For nine months now people have been asking me how I liked my trip to Germany, and for nine months I have been telling them I haven't gone yet. Last summer you all graciously gave Jean and me a trip to Germany in commemoration of my twenty years as one of your ministers. Actually, it has taken us nine months to get packed. Anyway, we are leaving tomorrow morning and will be tourists in Germany for two weeks.

Anticipating the trip I was reminded of an incident that happened several years ago when I ran into a German tourist in San Diego. I had mentioned this story some years ago, but it seemed especially appropriate on this Sunday, not only because it is on the eve of our trip to Germany where we will be tourists, but also because of the content of this sermon.

I was downtown at a meeting…