Dear friends in Christ, grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and his Son, our Lord Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

He walked into my office with all the confidence of corporate CEO, this fifteen-year old confirmation student. Without much fanfare, he announced, “I don’t think Mike Stevens should be confirmed.” I didn’t know Randy well; I had only been the pastor of that church for about four months, but it was clear that he and Mike had a little competition going between them. Randy grew up in that church; Mike’s family was fairly new. Was that the problem? “Why don’t you think Mike should be confirmed?” I asked. “Because he missed ten classes these past two years, he’s only turned in six sermon notes, and he was never an acolyte; not even once! He hasn’t earned it.” “Wow!” I said, …