Dear Faith Family, 

So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them, (Genesis 1:27). 

What stands nearly three feet tall on four “feet” and weighs in at close to ninety pounds?   

Yesterday was the celebration of our freedom as a country.  Our family enjoyed some good ol’ southern pulled pork, (no, it wasn’t a three foot, ninety pound hog!).  You know, the slow smoked Boston Butts filling the air with salivating goodness for over seventeen hours! 

When our children arrived to celebrate with us, they unloaded a crate the size of the state of Texas.  See, Hank was with them.  Who’s Hank, you ask?  I know, you’re thinking about the nearly three feet tall and close to ninety pounds question.  And you’re thinking surely that isn’t Hank, right?!  Wrong.  Hank is a few months old and just over half grown!  So, Hank’s a horse?  Nope.  Swiss Mountain dog!  Yes, I said dog! 

Here's what I want you to know about Hank.  Hank loves people.  No partiality.  He just wants to be with people.  His tail wags his whole body when he sees people.  Step into the kitchen for another pork sandwich and return to the dining room and Hank’s greeting is like he hasn’t seen you in years! 

What about us?  Do we love people?  What people?  See how quickly we begin to qualify?  Some people – loveable.  Others, not so much.  But people, all people, are made in the image of God!  Yup.  Even that person, (the one you just thought about). 

Here’s why we ought to love people.  People, all people (the one next door, the one at work, the one at the beach, even the one at Wal-mart) reflect the image of the living God.  Even in brokenness there is still the image of God.  (Interesting not so side note.  Male and female we reflect the image of God.  To distort gender suddenly becomes more than personal preference.  To distort gender is to contort the reflection of God’s image in this world.) 

Meanwhile, I want to be more like Hank.  I’m not sure why He likes people so much.  I just know that he does.  And, likewise, I want to like people.  Why?  Because each “people” is a unique reflection of the image of our God!  What would it look like if I approached everybody as a wonder to behold, a reflection of an image greater than the individual?  Some people (maybe me) may be MGR’s (“More Grace Required”).  It may take more work to discover the image of God in some people.  But think about it, when you realize that the person you are looking at is a reflection of the image of the living God, that’s something to look forward to! 

Looking forward to seeing His image in you today, 
Pastor Karl