May God grant each of you a wonderful summer.  Myrna and I are headed up to Seattle this weekend to meet with the first church (Hillcrest Presbyterian) we served with over 40 years ago.   It is incredible to look back now and see how God touched so many of those young people in our youth group.   Most of them went on to minister in various ways both in the secular world and in the church/missions.   But it was not because we had such a great youth group, it was because God reached down and touched each one of them with His love.   He saw value in them, which they did not see in themselves (I Peter 2 9-10).  Many of them struggled with purpose, while others felt little value before meeting Christ, but they certainly did afterward. Their lives proved it over the years.  Many continued to share their faith with others, as well as raise their families in His name. 

I leave you with a piece of reader’s theatre that sums up the value God put on these kids 40  years ago; the same value He puts on you today.

The Touch of the Master’s Hand

T’was battered and scarred, and the auctioneer thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much time on the old violin,

But he held it up with a smile; what am I bid good folk? He cried,

Who’ll start the bidding for me?

A dollar-a dollar-then two, only two-Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?

Going for three-but no-from the room far back, a gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow;

Then wiping the dust from the old violin, and tightening the loosened strings,

He plays a melody pure and sweet as a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low,

Said: What am I bid for the old violin?

And he held up with the bow.

A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it three?

Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice,

And going, and gone, said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried, we do not understand what changed its worth?

Quick came the reply.

The touch of the master’s hand.

And many a man with life out of tune, and battered and scarred with sin, is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much like the old violin.

A mess of pottage, a glass of wine, a game-and he travels on;

He’s going once and going twice- he’s going and almost gone!

But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd never can quite understand,

The worth of a soul, and the change that’s wrought by the touch of the Master’s hand.

Authored by Myra Welch

Revised by Kent McClain

Word of God

I Peter 2 9-10 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God.