Freedom

Danny Sims ( Senior Minister )

Email:	DannySims@altamesa.org
Sermons:	http://www.altamesa.org/sermons
Blog:	http://simsdanny.blogspot.com
Weekly Newsletter:	http://lists.altamesa.org/mailman/listinfo/smm

_{There's an old story that's floated around for years. Maybe it's true, maybe it's not. But like my old history professor, Bennie Galloway, used to say, "Even if it's not true, don't you wish it was?!"}

During WWII a man died and his two friends desperately wanted to give him a decent burial. They found a cemetery in a nearby village. It happened to be a Roman Catholic cemetery and the dead man had been a Protestant. When the two friends found the priest in charge of the burial grounds, they requested permission to bury their friend, but the priest refused because the man had not been a Catholic. When the priest saw their disappointment, he explained that they could bury their friend immediately outside the fence. This was done.

Taught by the Teacher

Jennifer Gambill ( Children's Minister )

Email:	JenniferGambill@altamesa.org
Children's Ministry:	http://www.altamesa.org/children

A gentleman sat in my office. He was different. He was looking for someone to talk to. He was looking for someone to look him the eye. If only I had been perfect in my response to him, "Come on in, how are you? Sit, let's talk". But as he walked into my office I thought "It's been a crazy week and I just don't have the time for this today."

I continued to sit and plunk away at my computer thinking, he'll get the hint. He continued to talk and I made small chit chat hoping he would get the idea that I just didn't have the time. I pardoned myself to take a phone call. As I was talking on the phone he came all the way into my office and sat on the couch. Oh great! I guess I'm going to have to stop to talk. I moved my chair back from my computer, this would only take a minute right? Okay, I'll give him 10 minutes and then I can excuse myself.

He talked to me about his bus ride back to this side of town, and the people he talked to on that ride. We talked about where he went to school and when he graduated. He teased and gave me a hard time about where I grew up. We laughed together over silly stuff that we both found funny. By the way, he has a great, contagious laugh. He told me about feeling unwanted, but when he walked in the doors of Altamesa, he felt he may have found a home that might accept that he was who he was. He felt BLESSED to be here. Wow! He felt blessed to be here.

Before I knew it over half an hour had passed, and he was the one walking out on me because he had somewhere to be. He was going to serve at a place that needed the help. I was the one wanting more time & he was walking out on me!

Matthew 25:40
" The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"

To my friend, you ministered to me in a way that I can never thank you enough for. You made a difference in me. You lived Matthew 25:40