The Rest of the Story

Recently, I received a phone call from a friend. He wanted to share a story about some students in his group. The group is planning a trip later in the year and is in the process of getting funds assembled for the trip.

Two of the students in the group are siblings and like many families money is a little tight right now. However, my friend shared that the brother knocked on his door one evening with money for both of the siblings to go on the trip. A bit surprised, my friend casually inquired about the money and the brother replied that his sister raided her savings accounts and decided to pay for both of them to go on the trip. We live in a society that seems to be focusing increasingly on the self - on having the the right clothing, having more money, living in the right neighborhood. Yet, this young lady really stepped out and selflessly gave of her own probably limited and hard-earned funds to support her brother. I really admire her and am thankful to have heard the story.

Just over a week, I wrote about Pentecost after playing trumpet at a service and listening to an outstanding message. Today, I returned to Acts again and didn't get much past the first verse:

1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach

Today, one word in this verse stood out. Actually, tonight something else stands out, too.

First, the word:

began

began

In the first book, Luke wrote about what Jesus began to do - not what he had completed or finished. No, he wrote about what Jesus had started. It is pretty cool how much later the verse was enumerated as it is in the NIV. Why? The verse does not end in a period. Jesus began something and their is more to the story.

The young lady in my friend's group is part of the rest of the story.

Take care,

Todd