. Standing as quiet as truth."

I thought: Did I write that? Sounds like me.

The whole contest is silly. It's fun. We need that.

But we also need the opposite. Instead of the overblown and overeaten, we need the small. We need the simple. We need the freely available peace of Christ. Made holy in its modesty. We need to taste it. We need to feel it washing over us.

We need to know that unlike holidays that come and go, the peace Christ brings, the peace Christ sends us to share, the peace we can receive and accept when it's placed before us – unlike things that come and go, Christ's peace stays with us. Stays with us our whole lives long. And then some.

May the peace of Christ be with you.

Let's pray:

Location, Location, Location

A Sermon on Luke 9:51-56: "Location, Location, Location"

Composed and delivered by Rev. James McTyre at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Pensacola FL

Sunday, June 29, 2025

Luke 9:51-56

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to prepare for his arrival, but they did not receive him because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.

🔥 An AI generated Short Sermon Summary: "Location, Location, Location"

This sermon reflects on the story of Jesus and his disciples passing through Samaritan territory, where they face rejection. The disciples want revenge, but Jesus rebukes them, reminding us that following him means choosing peace over retaliation.

It challenges us to think about the lines we draw between "us" and "them"—in faith, politics, and everyday life. We may not have the power to fix world conflicts, but we do have the power to bring mercy, cross boundaries, and reflect Jesus' love in our daily actions.

---

🚗 And AI generated Three Car-Ride Home Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever drawn a "boundary line" in your life—someone you avoided or thought of as an outsider? How do you think Jesus would ask you to treat that person?

2. Why do you think Jesus rebuked his own disciples instead of the Samaritans? What lesson do we need to learn from that?

3. What does it mean to "bring heaven to earth" instead of calling down fire? What are some everyday ways we can do that this week—at school, at work, or in our community?

---

Location, Location, Location
by Rev. James McTyre

The Jews hated the Samaritans. The Samaritans hated the Jews. Jews worshiped in Jerusalem. Samaritans worshiped on Gerazim. Same God, different places. Location, location, location. Samaritans also had a different revelation, revelation, revelation. The two nations maintained strict separation, separation, separation. There was generation, after generation, after generation of aggravation, confrontation, and altercation. Both prayed for the other's extermination, extermination, extermination.

Oh you know I found the rhyming dictionary. We're just getting started. Celebration, celebration, celebration.

Anyway, BIG complication: Samaria was like Atlanta. For Jews to get anywhere they had to go THROUGH it or AROUND it: navigation, navigation, navigation.

Jesus and the disciples must have been taking a shortcut through the Samaritan nation. The population gave them no accommodation. The disciples proposed annihilation.

And Jesus said: No! Do that, and you'll get my condemnation.

In summation:

If Jesus and his disciples pass through Pensacola looking for habitation, let there be no hesitation, hesitation, hesitation.

--

Location, location, location. THE first rule of real estate. It's also a rule of religion. Psalm 16 knows it, too. It says,

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places

Well, that's nice.

But what do boundary lines have to do with faith?

Evidently Jesus and the disciples have made a shortcut through Samaritan land on their way to Jerusalem. They've crossed the border, the boundary line that separates the two lands. The disciples must have been holding their noses through this nasty part of the trip. And the Samaritans were likely doing the same when the gang of 13 rode into town.

"What are THOSE people DOING in OUR neighborhood? After dark? Blow out the candles. Hurry. They'll think we aren't home. Don't answer the door."

The disciples must have been wishing: "If only we hadn't crossed the boundary into this stinkin' hole of a country. I can't wait 'til we're back in OUR Holy Land."

--

Religions always draw boundary lines. The Presbyterians (USA) don't mix with the Presbyterians of America. The United Methodists won't mix with the Global Methodists. The Roman Catholics are separate from the Eastern Orthodox. Same God. Same Jesus. But we maintain boundary lines. It's not that we're right and they're wrong. Is it?

And don't get started on the arguments churches have over real estate. Location, location, location. Argumentation, argumentation, argumentation. Churches split and they want to keep their property. Lawsuits. Endless Presbytery meetings. Sometimes even physical violence. Who's right? Who's wrong? How do you know – without boundary lines?

What are YOUR boundary lines? Do you guard them religiously? I'll bet you do. Maybe not invoking the name of God. Or maybe so. We all have lines we will not cross.

--

I don't know if it's good news or bad news, but the churches of our generation, the faithful people of Jesus of our generation, are definitely NOT the first believers in the One God to get into these aggravations and altercations.

The disciples cross a boundary and, receive a predictably hostile reception from the Samaritans. The disciples ask Jesus:

"Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?"

We assume they're speaking metaphorically. Or, maybe not. Did the disciples really believe they had the power to call down fire from heaven to bring termination to the Samaritan nation?

