My neighbor, a former Baltimore police officer, came over yesterday and asked me,

“Lloyd, did you just have some visitors?”

I responded “No.”

He said “I did, and I think they were Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

I asked him what gave it away?

He said, “They asked me what God’s name was. And I told them it was ‘God.’ They responded, ‘no, it’s Jehovah!’”

I laughed, “Oh, it’s much better than that. His name is Papa. And he’s your Papa, my Papa and their Papa! And I can’t wait to tell them if they come here.”

He said, “What? I’ve never heard that before!”

I said, “ Oh yes, God became one of us—just a shmuck like one of us—to introduce us to our Papa and show us how included we are in His family! It’s no longer about “us-and-them,” insiders and outsiders. Everyone has the same Papa! Oh it’s such good news!

That’s what love does! It includes everyone! Religion is so confining, stifling, restrictive, regressive, arrogant and disgusting by comparison.

But with love, everyone is in! There are no outsiders! Everyone is included in this family. And that’s downright reckless of Him, but it’s such good news! And we get to include them too, because that’s what love does!”

I think my neighbor just wanted to warn me of a possible solicitation, but he seemed fine, maybe even thankful for my short sermon on the always-good love of Papa. I love my neighbor. I pray he discovers his inclusion in the love of our Papa.

I pray you discover yours as well.

Love you, Lloyd.

Lloyd Clark is an entrepreneur, a former pastor, and a writer. He is passionate about being loved by our Heavenly Father and revealing that same love to everyone he meets. He and his wife Mary have 5 children and 7 grandchildren and live in North Carolina.

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