A Strange Weight Loss Program

This week, I read an article from a sermon by Rich Doebler.  He tells a story from Thomas Costain's book The Three Edwards, describing the life of Raynald III, a 14th-century duke in what is now Belgium. Grossly overweight, Raynald was commonly called by his Latin nickname, Crassus, which means fat.

After a violent quarrel, Raynald's younger brother Edward led a successful revolt against him. Edward captured Raynald, but did not kill him. Instead, he built a room around Raynald in the Nieuwkerk castle and promised him he could regain his title and property as soon as he was able to leave the room. This would not have been difficult for most people, since the room had several windows and a door of near-normal size—none of which were locked or barred. The problem was Raynald's size. To regain his freedom, he needed to lose weight.

But Edward knew his older brother. Each day he sent a variety of delicious foods into the room. Instead of dieting his way out of prison, Raynald grew fatter. When Duke Edward was accused of cruelty, he had a ready answer: "My brother is not a prisoner. He may leave when he so wills." Raynald stayed in that room for 10 years and wasn't released until after Edward died in battle. By then his health was so ruined that he died within a year—a prisoner of his own appetite.

This Sunday in worship, we are going to be speaking to the many things that take hold of us and put us in that room with Raynald.  It is not always, nor even usually food.  All of us find ourselves entangled with and often held prisoner by the things of this world, keeping us from those places to which God has called us. 

But in contrast, we will be visiting Paul and Silas in a prison in Philippi.  Surprisingly, despite their chains and restraints, they were able to sing.  In the prison, they found Someone powerful enough to overcome the forces inside and outside those walls.  All of us need that same power as we deal with our own “Raynald Rooms”, whatever they may be.  We have a lot more to say about this and I hope you will plan on joining us as we join Paul in Philippi this Sunday!  See you there,

In Christ,

Pastor Pete