It's been an eventful week in the Olds' household. Sandy and I flew in from vacation last Tuesday and immediately drove to Lexington, Kentucky to participate in the service of ordination of our son, Wes, who is now a full elder in our denomination. As I recessed from that service a long-time friend of mine asked, “Howard, which was the best, your ordination or the ordination of your son?" Without hesitating, I replied “Need you even ask?" It is a moving and humbling experience to see your son or daughter set apart for ministry. This evening our church will host the ordination service for the Tennessee Annual Conference. Other mothers and fathers will feel what Sandy and I felt last Tuesday.

All this got me to thinking about the Apostle Paul - unquestionably the most influential Christian…