--

The scriptures today give me a lot of trepidation. Every now and then the Lectionary passages that we follow – and a lot of churches follow, too – every now and then, they seem as though they were chosen for this present day.

The Bible's like that. You open up this book that started being written two-and-a-half thousand years ago (give or take a century) and it seems like it was written with today in mind.

It wasn't. The people who wrote the Bible couldn't predict the future any better than we can. But sometimes the coincidences make you wonder.

Compare today's scriptures with what's on the news, the Breaking News. Maybe the Bible can help us understand what's happening in the world. But also, the world events might help us understand what's happening in the Bible.

When you think about the wars being fought or fixin to be fought this week – Ukraine, Gaza, Iran -- Los Angeles – at the heart of every conflict – on every side - is always… location, location, location. Land. Borders. State's rights, national sovereignty. Add in religion and there's even more escalation.

--

I was writing this sermon with the TV on in the background. I could have been watching something wholesome, like "Bachelor in Paradise" or "Love Island." Something peaceful, like "Stephen A. Smith." Stephen A. really needs to ask his doctor if Xanax is right for him.

But no. I had the news on. I really try to avoid those channels. But it seemed important to keep up on events lately.

And every news channel was showing video of missiles raining down, their streaks lighting up the night sky. And more missiles rising up to intercept them. And cities below being flashed with terrible lightning.

And I settled on the verse where the disciples ask Jesus if he wants them to call down fire from heaven.

And I couldn't help but think. Two thousand years. 2000 years, and what's changed? We're still fighting over real estate. Over boundary lines. Over what's mine and what's yours, who's right and who's wrong, which God has the answers, and whether airstrikes from heaven are the right thing to do.

--

But he turned and rebuked them.

When the disciples ask Jesus if he wants them to call down fire from heaven to consume the Samaritans for being mean to them, the Bible says Jesus "rebuked" them.

For Jesus, a rebuke is a very special, very powerful thing.

A rebuke from Jesus is way more than just a "No." It's a – shall we say – very strongly worded no. A rebuke from Jesus leaves no room for ifs, ands, or buts. Let there be no doubt. Jesus is 100 percent against whatever's being rebuked.

In scripture, Jesus's rebukes are reserved for only a few select things. He only does it a few times. He rebukes Satan. He rebukes the murderous winds of chaos. He rebukes fatal illness. He rebukes demons. And that's it.

Oh, and, almost forgot. He rebukes disciples.

Isn't it strange that Jesus rebukes the worst evil AND rebukes the closest disciples?

Could it be that Jesus rebukes the disciples (and not the unwelcoming Samaritans?) because just a few pages earlier in your Bibles, he's just told them:

"Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you"??

When you have the power to call down fire from heaven to stop your enemies, to teach them a lesson, to preemptively stop them from bringing down fire on YOU…. When you have the power and DON'T use it?

Is that mercy? Or is that foolishness? Are there boundary lines that it's good to cross? Is Jesus right 100% of the time?

--

I'm not smart enough. And I don't have the intelligence operatives to provide me reliable information about international conflicts. All I know is what I see on the news or read on the Internet. And I'm highly skeptical of both.

Unless you're getting daily security briefings, you probably don't have that knowledge, either. That doesn't stop either of us from having opinions. But as they say, opinions are like noses (or other body parts); everybody has one. I once knew a man who had two noses. This is true. Don't ask me about the location, location, location.

None of us have the power to call down fire from heaven. But we all can call heaven down with power. We can't influence international events. But with the power of Jesus Christ, we can bring mercy into our daily life. We can influence any number of personal events. Every day, we can choose to bring peace. Every day we can choose to bring goodness. We can bring not fire but heaven down to earth. We can bring heaven down upon even our enemies if we so choose. And – from time to time – we can, like Jesus, cross the boundaries, and rebuke the wrong. Especially we can rebuke the wrong that comes from within us.

--

The scripture ends with the line,

Then they went on to another village.

The disciples were mistreated by the Samaritans. But they had also crossed a boundary into Samaritan territory. What did they expect?

They didn't call down fire. They didn't try to fix the Samaritans. Didn't try to teach them a lesson. After being rebuked, they moved on.

Did the Samaritans learn any lesson? Probably not. But the disciples learned THEIR lesson. From Jesus. And that day, this was enough. They learned their lesson. And then they went on.

Their little delegation moved past reciprocation, and let relocation bring de-escalation. Did they do some self-examination? Don't know. But Christ's rebuke and Christ's salvation found them, and can find us, in any location.

Law & Order SVU (Swineherd Victims Unit)

Luke 8:26-39

"Law And Order: SVU (Swineherd Victims Unit)"

June 22, 2025 Trinity Presbyterian Church

Recently, a team of archeologists unearthed a series of letters near the ancient town of Gerasa.

