Well, it happened two times today - we went to the edge - the edge where faith meets action (following the example of Jesus).

This morning June and I went to visit 'Bob'. Bob was sitting in his chair at the hospice unit. His dear wife and their friend were also present. We chatted about their lives. How they survived over 8 years in several different refugee camps in Zambia. How thankful they were to be in America. Land of Liberty and opportunity. But greater far than their gratitude for their new homeland was their gratitude for the faithfulness of their God - the God of Abraham, Isaac, Moses and of Jesus Christ. How God had watched over them and their families all these years and brought them to America. We sang together - songs of faith: Amazing Grace, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Jesus Loves Me, How Great Thou Art. 'Bob' knows that faith is best expressed in song - so he kept asking us to keep on singing. His smile and joy were worth the effort (I am not a singer).

This afternoon, June and I and about 5 other fellow followers of Jesus went to visit the nursing home where 'Joe' lives. We went to celebrate Joe's 51st Birthday. We shared cheese pizza, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Ice cream and cake, party favors - red noses, hats and noise makers. Then Joe opened gifts we brought. Joe had to admit this was a special birthday this year - he has been on hospice most of the year. He has been on death's door several times. Now he was sitting on his wheelchair, on oxygen - laughing, talking, enjoying opening his gifts. The staff and other residents experienced the love of Christ and fellowship of the Spirit as we ministered to Joe. They know that this kind of fellowship is very rare for many who live there.

Sometimes during the day I could think of all the things I had to do at home: wash the car (it did get done), visit a friend (a man who I met a few years ago while living and working on the edge of the drug community in Phoenix) to arrange a funeral for his mother (we did that at a local Jack in the Box while the friend's family and friends washed my truck as part of a fundraiser to pay for the funeral expenses for his mom), cut the lawn (also done), prepare a sermon for tomorrow morning (now done), get some rest (soon getting there).

Living on the edge isn't about me. It's about what Jesus would do - going to the hospice unit and to the nursing home to find those who truly live on the edge of our society.

I hope you are reaching out to the edge of your world to reach those living on the edge of eternity.

I can only tell you this I believe: I believe:
I cannot be saved by the size or skill of US military forces.
I cannot be saved by the Christian Right.
I cannot be saved by the Great Society and the War on Poverty.
I cannot be saved by the United Nations.
I cannot be saved by establishing democracy in the nations of the world.
I cannot be saved by singing 'God Bless America",
I cannot be saved by the National Guard on the US border with Mexico.
I cannot be saved by the size of my bank account.
I cannot be saved by Sex and the City.
I cannot be saved by American Idol.
I cannot be saved by vortexes or crystals.
I cannot be saved by size of the national debt.
I cannot be saved by Social Security and Medicare.
I cannot be saved by terrorism or fundamentalism.
I cannot be saved by legislation which determines
what happens in the bedrooms of Americans,
what defines a marriage,
what penalty fits what crimes,
how many patriotic flags need to fly in a public place,
what is the extent of my property rights.
I am saved only by Jesus Christ.

Written by Ron, a disciple of Jesus Christ, (c) 2006.

I can tell you what I believe: I believe:
I cannot be saved by foreign policies.
I cannot be saved by the sexual revolution.
I cannot be saved by the gross national product.
I cannot be saved by nuclear deterrents.
I cannot be saved by alderman, priests, artists,
plumbers, city planners, social engineers,
nor by the Vatican,
nor by the World Buddhist Association,
nor by Hitler; nor by Joan of Arc,
nor by angels and archangels,
nor by powers and dominions.
I can be saved only Jesus Christ.

Daniel Berrigan (quoted by David Augsburger, Dissident Discipleship, 2006, p. 54) Daniel Berrigan was a Catholic follower of Jesus who believed in and practiced radical discipleship.

"If the life of the Lord is an imitation of the Father, the life of the disciple is an imitation of Christ." E. J. Tinsley, The Imitation of God in Christ, 1960, p. 100-101

Well, it's Saturday morning. June and I took out the equipment and did some yardwork. The front and back of the house are beautiful. There is nothing like the smell of fresh cut grass! Growing up on the farm - as a young boy, I loved summer - the smell of fresh cut hay.

Now I am sitting here and enjoying some iced coffee - I grind the beans, brew the coffee, and enjoy!

What a life! I am filled with gratitude for the energy, resources and ability to enjoy all of this!

Hope your day is filled with gratitude as well!