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To my dearest sister Theresa,

9/14/2016

I do not remember when we met. I know you were born in New York, and by sixth grade you were there with us. We were sisters. You lived one block away, and we were always at each other’s homes. You lived with your grandmother who was an amazingly strong woman. You called my parents mom and dad. You attended church with us each week at Berea Mennonite. We loved to tell people we were sisters, and you loved to try to shock people by telling them we were twins.

We went to different high schools and colleges, but that did not stop our friendship. East Atlanta football games were one of my favorite events to attend and watch you in the band playing the clarinet. You gave me the nickname Taj (Theresa, Angela, Juel).

Some of my favorite memories include:
Visiting you at college
Welcoming Twanicka and Tomesha into your life
Taking you to my college homecoming, and you convincing people you went to school there!
MC Hammer concert
Bon Jovi concert
Spending my 21st birthday at Hooters at Underground Atlanta because you forgot your ID and we couldn’t get into a club to dance
Seeing Willie Anderson play with the Spurs against the Hawks (and you touching Ice Cube’s thigh after the game!)

The greatest honor you bestowed upon me was telling me my soul was blacker than yours.

The last time I saw you was in 2009 when I brought my youngest daughter Molly to Atlanta for Christmas. I am glad she got to meet you. As always you were kind, funny, and most of all my sister. I am sorry we hadn’t really talked since then. I am saddened to have lost you too young. I am most sad that I cannot be there at your service today to hug Twanicka and Tomesha and to meet your granddaughter.

Until I see you on the other side,
Juel Yoder Russell

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Sunday Lessons

9/7/2016

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Matthew 18: 15 “If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. 16 But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

This was the Scripture read in church on Sunday. It is a set of verses I have often felt less than excited about. I have had it quoted to me by someone who felt I was ending a friendship without trying hard enough to save it. (Uh, no, this Scripture is about people in my community that I desire a relationship with, not someone I have a casual friendship with and am ok with letting go.) I have seen people use it to exclude others who do not change and do whatever the person thinks they should be doing. Mostly, I read it and say, "Jesus wouldn't have used the word 'church' since there was no such thing when he was teaching!"

Then I heard it on Sunday as if for the first time. "Let such a one be as a Gentile and a tax collector." WOW. Jesus does not say stay away from them. Jesus says treat them as he treated Gentiles and tax collectors. Jesus ate with tax collectors. Jesus welcomed Gentiles. On Sunday I heard Jesus saying, even if they refuse to listen to you, love them anyway. It is possible I have heard 100 sermons say this very thing. I don't know. Sunday it is what I heard and I will never read these verses the same way again.

(I also heard a fantastic sermon on reconciliation. Thanks Joseph Penner!)

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To my dearest sister Theresa,

Sunday Lessons

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﻿To my dearest sister Theresa,

﻿Sunday Lessons

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To my dearest sister Theresa,

Sunday Lessons