These previously unknown letters shed new light on the Apostle Luke's story of Jesus and the Gerasene Demoniac.

It's an honor to share them for the first time at this public reading, here at Trinity Presbyterian Church.

Behold: History Revealed.

 

 

From: Porcus Maximus, Swineherd, Town of Gerasa,
Owner and Operator, "Porky's Pork Emporium"

 

To: Sanhedrin Council, City of Jerusalem

 

Regarding: Property Loss and Emotional Damages as result of actions by Jesus of Nazareth

 

 

Dear Honored Councilmen,

I write to inform you of a situation, an event which has not only caused grievous unrest across our entire community, but which has also resulted in a significant loss of income to myself and my family due to the willful destruction of personal property. 

I regret to inform you of these problems, but I trust that because of your great authority you will be able and willing to help bring about a remedy.

On the morning of the third day of the second week of the previous month, one Jesus of Nazareth, a rabbi with whom I believe you are already well acquainted, entered our town of Gerasa for the purpose of staging a religious demonstration, the nature of which I do not know, nor do I wish to know. 

(For your information, I am completely neutral on issues of religion, and, as is the Roman government, I am quite glad to afford freedom in such matters, so long as they do not interfere with the peaceful operation of public commerce and the prompt collection of taxes. 

I therefore hope that you will not interpret any of these complaints as being, in any way, offensive.)

On the morning in question, having arrived in Gerasa, the aforementioned Jesus of Nazareth proceeded to seek out a time-honored fixture in our public life, our town's one and only demoniac. 

Unlike metropolitan cities such as your Jerusalem, our town is very small and has only enough budget to support one demon-possessed public enemy, who, because of his violent nature, we have had to restrict to our town cemetery. 

We of Gerasa take pride in knowing that even though we may be able to afford only one demoniac, ours is possessed by multiple demons, and is thus especially frightening.

We find him quite suited for receiving the focused hatred of all of Gerasa's adults and children, alike. 

For years, his presence has served as a warning and as a source of civic unity. 

As you well know, a common enemy makes everyone happier.

Everyone hates the demoniac. 

At least, they did.

 

On the previously mentioned date, without any encouragement from our townsfolk, and despite repeated requests from the demoniac himself to cease and desist, this rabbi, Jesus of Nazareth, cast aside all regard for public authority and/or municipal responsibility and proceeded, in one fell swoop, to cast out all the demons which the good people of Gerasa have worked so long and hard to cultivate.

Adding insult to injury, this Jesus enticed the demons to state their name, a name which sounded very much like the word, "Legion." 

My off-duty Roman soldier security guard took great offense at this slur, and may himself be contacting you in regard to this slanderous verbal abuse.

 

But placing all this aside for the moment, gentlemen, I am now compelled to share with you my own personal grievance in this matter. 

For several generations, my family has produced what we believe to be the finest pork products in all the Roman Empire. 

My father and grandfather before me were swineherds, and until the events of last month, I had fully intended to pass the family business on to my son, Porcus Minibus. 

Because of these unfortunate and, I believe, illegal events, my and my children's future lies in serious jeopardy.

 

For you see, gentlemen, not only was this Jesus not satisfied with robbing our humble town of its one point of unified disgust

(which, I and many others believe, is essential to the well-being of every community)

he then compounded this outrageous act by commanding the demons to enter every single one of my herd of swine.

Naturally, the herd began to stampede. 

Please bear in mind that a pig stampede is highly unusual, practically unheard of. 

Driven mad by the demons, my precious herd ran straight off a nearby cliff and plunged to their death in the waters below.

As you can well imagine, the financial and emotional hardship brought upon my family has been devastating. 

This, along with the general confusion and needless anxiety heaped upon our town, has created a climate which, I fear, will have dire consequences for the future  of Gerasa as a whole. 

I do not exaggerate when I say that this Jesus has left the entire Gerasene way of life in shambles.

 

Gentlemen, I know this Jesus is not officially one of your rabbis. 

Certainly the Jerusalem Council would not allow a renegade such as this among your esteemed ranks. 

However, since the Jesus in question is, by law, one of your own, I have no choice but to bring this complaint to you and to ask that you resolve this matter as soon as possible. 

I do not wish to involve the Roman authorities, but unless I hear from you within a week, I will be forced to obtain legal counsel.

I have enclosed an estimate of damages and income lost, as well as a medical statement documenting my family's emotional distress.

I feel compelled to inform you that the town of Gerasa is considering bringing charges.

I share your outrage at this Jesus of Nazareth and I trust that we will soon be able to come to a mutually satisfying arrangement. 

