A Message from Our Minister of Families,Dennis Johns

First Baptist Church of Texas City
  
A Message from Our Minister of Families,
Dennis Johns
Earlier this month I was asked to write a note of encouragement for my older brother (He’s my oldest sibling by 16 years. I’m the youngest of five.) who was going to participate in the Walk to Emmaus weekend retreat at his church in Granbury. This retreat is designed for spiritual renewal and discipleship, and I am excited that my brother is getting to participate in such an experience. The notes from friends and family are used during the retreat to provide encouragement as well as a reminder of the community of support or “church” that surrounds us as followers of Christ.
I received the request the same week that we were looking at the Emmaus passage in our Student Ministry Wednesday Night Bible Study. This passage relates the story of two followers of Jesus who encounter an unnamed man who joins them on their seven-ish mile journey to the town of Emmaus on the day of Jesus’ resurrection. Their conversation along the path was quite interesting. I invite you to check it out (Luke 24:13-35). When they reach their destination, they share a meal together, and it is during the blessing of the meal “their eyes were opened” v.31 that they recognize that the traveler who accompanied them is the risen Jesus.
I didn’t realize writing this note would produce such emotion (Check out the sermons on Emotions the next two Sundays @ FBCTC.) as I began to think of how deeply I care for my brother and how his presence has encouraged me through the years. When I was young, he was my brother the “Marine” and a “special” one at that. He made me an uncle, and that was awesome. As we’ve grown older, our conversations revolve around sports and family and food and movies, but mainly sports. We say ‘I love you’ after every encounter, whether it’s a phone call or personal visit, and we mean it. This exercise gave me an opportunity to express my deep love and appreciation in a way that I rarely take. It “opened my eyes” to the presence of Jesus in our relationship and in the numerous people that God has placed along our journeys.
Maybe you will be encouraged to jot someone a note of your appreciation or encouragement, if not for their sake, it will encourage you and hopefully open your eyes as well.
Luke 24:15 NIV
As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them