Farewell Address -- Kissing Frogs

It just wouldn't feel right ... if I didn't begin with ... a story.

And at the end of the story ... there is a little surprise ... that just might require a group picture.

Well ... This short discourse is called ... "Kissing Frogs"

Ever feel like a Frog?

Frogs feel slow, ... low, ... ugly, ... puffy, ... drooped, pooped.

I know! ...... One told me.

The Frog feeling comes when:

You want to be bright... but you feel dull.

You want to share...but you are selfish.

You want to be thankful...but you are resentful.

You want to be big...but you are small.

You want to care...but you are indifferent.

Surely, ... at one time or another, ... each of us has found ourselves ... siting or laying ... on a lily pad.

Floating down ... the great river of life.

Frightened and disgusted ... but too darn Froggish to budge.

The Rest of the Fairy Tale-

Once upon a time there was a Frog.

But he wasn't really a Frog.

He was a Prince that looked like a Frog.

A wicked Witch ... had cast a spell on him ... and only the kiss of a beautiful young maiden ... could save him.

But since when ... do cute chicks ... kiss Frogs?

So, there he sat ... an un-kissed Prince ... in Frog form.

Ah, but miracles happen.

One day a beautiful maiden grabbed him... and gave him a big smack.

Crash, Boom, Zap!

He became.... he was a handsome Prince.

You know the rest.

They lived happily ever after. (Pause)

Beloved, ... there is a spiritual truth ... that lies within this story.

And the spiritual truth is this .... we are each called to be ... frog kissers.

We each ... are called ... to kiss those ... who God places in our lives.

And Lee and I ... thank you ... for the multitude of kisses ... that you have given us over these past

9 months 14 days and 18 hours and 30 minutes and 19 seconds (6:30pm) ... but who's counting.

Borrowing a little bit ... from the apostle Paul I share this truth:

I thank my God ... upon every remembrance of you; ... whenever I pray for you, ... my prayers are always joyful. (Philippians 1:3-5)

It is only natural ... that we should feel like this about you, ... because Lee and I ... have great love for you.

We have a deep abiding love ... for the body of St. Luke's.

You have made us a part of your family ... and you each lie ... within our heart's.

We thank God ... upon every remembrance. (Philippians 1:3)

Remembrance of the ... great good providence ... truly a miracle of God ... that brought us here.

Yet don't we all on occasion ... look back with the same astonishment and gratitude ... for the invisible hand of God at work ... in our life.

We live forward, ... yet we understand backward.

Events that at the time seemed so contingent, ... so accidental, ... from your vantage point then ...now clearly ... were accomplished ... through the gracious hand of God.

Lee and I thought we were headed to retirement ... but God had a better plan.

He arranged miraculously for us to be part of the St. Luke's family.

God allowed us to worship ... once again as we did shortly after coming to Christ.

Lee and I thank God ... upon every remembrance of you. (Philippians 1:3)

I truly loved preparing ... and sharing the Message ...for the Sunday Worship.

And I thank you for the many kind comments ...about the stories ... and the Message.

But truth be known ... I was preaching to me ... and letting you ... overhear it.

Beyond your kisses ... I thank you ... for allowing me ...to be me.

Often times ... it is difficult ... to find a place ...where you can be yourself.

Where people love you ... for who you are.

You have done that.

And I am sure ... that you will share that same love ... with Dan & Kristin.

You have been gracious.

You have seen my shortcomings ... and loved me anyway.

I hope I have been able to return that love ... and that joy ... to each of you.

I know that many times ... a pastor will name those ...that He or she ... has had a special relationship with ... in their farewell address.

But the truth is ... I would have to spend 30 minutes ... sharing each ... of your names.

Your friendship and your love ... has impacted our lives deeply... you each have left a mark on our hearts.

I thank God ... that He allowed this friendship ...to begin ... and to flourish ... on this side of eternity.