Again, I regret having to notify you in this way, and I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Porcus the Swineherd, Owner and Operator, Porky's Pork Emporium

enclosure: Hand-drawn pictures of pigs falling over a cliff.

copies to: Caiaphas, High Priest of Judea; Pontius Pilate, governor of occupied state.

P.S., Following his exorcism, our demoniac was commanded by his (quote) "savior" to remain in the city in order that he might share the story of his (quote) "salvation." 

We citizens of Gerasa fear his influence on our previously contented young people and ask that you send a proper rabbi to set him straight and/or bring a substitute demon to repossess him.

 

MEMORANDUM

To:         Porcus Maximus, Swineherd

From:        Henlai of Jerusalem

Chief Legal Counsel to the Sanhedrin Council

Regarding: Complaints and alleged damages

as result of actions by Jesus of Nazareth

Dear Mr. Maximus,

In response to your letter concerning the actions of Jesus of Nazareth and the alleged damages and hardships thus inflicted upon both yourself and the town of Gerasa,

please be advised that this so-called Jesus is not ordained by our council, nor has he ever been authorized to preach, teach, or cast out any kind of demon.

Therefore, it is our opinion that there was no exorcism. 

Perhaps your demoniac has an illness. 

We encourage you to find a less-unclean, swine-free form of employment, away from lakes and steep hillsides.

Because this Jesus acts without our licensure, and because Gerasa is beyond our jurisdiction, we believe your grievances would be better addressed by the Roman government at large.

Please know that we share your frustration and will certainly keep you and the souls of your deceased pigs in our thoughts and prayers. 

Yours sincerely,

Henlai of Jerusalem, Esquire, Council Counsel.

To: Jesus, John, Simon-Peter, Andrew, and all the disciples of our Lord and master,

From: "The Disciple Formerly Known as The Geresene Demoniac"

Dear Friends,

I send you my true greetings, my humble obedience, and my grateful love. 

I hope that this letter finds you in good health, wherever you may be in your service to the God and creator of us all.

I pray that your ministry continues to bring to others the blessings which you brought to me. 

I wanted to share with you my own progress, as well as bring you up to date on the happenings in our town.

 

In the months since you came to Gerasa, my days have been filled with almost equal amounts of joy and hardship. 

On one hand I have become alive, and I rise early each morning to greet the new sunrise… and to live. 

Each night I fall soundly and peacefully asleep, and for the first time I dream — no nightmares, no voices — I sleep well. 

And I'm no longer afraid of waking up. 

You gave me life.  

And I can honestly now say, I'm glad to be alive. 

I spend much of my time walking along the shore of the lake, watching, listening, and breathing in all the richness of the day. 

Sometimes I'll go up to the hill overlooking town and spend hours just listening to everything that's going on. 

The voices and the sounds — I've really never heard them before. 

It's amazing. 

It's life.

 

On the other hand, not much has changed around here. 

The people of Gerasa still won't be seen with me. 

Before you came, I knew they were afraid of me, but I didn't know why. 

Now, they're even more afraid of me, and I do know why.

 

There was comfort in having a shared enemy. 

There was comfort for the people in knowing that no matter how bad they had it, they were never as bad-off as I was. 

There was comfort in being able to blame all their sins on me. 

Until you came, Gerasa's evil was contained. 

The people put chains on it and locked it in a cemetery. 

No one else was anywhere near as bad as I was.

Now all that has changed. 

Now, people have to be responsible for their own wrongs.

Lord, I wish I could say that your coming made everyone happy, but instead, the people are quiet and scared. 

I believe they have discovered that mine weren't the only demons in town, after all. 

My demons may have been the ones they saw and talked about, but now, they're finding out that there are many more demons in Gerasa which until now lived unspoken and unseen.

I think Gerasa is discovering that behind their closed doors and locked away in their family secrets are many, many more legions of demons, just as bad as mine. 

And Lord Jesus, I think it scares them to death. 

I know because, every now and then, one of the people will come talk to me about it. 

They come at night, when no one will see us together, and they tell me things. 

They tell me about the damage their demons have done. 

They tell me about the damage they're still doing.

 

And so now, Lord, I know why you wanted me to stay here in Gerasa. 

I only wish I knew more about what to say to these people. 

I wish you could come back and do for them what you did for me. 

But until then, I will continue to listen to their stories. 

And to the ones who will hear me, I will continue to tell about your power, your goodness, and your love. 

Perhaps there is enough of your power leftover in me to heal a few of their demons.

 

Lord, I hope this letter reaches you. 

And I hope that someday you will return to the town of Gerasa. 

I hope that by the time you come back there will be fewer demons in this place. 

I know that there are already fewer in me. 

For that I will be eternally grateful.

 

Until I see you again,

Signed, yours faithfully, your disciple and friend:

A believer