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PASSING THE BATONActs 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:17-23 or 4:1-13; Mark 16:15-20 The 4×100 relay is a thrilling event. The most exciting/important time is the baton exchange; many races have been lost because of poor exchanges. Since 1988, US quartets have been disqualified or haven’t finished the event eleven times at the World Championships and the Olympics – even though they had the fastest runners – because of botched baton exchanges. The Ascension is Jesus passing the baton to his disciples in the great human and Christian race. He has prepared them over three years and especially over the 40 days after

TOTAL SELF-GIFTActs 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48; 1 John 4:7-10; John 15:9-17 In his book Love is a Costly Thing, Dick Hillis describes a mother he encountered during a trip to Africa: “She was lying on the ground, holding a tiny baby in her arms. I put a cooked sweet potato into her hand; it was all I had. Her strength was almost gone, but her tired eyes acknowledged my gift. Taking a bite, she chewed it carefully. Then, placing her mouth over her baby’s mouth, she forced the soft warm food into the tiny throat. Although she was starving, she used

REMAIN IN MEActs 9:26-31; 1 John 3:18-24; John 15:1-8 A few days ago, our gardener was trimming the plants. There was something noticeable about the trimmed parts on the ground. Within minutes these started wilting and soon died.Now one might say: “Duh! It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that! Obviously, a branch/twig cannot live apart from the plant.”True! But seeing the wilted and dying twigs drilled home this truth. Jesus uses this fact of nature as a metaphor for Christianity. In his farewell discourse in John’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples: “I am the vine, you are the

FROM OBLIGATION TO LOVING COMMITMENTActs 4:8-12; 1 John 3:1-2; John 10:11-18 A missionary society wrote to David Livingstone and asked: “Have you found a good road to where you are? If so, we want to know how to send some men to join you.” Livingstone replied: “If you have men who will come only if they know there is a good road, I don’t want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all.” There is a big difference between those who seek the easy path and those who act out of love and commitment.

REPENT AND START AGAINActs 3:13-15, 17-19; 1 John 2:1-5a; Luke 24:35-48 Frederick Charrington, the Charrington Brewery owner, was walking down a street. Suddenly the door of a pub flew open. A man staggered out with a woman clinging to him and pleading: “The children haven’t eaten in two days! I’ve not eaten in a week! Please come home! Or… just give me a few coins so I can buy…” Her pleas were cut off as the man struck her.As Charrington leaped forward to help her, he noticed a lighted sign on the pub: “Drink Charrington Ale.” He was stunned. He