"What was it about?" someone asked.

"Russia," he said.

This little joke reminds me of one of the mistakes we make in reading the Bible.

We read it too fast.

We need to learn to live in those great stories - picturing the action and hearing the voices as we read.

The Bible is a "packed" book. The stories are told with great economy. Words are never wasted.

And a single verse can contain worlds of insight.

Take the teachings of Jesus, for example. Jesus was a master at preaching a whole sermon in just one sentence. His Imagery is colorful and vivid. In just a few words he can paint a mental picture that is with us for a lifetime.

I had a recent experience of this. I have been sad recently over the illness of a family member - an illness that is causing a loved one much pain. This was on my heart as I wandered the aisles of a grocery store last week. As I hit the canned vegetable section a woman, a stranger, stopped me to ask if I knew where the asparagus was.

Within a few seconds the subject changed from asparagus to her daughter, who, like my aunt, has been seriously and painfully ill.

So I stepped from the store with both my burden and hers on my heart - and there - right before me on the sidewalk - was a sparrow.

"His eye is on the sparrow," I thought. We are not alone in this world. We are loved. God cares.

And I thanked the Lord for that reminder.

Jesus fills our minds and hearts with images of hope.

We are studying the teachings of Jesus in our Bible study every Wednesday - 6:00 p.m.

These midweek services meet at St. Matthew, but they are sponsored by both Churches of the Glenwood Fellowship - St. Matthew and Eastern Hills.

I would love to have you with us.

We are taking it slowly - and taking it in.

And we are enjoying the blessing.

Life goes better with worship. Be in church somewhere this Sunday.

(Our services: 9:00 at Eastern Hills-11:00 at St. Matthew.)