IN THEORY:The right lunch partner

As the holidays approach, what historical figure (living or dead) would you most want to visit and converse with over lunch or dinner? Why?

I'd most like to visit with Jesus Christ over a meal.

I have believed His promise that: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me." I have invited Him into my heart, and I'm assured that He'll never leave me. He promised, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you."

Scripture teaches, and life experience backs up, the fact that during this life I must walk by faith, and not by sight. I do not see Him now, but I still believe in Him. I seek His counsel and comfort from Scripture and from His spirit dwelling in me. I pray, and I receive answers to prayer.

But I'd love to ask Jesus face to face how He thinks I'm doing as His disciple, as a husband and father and as a pastor. I'd love to hear His loving and personal counsel, and just enjoy being with Him who has loved me more than anyone else has or could.

PASTOR JON BARTA

Valley Baptist Church

Choosing a conversation partner from the major Jewish leaders of the past is an awesome task. Certainly Moses figures among the greatest, nor can we forget about the great kings of Israel, David and Solomon the wise — or the prophet Daniel.

One of my favorites is the medieval rabbi and philosopher Maimonides, who is best known for his rational approach to faith, arguing that there can be no real contradiction between truth revealed by God and the truths demonstrable by human reason. Oh, how I would love to spend some time with him.

But if I could choose only one individual with whom to converse, I would want to talk again with my saintly teacher and mentor, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson of blessed memory. Motivated by a profound love for humanity and spurred by boundless optimism, Rabbi Schneerson lifted the global Jewish community from the ashes of the Holocaust and launched an unprecedented range of Jewish institutions, outreach programs and social services.

In my youth I spent countless hours listening to his discourses and teachings. He imparted to me and thousands of his students the importance of making this world a gentler and kinder place.

His overarching goal in life was to create an environment where people would understand each other, be charitable to one another and foster positive acts of goodness.