Mike Edmisten Follower of Jesus. Husband of Nicki. Father of Ryan & Brock. Communicator of the Word.

Where Have You Been, Jesus?

There's an old hymn that churches used to sing as a benediction called Take The Name of Jesus With You. Apparently someone in New York wanted to take it to the next level. He/She/They decided to simply take Jesus.

John and Joan Leising of Buffalo, New York had the infant Jesus stolen from their lighted nativity scene last year. The perpetrators left a note saying that the statue would be returned in three days. Three days turned into eight months. But Jesus was finally returned, complete with a photo album of his travels.

Someone had posed the statue in front of Thruway signs in Binghamton, Rochester, Albany and Poughkeepsie. Other photos showed little Jesus on a bicycle, on a horse, wearing a seat belt in a car, in a chair next to a campfire, and in someone's kitchen.

Maybe it's the prankster in me, but this just makes me smile. And I love John Leising's response to all this. He said, "The real Jesus would have forgiven the pranksters — and I do too."