God has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son…(1:13 NRSV)

A beautiful bride stood trembling at the head of a long church aisle.  The wedding march was about to begin, but she was paralyzed with fear and announced she could not possibly walk down the aisle.  The minister was summoned.  "I just can't do it," she wailed, "I'm too nervous."  "Now," said the minister, "let me tell you how to do it.  Don't think about the people in the pews.  When you walk in, forget all about the people and think about the aisle.  Keep your mind on the aisle.  When you are about three-fourths of the way down, concentrate on the beautiful altar of the church.  Don't think about the people, just look toward the altar.  Then when you are about four pews from …