This week's Community Column is written by local minister, the Rev Ian Miller

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A CHURCH member had undergone an operation and was still under the anaesthetic when his minister came to visit.

Seeing his situation the minister just said a prayer and left. The next day he returned and asked the patient if he had been aware he had called.

“I vaguely remember,” said the fellow. “I remember opening my eyes and thinking ‘I can’t be in Heaven because there is the minister!”

One of the hardest tasks a church ever faces is choosing a good minister. Going back to the days when there were plenty around, the chair of the committee charged with the task of looking for a new one was losing patience. He’d just watched them reject applicant after applicant. It was time for a bit of soul searching. He read this letter.

“Understanding your church is vacant, I would like to apply for the position. I have many qualifications. I’ve been a preacher with much success and also as a writer. I’ve been a leader in most places I’ve been to. I’m over 50 years and have never preached in one place for more than three years. In some places, I had to leave town after I caused riots and disturbances.

“I have been in jail three or four times, but not really for anything bad or wrong. My health is not too good, but I still can get a lot done. The churches I have preached in have been small, though located in several big cities. I’ve not got along well with the religious leaders in many of the towns where I have preached. In fact, some have threatened me, and even attacked me. I am not too good at keeping records. I have been known to forget those whom I have baptized. However, if you appoint me, I will do my best for you.”

The committee was appalled! Consider a sick, trouble making, absent-minded ex-jailbird? Who signed the application? The chairman paused for a moment before saying: “The Apostle Paul.”

I suppose Paul would never have thought that the letters he wrote would still be read 2,000 years after he had gone. I am sure Paul would be totally surprised that the words he wrote about love, defining it, what it was and what it wasn’t, would still be referred to 2,000 years after his passing.

He said that there are three things important in life: faith, hope and love.

I don’t think you can live without them, though we may all see them differently, but then he said: “The greatest of these is love.” What a wise man.