St. Luke's Blogs

One of my favorite characters in all musicals is Bishop Myriel. It is a small role in the powerful musical Les Misérables. This amazing musical is based on Victor Hugo’s novel of the same name. Bishop Myriel, in both the book and the musical, is a pivotal character that helps to change the life of Jean Valjean. The Bishop encounters Jean Valjean, homeless and hopeless and invites him to come and stay at his residence where he can rest and be fed.  Jean Valjean’s encounter with this humble, caring clergy sends him down the path of redemption and new life.

Victor Hugo based his character on a real-life Bishop. Bishop Charles-Francois Bienvenu Myriel. Victor Hugo wanted a person who represented patience, redemption, hospitality and kindness. Victor Hugo’s son was against using a clergy for this role in the book…

Feeding the hungry is how we bring hope to the world. This is why the story of Debbie Rickabaugh stood out to me this past week. Debbie delivers Meals on Wheels in Delaware, Ohio. She has been delivering meals for over 16 years. There is no doubt that these meals and her caring presence has made a difference in so many people’s lives. However, Debbie recently went above and beyond to bless the life of one the clients who receives her meals.

Debbie has been delivering meals to Dennis since 2020. Debbie and Dennis had a difficult time communicating, because Dennis is deaf…

Today, I was shopping for school supplies in bulk for the students we help through our School Supply Drive. All the memories from my childhood came flooding back. It makes me happy that kids still need Crayola Crayons, Pink Pearl erasers, sharpened pencils, and blunt end scissors.  Now there’s the added need for dry erase markers, highlighters, post-it notes, hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes. Paste has become—glue sticks, three-ring binders, replaced with composition notebooks.  There are fancier pencils, pens, and lunch boxes—but the same sentiment rings true—a fresh start with the right supplies makes the year a little better.

As I was leaving the store, two shopping carts filled to the top, I had a woman stop me and ask why was I buying so much?

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” -Psalms 139:14

Anthony Dominick Benedetto was born in New York City on August 3, 1926.  He was raised in a loving home. He dropped out of school at the age of 16 to help support his family. He worked as a copy boy for the Associated Press. This would be the last job he would have before his life-long career would take off. Soon, his love for music and the arts would compel him to stardom. His smooth voice and charismatic personality caught the attention of many wonderful people. In 1949 he would find himself traveling and performing with Bob Hope, who gave him the stage name of “Tony Bennett.”

“The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. And Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. Then he said, “Your name shall no more be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” – Ephesians 4:22-24

When I think of a Broadway show, my first thought is of the great music. I love musical theatre. The powerful music, performed by amazing musicians, is something I could listen to all day. However, music is not the thing that makes a great Broadway show. Each show has multiple elements that come together to bring a story to life. The stage, props, music, dialogue, casting, choreography, lighting, sound, and so many other components come together to make the show happen.

One of the elements that helps make a show possible is costumes…

Throughout the month of July, I have been amazed by our children at St. Luke’s.  In Sunday school, they have been brainstorming, discussing, and trying to figure out how they can help others. Our memory verse we have been focusing on in children’s church during the month of July was: 

“Let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” – Galatians 6:10

The marketplace scene from Aladdin comes to my mind.  Aladdin and Abu are in the marketplace.  Aladdin and Abu have done their best and sneakiest methods to secure their breakfast, a melon that they split in half to eat and enjoy.  Jasmine enters the marketplace for the first time on her own without her guards.  She is not familiar to the atmosphere the marketplace holds.  There are vendors trying to persuade Jasmine, the “pretty lady” to buy different odds and ends…

“This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain.” – Mark 5:3

On one occasion, Jesus and his disciples were entering the region of the Gerasenes. When they stepped out of the boat, they were met by a demon-possessed man. This man lived apart from his community, sleeping in and around the tombs. Mark goes into great detail about this man and his struggles. He must have truly been a problem because Mark records that the people had tried to bind this man in chains, but he was too strong. He would break free and no one or nothing was able to hold him.

When Jesus and his disciples arrived on the shore, they were confronted by this man and people from the community. The man ran towards Jesus and asked, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” (Mark 5:7)  This question makes it clear that the demon-possessed man understood who Jesus was…

I waited and I waited, and I waited.  I waited for the phone to ring. I was sure I was going to get a call. I was sure I was going to get a call asking me to sing August 13th with the Aladdin music being sung and shared.  Look at me and then look at that blue genie… you must admit it’s not too far of a stretch.  “You ain’t never had a friend like me”, could only be sung by me, I was sure of it.  Who else could pull off a Robin Williams version of a song in church around here…ME!  Okay, there might be a few, however, I waited for my call.

I thought, it’s my phone, my phone number, someone doesn’t have my phone number. This is my song, my message to share, let me try out… you ain’t never had a friend like me… right?

My phone hasn’t rung yet.

Oh well, I may not be singing the song, but I love the message; You Ain’t Never Had a Friend Like Me!

Can you imagine… not me singing it, not even someone from Broadway singing it, but Jesus singing it to you, to me, to all of humanity…