Such a good place to be—especially if you mean home from the hospital.

Actually, I’ve been home all week—left Arlington Memorial after a three-day stay last Sunday afternoon.

A persistent infection (and 103 degree temp.) laid me low.
I will be taking off another Sunday, so you will be celebrating America without me. (Mary and the crew have planned a good service.)

Throughout my ordeal, my “numbers” have been what the doctor called “disgustingly normal.” And the antibiotic is taking care of the infection. I am feeling much better.

I will be back the week after this Sunday.

Or, at least, wasting time.

Just before I began this newsletter, a show from 1961 came up on my computer. I had watched it then—on Jan. 27. 1961—a week after the inauguration of John F. Kennedy.

Jackie Gleason did a game show the week before that had bombed miserably. It was so bad he asked the network to give him a half-hour to apologize to the audience. And he did. It was a hilarious thirty minutes.

The funny thing was seeing it again—after all these years.
I’ll tell you in a minute why I brought this up.

When I get back after this Sunday, I will be preaching a sermon series on “Big Questions.”

Why are we here? Does life have a purpose?

How long have we existed? Do we begin at conception?

Are we born sinful? Does God create us sinful?

What did Jesus know that no one else knew?

Are all religions equally true? (Can you answer that one right now?)

How does a Muslim person get to heaven? (Or does he?)

How do I get to heaven? Can I know for sure I am headed there? Or do I have to guess till the moment I die? Is it OK to have questions about God?

What has this got to do with Jackie Gleason.

He just came out, sat in a chair, and began to talk.
These sermons will be more like talking than preaching. They will be informal.

And this will be an “only at St. Matthew” kind of thing. You will never hear much of what we will talk about anywhere else.
We will find some riches in some scripture we have not seen before. And I expect us to decide that life is more wonderful, more gracious, and more God-filled than we have ever dreamed.

On July 9, we will go back to one of the greatest stories ever told—the story of Adam and Eve.

And we will look at it with new eyes—and open hearts.

I won’t see you Sunday.

But expect a great service and great music.

Don’t worry about the financial statement below.

We are entering a new day.

Expect some bumps along the way.

God Bless—MB

Our goal is averaging $5,000 per Sunday.
1st Sunday: $5,911.
2nd Sunday $3,535.
3rd Sunday: $2,713.
4th Sunday: $1,214.

With $1,500 from me (the rest of my $2,000) we have $14,873, leaving a $5,127 shortfall.

We have the money to cover that.

And things will begin to improve.

Just watch.