Dear Church Family,
A friend recently sent me a copy of a book written by an acquaintance in Virginia.  The simple title is Courage and its theme is that courage is the Christian virtue which makes all the others possible. 
The absence of courage in Joseph’s brothers to do what is right is apparent in the story we read this week.  It is no easy virtue to develop.  It got me thinking about the famous prose/poem written by Pastor Martin Niemoller about the deficiency of courage found in many in Germany in the face of Nazi extremism:
First they came for the Communists 
And I did not speak out because I was not a Communist 
Then they came for the Socialists
 And I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist 
Then they came for the trade unionists 
And I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist 
Then they came for the Jews 
And I did not speak out because I was not a Jew 
Then they came for me 
And there was no one left to speak out for me.
Eventually Niemoller did speak out and soon found himself imprisoned in a concentration camp.  As I said, the courage as a Christian to do what is good and right, especially in the face of pressure, is not easy. 
I look forward to continuing our series on family faith stories from Genesis.  We’ll look at the plot of Joseph’s brother to get rid of this irritant in their lives.  The texts are Genesis 37:12-28 and Matthew 14:22-33.  The sermon is “The Reuben Option.”
See you in church.
Peace and Joy,
Rich