At the pearly gates, St. Peter greeted a minister and congressman and gave them their room assignments.

“Pastor,” he said, “here are the keys to one of our nicest efficiency units. And for you, Mr. Congressman, the keys to our finest penthouse suite.”

“This is unfair!” cried the minister.

“Listen,” St. Peter said, “ministers are a dime a dozen up here, but this is the first congressman we’ve ever seen.”

Matthew 18:12-13 says, “What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray.”

Now, I used a politician joke because they’re an easy target as a group, not because I think none are Christian. In fact, being a Christian politician is especially hard as you balance your belief convictions against the earthly requirements of your office and those of all the people you represent.

As Christians, we often surround ourselves with other believers. We go to church with those we know; we feel comfortable talking of our faith with the safe bets, those who already agree — those who don’t appear lost. But we’re not doing God’s work if we’re only catching tagged fish.

There is no heavenly reward for the number of Christian friends you have. It’s those other folks … the wandering ones, the wild ones, the lost ones that we need to search for. Funny thing, sometimes they are looking to get caught, looking to be shown, looking for the shelter of the fold.

Bringing home the lost is our mission. We don’t always have to look far. Sometimes the lost are sitting right beside us … we just have to be aware. And sometimes we are the lost and don’t know it until a loving shepherd shows us the way back.

Come to church this Sunday. Any one will do. There isn’t one in the area that doesn’t have shepherds and sheep, lost and found … maybe even a politician or two. If you’re lost, be found. If you’re a shepherd, learn how to bring the lost into the fold. Presbyterian service is at 11 a.m.