From the July 4 sermon on Luke 8:40-56: Jesus transforms the lives of an older woman, whom he cleanses, and a young girl, whom he raises from death. Jesus will make you clean; you won’t make Jesus unclean. Follow the example of Jairus, the girl’s father: run to Jesus, cast yourself upon him, and invite him into your home and your life. Respond with faith, not fear. If our faith is in Jesus, then we are the children of God, and one day we will resurrect from death; sin, suffering, and sickness will be no more. We’ll be forgiven and cleansed. We will see Jesus’ face, hear Jesus’ voice, feel Jesus’ touch, and we’ll sit down to feast with him.

This hit me the first time I held Ashley, my oldest, that she's gonna call me "Father" and she's gonna call God "Father." And I've been entrusted with this sacred responsibility and this sacred name-title. And I know I'm not sinless and perfect like her heavenly father, but I want her to see an echo of his love in the affection of her Papa Daddy. I want her to be safest with me, most loved, cherished, adored, pursued by me. I want her to know that she is beautiful and treasured and valuable to me. And see, some of you ladies, you've never had that. You don't know who your father is, or you're ashamed of who your father is. And the question is, well, what hope is there for you? And Jesus would say to you as he says to this woman–daughter–that Jesus takes that fatherly place in your life. He becomes that man who gives you identity and affection and security and protection. He becomes that man who you go to in time of need, and he lovingly, affectionately cares for you. Some of you ladies identify with this woman. Your life has had a lot of suffering, and my encouragement would be to, like her, reach out to Jesus in faith, have the power of God unleashed in your life and have Jesus call you daughter.