“Philippians 127-30 Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God's doing. For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well - since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Our Associate Pastor recently preached on “Heroes”. It got me to thinking about my growing up heroes. Superman was the one! I went every Saturday to see the latest Superman serial - - because you knew from last Saturday that he was doomed! Every week he would escape from the jaws of death just barely in time. I had my own home-made Superman cape and when I had it on - - I WAS Superman. I tried to leap off a building once and found that the cape did not work like it did for the REAL Superman! Only bruises and nicks, but I never tried that again!

I remember my adult heroes in church. I watched them every Sunday and observed their faith journey. Lives like those of Marshall Lipke, Maide Lipke, Sam Hester, Paul Murtha, Steve Jaggers still influence me today. Oh they did not know I was watching and learning from them - - but I was. I learned from the Lipke’s and Sam Hester that you were “in church, every Sunday, on time, with a studied lesson, and an offering for the Lord”, I learned from Steve Jaggers the real joy of hymn singing. He was our choir director.

They are all gone now, but the lessons I learned in those early formative years still guide my life today. I had good faith heroes! These people truly lived lives “worthy of the gospel”.

Presley is now watching me. She is a sweet little girl of six. Yes her Mom was/is an Elvis fan. She is a loving, caring and super talented six year old. Every Sunday, Presley comes up and hugs me. One Sunday she and her Mom came in late for our Praise service and as she walked by my chair she stopped and hugged me. Presley is watching my faith walk.

When her parents presented her for Baptism - - here is how I, and everyone else there that day, responded - -

“With God*s help we will so order our lives after the example of Christ, that this child, surrounded by steadfast love, may be established in the faith, and confirmed and strengthened in the way that leads to life eternal.”

To me that is a sacred oath and an awesome responsibility. Six year old Presley is now creating her own mental images of her faith heroes. I hope to be one of those - - that when she reaches my age she will remember something I said or did that will help her across a bump in the road.

My constant challenge is to live a life, before her, that is worthy of the gospel, and that I can so order my life after the example of Christ that she indeed will be surrounded by steadfast love, established in the faith and strengthened in a way that leads to life eternal.

I can never let down and take a day off! I must live the gospel daily!

Presley is watching!



A Jim Lane Commentary
July 1, 2003