O God, the Scriptures we have read today are beautiful-sounding and yet terribly disturbing…

Lord, I agree with you that people ought to be loving and sacrificial and willing to die for others…

But I know what’s going to happen here…

You and the preacher are going to remind me that you meant that for me.

You have a way of turning things upside down and shaking up our neatly packaged worldviews and assumptions…

              Sometimes, I wish you wouldn’t do that.

So Lord, we need courage and grace this morning…

              Courage and grace to choose service over self-interest.

We seem to find the courage to speak truth when it serves our interests.

And we usually find grace to love when it meets our needs or makes us look good.

Grant us courage to speak the truth even when we are made uncomfortable or when it is costly….Grace to love, even when it is burdensome and frightening.

              Help us to get over ourselves so that we might live for others.

As you have reconciled us through Jesus the Christ, may we be your reconciling community.

As you have loved us, even in our unworthiness, may we love the stranger, the outcast, our brothers and sisters, even those who resist our love and count us as enemies.

As you have called us to service, may we be your voice in calling out others, while we ourselves are living into our own calling.

And, by the way, thank you for Baptist Seminary of Kentucky.  For men and women who in their response to your call dreamed and planned and worked to make this seminary possible as a place for intellectual and academic integrity…

A community that enriches spirit and encourages growth…

Where women and men who are called to special service may learn and become equipped for service.

Bless Dr. Earwood and his leadership.  Bless those who teach and grant them wisdom and courage.  Grant energy to those, like Brandy, who labor to build up the seminary.  Sustain and guide the students, like Jeremy and Naomi, in their journey of being equipped for ministry.  Use our energy, our money, our resources and gifts to advance your kingdom on earth.

Speak to us…sustain us…nurture us…challenge us…as frightfully wonderful that might be.

Larry Gray