Last weekend I looked around a room of 75 men on retreat.  I call this hope.

Seventy-five men seeking a closer relationship with Jesus Christ;

Seventy-five men exploring their faith, pushing at old boundaries, discovering God's strength and will;

Seventy-five men praying together;

Seventy-five men worshiping, sharing, talking, and laughing;

Seventy-five men preparing to go home renewed and empowered.

Yes, indeed, that is hope.

Wednesday night I joined with 60 or so people in Room 339 of our church as we began our Lenten study of "Five Practices of Fruitful Living."  That, too, is hope.

Early Saturday morning faithful volunteers came to the church to distribute food to people who need that food.  Other volunteers are working with women seeking a new life through the Solomon House.  A group of folks just returned from Nicaragua, while some teens and adults are preparing to partner with other Christians in Guatemala during Spring Break this year.  This is hope.

This week, next week, the next, and so on, people will gather in Life Groups and Sunday School classes to explore God's Word and support one another with prayer and care.  Our children will find Christ's love and truth in adults who care for them with the care of Christ.  Our students will worship, share, and find grace in other adults who meet with them on Wednesday and Sunday.  Hope.

I know people who tithe in this church.  That means they give 10 percent of their income for the work of Christ.  They give, and that's hope.

This Sunday a thousand or so of us will gather in worship and sing our praises to God, seek the grace of Christ, and open ourselves to the power of the Holy Spirit.  If that's not hope, then, clearly, I don't understand the word.

There's a lot of shouting these days.  There's a lot of ugly things being said and passed along with boldness, pride, and hearty "amens."  Don't get lost in the noise.  Don't mistake rudeness for courage.  Fear not.  There is hope.  And hope is found in mercy and compassion and grace and a love that is eternal-a love that took on flesh in our Savior, Jesus Christ, and lives even now in his body, the Church.

Let those of us who know the hope of Jesus Christ also be bold-not shrill, not insulting, but bold in the love that saved us.  There is a way through this world that is divine; it is communion with God; it transforms lives and builds connections in the Spirit.  Together, we gather in that Way; we serve in that Way; we rejoice in that Way.  And in that Way, we find, and become, hope.