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Final Greetings - Becky Brashears
 During this Lenten season, we are reading Tom Berlin's book, Restored, Finding Redemption in Our Mess. He tells the story about visiting the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City to view the beloved artistry of Michelangelo. He viewed with interest a display showing the "before" and "after" photos demonstrating how clouded this artwork was with grime and soot. Eventually the exhibit showed the removal of the grimy coating and then a full restoration of the original artwork emphasizing the colors and details in Michelangelo's painting on the ceiling.
Berlin contends that we are greater masterpieces than the art Michelangelo painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and we, too, have a grime of sin that covers and hides the great beauty God intended for us and the world to enjoy. We are created in God's image. Wow, what a promise that God's acceptance and gift of grace cleanses our soul!
I am reminded of another example of restoration from when I was a young-mother-to-be. My husband had returned from Vietnam and was stationed at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland for his final six months in the Army before returning to college on the GI bill. He was an enlisted man and his pay was not very much. We lived in a furnished basement apartment and were most conscientious about spending our limited income. One day we were in an old thrift store and saw a painted crib that had seen good use but it definitely was in our price range, twenty dollars.
Painstakingly I began the process of removing the many layers of paint and discovered that this crib was made of beautiful maple wood. I stained, sanded, varnished, sanded, varnished again, and rubbed with fine steel wool. This old worn-looking crib was restored to a most beautiful piece of nursery furniture to welcome our baby daughter.
Thinking back over this process, I understand the pride and love I developed as I saw this piece of furniture being restored. Each step it became more beautiful. I think this may be the way God feels when he sees our mess and begins the restoration of a life more in tune with his intent for mankind. Throughout the ages, God has lovingly stroked and patiently urged our dependence on him in order to bring out the best we can be.
Paul, at the end of his second letter to the Corinthians, also talks about  restoration. He has had an ongoing relationship with them for a while, and he is frustrated, possibly disappointed that some of these new Christians are following the latest false preachers. He admonishes them yet loves them, just as a parent does their children. His goal is restoration for this group of believers. Paul spelled out four commands as found in the NIV version, "aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace." Keeping these commands does not make a person a Christian, but being a Christian means pursuing these qualities.
First Church Corinth was a community torn by factions. In his first letter to this community, 1 Corinthians 1:10, Paul writes, "Now I appeal to you brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose." Paul is not expecting uniformity in thinking among the Corinthians but rather that they think "according to Christ Jesus" and not be swayed by false teachings. He reiterates this in 1 Corinthians 13:11 when he encourages them to "be of one mind".
Paul's final remarks are similar to what Pastor LeeAnn says at the close of our services where we are reminded of the power of the trinity, "the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
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