Last Saturday I was elected the tenth bishop of the Diocese of Atlanta.  Seems unbelievable and true at the same time.  

What occurs to me, though, is that we have all been elected!  

Elected by God on the first ballot!  We are God's choice.  Didn't win by merit.  Weren't entitled to win.  Didn't earn it.  Couldn't have. 

Chosen!  

The Church is a community gathered by the loving choice and action of God.  It was the purpose of God to raise up a people whose center and whose song is, 'I have been chosen by God.'  

This is grace.  And the best response to grace is faith with joy.  Always, faith and joy.  

Faith: trust nurtured of gratitude to God.  

Joy: happiness exclusive to faith. 

This is life.  

"Life and that more abundant."(John 10:10)  Since we have been given this grace then, let us "...press on to make it our own, because Christ Jesus has made us His own." (Philippians 3:12)

Prayer for today: 

God, help me to grow into what you have already done!

God's Peace & Blessings,

Rob+