![]() He died suddenly last January and we miss him terribly. Over the course of more than two decades at Pepperdine, he touched the lives of thousands of people. While there was nothing glamorous about his job, he was kind and genuine, and truly cared about the people he worked with. Every student that sat in his office felt understood, and many left inspired. He was hilarious and could see the humor in any situation. He believed that colleagues should not only work together, but play together as well, so we went all over Los Angeles doing fun, “team-building” activities. He was an amazing manager, always emphasizing communication and teamwork. Two years later I began working for him, and he was my boss on and off for the next six years. He was a big man with an enormous personality, and he made us feel welcomed and cared for. I met him for the first time in 1988 when I was a freshman. My friend Jim Brock was the director of housing at Pepperdine. And I could see all of your faces.” What a brilliant idea. “We could all sit under it and have a picnic. As we were talking she paused and said “I wish we had a big tree.” I inquired about this big tree and she explained. She was pleasant and excited to learn all the details her weary mind would so quickly forget. The names of her sons, their wives, their children, our children, where we all live, what we’re doing. This was the conversation we had routinely at this point in her life. As I sat with her I reviewed the names of the all the family members. A year or two ago when was visiting my family in Los Angeles, I saw my grandmother at church. However, she has had a number of strokes in recent years which have affected her mind and her body, and now she has dementia that is fairly severe. She has been in excellent health all of her life, not taking medication of any kind throughout her eighties. So we surround this table every week, remembering, celebrating and extending the Lord’s invitation. Anyone, absolutely anyone, who will come is invited to the table of the Lord. ![]() God asks nothing of anyone, other than the willingness to come. ![]() Throughout history the church has debated exactly who is invited to the table, but the witness of scripture shows that God’s invitation is extended to whosoever will come. “All things are ready,” come to the feast! This hymn celebrates the feast God has prepared and beautifully articulates God’s lavish invitation. The King James Version uses the words “whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Those of us who grew up singing the old hymns of the church hear the phrase “whosoever will” and immediately begin humming an old tune. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. (Revelation 22:17) The Psalmist invites us to “ Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people!” (Psalm 66:5) And in the book of Revelation the Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. The same Jesus who invited the two followers to “come and see” in the first chapter of John, also invited all who are weary and burdened to come to him in Matthew 11.Ĭome to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Scripture is filled with articulations of God’s invitation. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. He replied, “Come and see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. They said, “Rabbi (which is translated Teacher), where are you staying?” When Jesus turned and saw them following, he asked, “What are you looking for?” The next day John was standing again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus walking along he said, “Look! The Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard what he said, and they followed Jesus.
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