Our Kingswood Lay Leader, Dr. Tom Fell, found the following account titled, The Burned Biscuit, on the internet and forwarded it to me. I think it has a lot to say about the role tolerance and love play in all solid human relationships. It meant a lot to me and I hope it will have some importance for you. It is a wise person who can overlook the trivial and celebrate what is actually valuable and true:

“When I was a kid, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then, and I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day of work.

“On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anybody noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask how my day was at school. I don’t remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that ugly, burned biscuit. He ate every bite of that thing... never made a face or uttered a word about it!

“When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I’ll never forget what he said: ‘Honey, I love burned biscuits every now and then.’

“Later that night, like a good daughter, I went to kiss daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, ‘Your momma put in a hard day of work today and she’s real tired. And besides – a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone!’

“As I’ve grown older, I’ve thought of that many times. Life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people. I’m not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I’ve learned over the years is that learning to accept each other’s faults – and choosing to accept each other’s differences – while communicating, is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy growing, lasting relationship.”

Can we possibly believe that the same God who patiently encourages us doesn’t expect us to patiently encourage each other? Kingswood United Methodist Church is “not far from the Kingdom of God,” when we actually practice kindness, understanding and forgiveness.

Pastor Joe

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Pastor Joseph H. Reams

A note from Pastor Joe from September's Newsletter:

A bold unbeliever was lecturing a group on the folly of religious faith in general and Christian faith in particular. At the close of the presentation the speaker invited people to propose any questions they might have. In the audience was the town drunkard, who had been converted to Christ. During his drinking days his life had been dominated by fear which was built on fears. He feared death from drinking, guilt from drinking and the loss of meaning which comes from a wasted life of drinking. To escape and somewhat dull these fears, he drank!

In response to the cynic's invitation the newly courageous, converted alcoholic came up front, pulled out an orange, peeled it, and ate it without comment.

The speaker asked if he had a question for him. After downing the last segment of orange the convert turned to the infidel and asked, "Was the orange I just ate sweet or sour?" Angrily impatient, the speaker replied, "You village idiot, how can I know whether it is sweet or sour when I have never tasted it?" To this the converted drunkard retorted, "And how can you know anything about Christ if you have never tried Him?"

Some things have to be believed to be seen. Kingswood United Methodist Church is a place where our real fears are no mathch for the helping hand extended to us by Christ and by His friends. Join us for worship during these Sundays of September. You are likely to meet Him there.

Pastor Joe