Alan and Mike – Friday 22nd September 2006

Alan and Mike had just started working together and were in the car going to visit a customer.  They were discussing  their weekend.

“I had a great game of football on Sunday” said Mike,  “we are in the running for moving up to the next division and we are really working  well as a team.  We won 3-0.  What did you do Sunday?”

“Oh, I went to church” said Alan

“Funny, I didn’t take you as religious”

“You’re right” replied Alan, “I’m not religious.  In fact, I sometimes feel the church services have little to do with my faith.”

“Really?  I only go to church for births marriages and deaths, and I’ve never seen why people want to do that every week.  Are you a Christian then?”

“Oh yes, Jesus is my hero.  I mean, if you read the things he said, well, they just have such life in them.  And he wasn’t religious either!”

“What do you mean, he wasn’t religious?”

“Well the people he got most angry with were the religious leaders at the time.  They’d put up so many barriers between man and God that nobody was good enough for them.”

“Interesting” said Mike “Some things never change do they!  After all, from what I can see of church, it’s all ritual and hypocrisy.  Why would I want to join that club?  But you seem a sensible sort of chap.  Tell me more about why you believe it’s true”

At the end of their conversation, Alan told Mike about the Alpha course and invited Mike to the Alpha supper.  Mike didn’t come that time, but their friendship grew and their conversations continued for many months.  Mike accepted the invitation a year later.

Jesus smiled.

God bless