I invited Jodie to share her witness to encourage everyone to think and pray about people in our orbit who might – might – be interested in Alpha. I say might because we never know whom the Lord will call into that program. We never know when the right time may be.

She is not alone. She is one of many who have come into the life of faith or have gotten deeper in it through Alpha. Alpha isn’t the only way, of course, but it is the best program we have for people to explore and ask hard questions about faith without fear of judgment or pat answers. And while encouraged to speak, they can also listen to others’ thoughts and experiences.

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My grandmother would make bread. I doubt she ever bought bread in a store.  Nothing fancy, just the same standard loaves that she would use every day.  When we were at her house, she’d invite my brother and me to knead it.  She told us to “find the mice” because when you did find a bubble, it would kind of squeak. Then that wonderful aroma of freshly baking bread would fill their little house. Mmmm – you know what I mean!  Then came the freshly baked bread, still warm, it almost didn’t need butter. But there was butter, real butter. What a joy!

Bread smells so good to us because it is a staple of life.  For most of history and in many places right now, bread isn’t part of the meal, it is the meal.   Even for us today, breaking bread is short for sharing a meal.

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By any measure, Thomas Jefferson, our third President, was a brilliant man.  Despite being only 33 when he wrote the Declaration of Independence, his leadership was integral as those 13 colonies were breaking away from the mightiest empire in the world and shaping a brand-new nation and brand-new form of government. He also had many flaws, including his involvement with slavery. But let’s set all that aside and hone in on his faith.

Remember that from the moment Jesus began his ministry, people doubted him, even those who witnessed his miracles. That has been true in every age since.

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