The sharing of bread and the fruit of the vine has been a part of church life for almost 2,000 years.  It is such a simple ritual.  There's no secret handshake or verbal formula that is necessary, just believers, the bread and the "wine."   "Do this in remembrance of Me," Jesus said.  I haven't missed too many communion services over the years.  My parents were "all day Sunday believers" and the Lord's Supper was almost always (as I recall) during the evening service.  I remember asking my dad when I could take the bread and the juice.  He asked me why I wanted to take them and I replied, "Because sometimes I get hungry and thirsty during church."  He told me I should wait for a while.  I have grown in my understanding over the past number of years.  I have to confess however that there is still some mystery and awe associated with the Table even though I have conducted close to 200 Communion services and participated in at least twice that many as a congregant.  Baptists tend to emphasize the symbolic nature of the elements rather than the presence of Christ.  I understand that but Jesus did say, "I am with you always."  Theologically we often react to others as if a given concept must be "this or that".  Whatever happened to "both and?"  If Jesus wants to fellowship with us around His Table as we remember what He did for us, it seems we should welcome Him!  Meditating on the presence of Christ while remembering His incarnation, crucifixion, burial, resurrection and ascension through the simple elements of "cracker and pasteurized grape juice" makes the service more than a memorial to me...it makes it Communion!    

This week we'll be studying Titus 3 as we prepare our hearts for the Table.  If you read ahead, pay special attention to the transition between verse 3 and 4.  It might just bless your socks right off. 

Our twelve week series on the book of Ecclesiastes comes to an end this weekend.  I feel like I have never talked about death so many weeks in a row since 2000 when I preached this series previously.  Chapter 12 has this death theme again.  We just cannot seem to get away from this grim reality that this life is passing by quickly, it may end abruptly or with a slow decline but it will end.  Death is a scientific reality, it is observable, somewhat predictable and universal.  In light of this reality the Preacher encourages us to be thinking about how we ought to live.  People should not be preoccupied with how they are going to die but with how they are going to live.  I don't have space here to go into a long discussion about the reality of God's existence.  I believe that He is and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.  The Preacher believed this too because his conclusion is simple and straight-forward.  "Fear God and keep His commandments...God will bring every work into judgment..."  To fear God means to properly view Him in light of our relationship with Him.  If we are not in right relationship with Him, we should tremble before Him!  If we are His children, we should abide in His infinite love.  Keeping His commandments is somewhat restrictive but the restrictions are not "life-robbing" they are "life-giving."  Ignoring His good instructions is much more binding in the long run.  There is a day of judgment coming.  No one just vanishes or ceases to exist.  We're all going somewhere forever.  Our appointment with God is one should be prepared for.  Remembering our Creator in the days of our youth is a good start but remembering our Creator all the days of this enigmatic life is even better!  "Only one life, soon will be past, Only what's done for Christ will last!"