For those in New England there is nothing cooler that sitting on a front porch (Not a deck, but a covered porch.) watching the seasons change or enjoying a summer thunderstorm. The front porch meant exactly that. It was the place where you sat and had family times. It was the place of cool summer drinks and times with friends. Many of the front porches I have had over the years, not only kept the weather off, but provided a respite from the heat of the home in summer. A place to watch the river across the street meander by. New England porches usually were close enough to the road in front to wave to strolling neighbors. Often a neighbor would climb the stairs and sit down with you.

I love front porches. I love the sense of community. The fun times.

But I submit to people you do not get to know people until you get inside their home. You will see memories or their lack of memories on walls and refrigerators. You will know if they are unorganized or organized.

You can tell something from a front porch. But in reality it is more like a pretense or a shell. It is is only when you get past the front door do you begin to see the character, the integrity, the hurts and the successes.

Hospitality is like that. It is one thing to bring a cool drink to the front porch. Yet another to be inside the home. The kitchen is really the most telling of all home life. It is there the average person spends the most time.

Jesus is a lot like that. Many have invited Him onto their front porch. He enjoys your hospitality but He is looking for a “kitchen experience.” Ironically, as hard as we try we cannot keep Him out. He has our heart.

I think a lot of folks look at life like that. How can we be one and only have front porch experiences? I sense we are on the brink of something. I see that my front porch has been great. It has been fun. But there is more coming down the pike.