The Patter April 26

News & Views from campus: April 26 – May 2

John 3:16

A little boy was selling newspapers on the corner. People were in and out of the cold.  The little boy was so cold that he wasn’t trying to sell many papers.  He walked up to a policeman and said, “Mister, you wouldn’t happen to know where a poor boy could find a warm place to sleep tonight, would you? You see, I sleep in a box up around the corner and down the alley, and it’s awful cold in there. Sure would be nice to have a warm place to stay.” The policeman looked down at the little boy and said, “You go down the street to that big white house and knock on the door.  When they come out the door, you just say John 3:16, and they’ll let you in.” So he did.

 He walked up the steps and knocked on the door, and a lady answered. He looked up and said, “John 3:16.” The lady said, “Come on in, Son.” She took him in and sat him down in a split bottom rocker in front of a great big old fireplace, and she went off. The boy sat there for a while and thought to himself: John 3:16 …I don’t understand it, but it sure makes a cold boy warm.  Later she came back and asked him “Are you hungry?” “He said, “Well, just a little. I haven’t eaten in a couple of days, and I guess I could stand a little bit of food.”  The lady took him in the kitchen and sat him down to a table full of wonderful food.  He ate and ate until he couldn’t eat any more.  Then he thought to himself: John 3:16 …Boy, I sure don’t understand it, but it sure makes a hungry boy full.  She took him upstairs to a bathroom to a huge bathtub filled with warm water, and he sat there and soaked for a while. As he soaked, he thought tohimself:  John 3:16. I sure don’t understand it, but it sure makes a dirty boy clean.

You know, I’ve not had a bath, a real bath, in my whole life.  The only bath I ever had was when I stood in front of that big old fire hydrant as they flushed it out.  The lady came in and got him.  She took him to a room, tucked him into a big old feather bed, pulled the covers up around his neck, kissed him goodnight and turned out the lights.  As he lay in the darkness and looked out the window at the snow coming down on that cold night, he thought to himself: John 3:16…I don’t understand it, but it sure makes a tired boy rested.  The next morning the lady came back up and took him down again to that same big table full of food.  After he ate, she took him back to that same big old split bottom rocker in front of the fireplace and picked up a big old Bible. She sat down in front of him and looked into his young face. “Do you understand John 3:16?” she asked gently.  He replied, “No, Ma’am, I don’t. The first time I ever heard it was last night when the policeman told me to use it.”  She opened the Bible to John 3:16 and began to explain to him about Jesus. Right there, in front of that big old fireplace, he gave his heart and life to Jesus.  He sat there and thought:  John 3:16 — don’t understand it, but it sure makes a lost boy feel safe. 

You know, I have to confess, I don’t understand it either.  How God was willing to send His Son to die for me, and how Jesus would agree to do such a thing. I don’t understand the agony of the Father and every angel in heaven as they watched Jesus suffer and die. I don’t understand the intense love for ME that kept Jesus on the cross until the end. I don’t understand it, but it sure does make life worth living.

John 3:16 — For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Activity Calendar

Please see Signs in your Neighborhood for Activities and Devotions Scheduled for the Neighborhoods.

 (Monday-Friday):
*Chaplain Josh will lead a short devotional time for residents on each neighborhood with prayer & a song.  
  8:45 am – Foose Center
  9:00 am – Eber Gardens  
  9:15 am – Southern Court
10:30 am – Eastbrook Lane
10:45 am – Anna Brown Vista
11:00 am – Sunny Dale
11:15 am – Sheltering Grove (in Social Room/Chapel)
11:30 am – Stevenson Manor
11:45 am – McReynolds Center 

(Sunday Worship Schedule by Neighborhood): 
  8:45 am – Foose Center
  9:00 am – Eber Gardens
  9:15 am – Southern Court
  9:30 am – Eastbrook Lane
  9:45 am – Anna Brown Vista
10:00 am – Sunny Dale
10:15 am – Sheltering Grove (in Social Room/Chapel)
10:30 am – Stevenson Manor
10:45 am – McReynolds Center    

Weekly Inspiration

When people are protecting something truly special to them, they become as strong as they can be.       XO hotsalmon.com

Prayer Request & Scripture

SCRIPTURES OF THE WEEK   Psalm 40:1-3
“I waited patiently for God to help me; then He listened and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out from the bog and the mire, and set my feet on a hard, firm path, and steadied me as I walked along.  He has given me a new song to sing, of praises to our God.”

THIS WEEK PRAY FOR:   
Residents:   COTTAGERS
Staff:  ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES Stacy, Amanda, Annette, Barb, Carlatta, Carlie, Chris, Cory, Diane, Donna, Gwendy, Josh, Joyce, Lill, Linda, Lisa H., Lisa S., Monica, Regina, Robert, Sam, Steve, Taylor, and Ed.