Look around you. Do you see anything for which you are totally responsible for its being? I look at my shirt—a

gift from my sister. I look out the window—yard work done by a landscaping company. I look at the computer

at which I am typing—put together by folks far wiser than I and sold to me by a clerk in a store about twenty

minutes from here. I look at the Bible on my desk—generations of stories. I look at my Snoopy watch—given

to me by my friend Dan. I look at the chair in the corner—belonged to my mother-in-law. I look at the veins in

my hand—blood given to my mother by a creator God. I didn’t “do” any of it, yet it somehow all comes

together in this time and place. Unity.

What differences do you see between the wisdom of the world and the wisdom revealed by God?

There was a homeless woman who attended Bethany Church. She said, "I feel at home here."

I remember a very wealthy man who attended Trinity Church. He said, "It is one of the few places I can go and

not be made to sit at the head table."

Years ago, when I was in college, I was sitting in a dorm group discussion. Usually, we talked about the most

recent ball game or what grade we hoped to make in the English class, but on this night, we got to talking about

religion. All kinds of beliefs and practices were represented. Finally, one of the Christians in our group told how

he believed that God saved us through the cross of Jesus. One fellow in the group laughed and said, "That

doesn't make a bit of sense," to which the Christian smiled and said, "Good! That means that you understand.

You are right. It does not make sense!"

Look at 1 Corinthians 1:15-16. Paul seems to devalue baptism. Rather than that, I think he is trying to clarify a

misunderstanding that many had in that day. There were those who assumed that the person who did the

baptizing then had ownership of the person who was baptized. We can see that in 1 Corinthians 1:12 where Paul gives examples of how people think they belong to the person who baptized them. “I belong to Paul,” one says. Another claims, “I belong to Apollos.” “I belong to Cephas.” It is almost like it is around here when one person shouts, “I belong to the Tar Heels,” and another yells back, “I belong to the Wolfpack!” “I belong to the Pirates,” bellows another. Finally, a talented, intelligent, attractive friend quietly says, “I belong to the Blue

Devils.” (Oops, I couldn’t resist.)

When we think of the apostle Paul, we usually think of his preaching or his teaching. But he also had to buy

clothes, get groceries, and pay for his cell phone. Well, maybe he didn't have a cell phone, but there were

everyday expenses to be met. Occasionally, friends would help him with those expenses (2 Corinthians 11:9),

but he had to have some income like the rest of us.

My first name is Frank. I only use that name in legal documents. When I need to sign papers, I usually write "F.

Belton Joyner, Jr." Because of that, I often get scam mail or bulk mail that addresses me as "Dear F."

The choice of names is interesting. My father, myself, my son, and my first grandson all have had the name

"Frank Belton." All of us have used the name "Belton."

I mention all of this about names because I noticed in this week's focal text from 1 Corinthians that Paul names

lots of people: Paul, Sosthenes, Stephanas, Fortunatus, Achaicus, Aquila, and Prisca. It is clear that personal

relationships in the church family were important to Paul. Those relationships were at the core of how Paul

lived out his relationship with Jesus Christ.

A friend gave me a gift card so I could get a free pedicure. At the time, I was almost eighty years old and had

never had a pedicure. From time to time, I had trimmed those pesky toenails, but this was my first time at a

professional shop. I checked in and waited. I watched the activity all around me, and finally, when they called

my name, I walked over to the waiting chair and took a seat.

This week's focal text tells about something Jesus did at the celebration of the Festival of Booths. Look back at

John 7:2 to see how we know which festival was the context for this lesson. The Festival of Booths—or Festival

of Tabernacles—was a time to remember when God provided shelter and harvest in the wilderness for the

escaping people of Israel. Today's Jewish community refers to the holiday by its Hebrew name, Sukkot.

There is a lot of mystery in this week’s focal text, but one thing is particularly obvious: Jesus showed up where

He was not expected. Walking on the water! That’s not exactly what the disciples were looking for!

In this week’s focal text (John 5:1-15), Jesus brings healing and new life to a man who has been ill for

thirty-eight years. Jesus does it (1) without a big show (5:8), (2) at a time when many thought it was wrong to

heal (5:9-10), and (3) with acknowledgment of divine power (5:17).