Good News Atlanta

Oct 3, 2026

Good News Atlanta recounts a community service assignment at a nursing home, where Tim’s adoption of an elderly resident leads to unexpected fellowship and spiritual reflection. Through a narrator’s initial judgment about appearance and “cleanliness,” the story contrasts outward impressions with the resident’s humanity and worth. A planned time of singing and prayer turns into a profound moment when Tim kisses Clyde on the lips, reshaping the narrator’s understanding of love, faith, and the heart.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages40

Reading Time1 h 41 min

AccessFree to download

Good News Atlanta

□ TDN IIDINGS # Good News Atlanta One of the BestSermons I've Seen It was a second grade community service class assignment and our son Tim wasexcited.He had adopted a grandparent at the nursing home and instantly found asoul mate.Clyde was in his 90's and whenever Tim would come by to visit him,Clyde recited ancient boyhood history with stories that went back before airplanesand cars and Nintendo.Tim loved Clyde.He even made cookies with a little helpfrom his mother to help celebrate Clyde's birthday.He reported to the family that heand Clyde sat on the bed and almost finished off two-dozen chocolate chip cookiesthat afternoon,noting that he wasn't sure how much longer Clyde would live so theyhad to eat them right away. I was curious about Tim's newfound friend,so at Christmastime our family visitedthe nursing home and looked forward to singing and praying with Clyde.Tim led usdown the hallway to Clyde's room,and as we turned into the semi-private quarters Iimmediately noticed a gentleman seated next to the door and,assuming it was Clyde,introduced myself.Tim was already on the other side of the room sitting with the realClyde on his bed.This is not easy to admit,but the truth is I was drawn to Clyde'sroommate because he seemed more like me.It was an instantaneous judgment.Ina flash my mind categorized these two men based on outward appearance.Clyde'sroommate was clean,dressed sharply,and his side of the room was organized.Onthe other hand Clyde was a mess,and,sorry to say,my mind quickly formulated a"cleanliness is next to Godliness seminar"for my wayward son as soon as our littlevisit was over. Gordon Retzer It was impossible for me to comprehend that given a choice;my son would optto adopt the slovenly old man.Where had we failed?Tim was oblivious and proudlyintroduced Clyde to his family.Couldn't he see that Clyde needed to brush his teeth?Didn't he notice that Clyde's shirt had drool and last week's dinner on it?Now,we allbelieve hygiene is important.And,keeping things clean is a very good idea.I am notdepreciating the important role parents have in helping our children keep themselvesand their rooms clean.What I had missed was that just because an old man wasdisheveled was not a reason to judge him less of a human worthy of love than thenon-disheveled.How could a preacher miss that? Southern Union President Since we had planned to sing and pray,I dutifully went through the motionsnow,feeling a little more pressed for time and anxious to get in the car and quiz myson on his choice of nursing home grandparents.When I finished praying the unbe-lievable unfolded.Little Tim wrapped his chubby arms around Clyde as they sat onhis bed;then,before my very eyes,he gave Clyde a big kiss right on the lips.TheHoly Spirit grabbed me and I knew my son was the preacher and I was the disciple.It's one of the best sermons I've ever seen.I've never been quite the same since. My God looks not on the outward appearance,but on the heart. 2 TIDINGS·April 2008 TIDINGSVolume 102,No.4,April 2008The Southern Tidings is the OfficialPublication of the Southern UnionConference of Seventh-day AdventistsSOUTHERN UNION CONFERENCE3978 Memorial Drive·Mail AddressP.O.Box 849,Decatur,Georgia 30031Telephone(404)299-1832www.southernunion.comStaffEditor R.STEVEN NORMAN.IIEditorial Assistant IRISENE DOUCECirculation BOBBIE MILBURNProduction COLLEGE PRESSLayout BRIAN WIEHNContributing EditorsAdventist Health System AMANDA MAGGARDCarolina RON QUICKFlorida MARTIN BUTLERFlorida Hospital College DAWN McLENDONGeorgia-Cumberland TAMARA WOLCOTT FISHERGulf States BECKY GRICEKentucky-Tennessee MARVIN LOWMANOakwood University MICHELE SOLOMONSouth Atlantic JAMES LAMBSouth Central MICHAEL HARPESoutheastern ROBERT HENLEYSouthernAdventist University LORI FUTCHERConference/lnstitution DirectoryCAROLINA(704)596-3200P.O.Box 560339,Charlotte.NC 28256-0339FLORIDA(407)644-5000P.O.Box 2626,Winter Park.FL.32790-2626GEORGIA-CUMBERLAND(706)629-7951P.O.Box

FAQs

What started Tim’s relationship with Clyde?

Tim adopted a grandparent at the nursing home through a second grade community service class assignment.

How did the narrator initially view Clyde’s appearance?

The narrator judged Clyde as a “mess” and mistakenly valued cleanliness, assuming that meant less worthiness of love.

What happened during the singing and prayer visit?

Tim embraced Clyde and kissed him on the lips, and the narrator interpreted it as a powerful spiritual lesson about the heart.

Oct 3, 2026

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