I was talking to my uncle yesterday about all the things that we like to do when we get home. About all those things that we think about when we are at work and can’t wait to get home to do.

We talked about those hobbies and diversions we have that, really help us keep our sanity! Those things that we rush to do when we walk in the door and put on our tennis shoes and blue jeans after a long day of work.

Our hobbies and diversions were different, yet we both understood the importance of our favorite pastimes. The things that he most looked forward to were tinkering on the tractor on weekends and cruising on the lake.

We talked about our shared interest in writing and poetry and all those things that we do and look forward to at the end of the day.

And then he asked me what I really liked to do to unwind. What I really looked forward to when I walked in the door and put all the days work aside, what kept my sanity intact as much as possible?

And I thought for a moment at what I looked forward to as I was driving home and I mentioned reading everything I could, watching and critiquing movies, I really enjoy politics and everything political, and I am discovering my joy of painting.

But the thing that I really look forward to more than anything else in the world when I come home and when I’m with my friends and family, would have to be arguing.

"Arguing?" he asked? And then I realized that may not have sounded very good so I changed my answer and I said, "well, debating".

But to be honest, debating really is arguing, it just sounds better and more civilized to say debating. But we all know what it is.

But whatever you want to call it, I really do enjoy it!

I guess I enjoy it so much because I was never allowed to get the last word in, much less argue growing up!

But it wasn’t for a lack of trying, I did everything I could to practice the art of debating, or arguing, but my parents never shared my interest in the sharing of opposing viewpoints.

My mother would tell me, "Steve, go clean your room". Now I would want to tell my mother that my room was already clean and I would say "but", and then she’d cut me right off and say, "don’t you argue with me!".

And then I’d have to go in my room and sneeze on the dresser so I’d have something to clean up!

On other nights, my father would tell me, "Son, go do your homework!" And knowing that I had already completed my homework, I tried to inform my father, but all I could get out of my mouth was "But!", and then he’d answer back, "Don’t you argue with me, now go!"

So I’d go in my room and retrace my math homework.

Even my brother would join in on this crusade to eliminate the last word from my mouth!

If he ever forgot to take out the trash he would blame it on me, and of course I would run to defend myself, but all I could get out was "But", before my brother quickly shouted, "Don’t you argue with mama!"

And I would go take out the trash.

So now that I have the opportunity to get in the last word and debate, and on some occasions, ARGUE, I jump at the chance, in fact, I look forward to it when I get home!

Shelley calls it just being plain hard-headed, but I call it exploring both sides of the conversation.

For example, she used to ask me where I wanted to go to eat, and I would say, "well, give me your points for going to a particular restaurant, and I’ll give you my points for why that would be the wrong choice!"

Now, she just tells me where to go.

The same thing happens with movies, she used to tell me what she thought about the movie we just saw, and I would respond with my argument supporting or going against her opinion.

Now she just eats popcorn.

In fact, do y’all remember that lawyer who wore the buckskin jacket on television during the O.J. Simpson trial? Well we wrote a book that I’ve ready a dozen times called "How to Argue and Win Every Time".

And I thought that I was the King of the Debate, that no one on this planet could match me in the skill of debate, in the art of the argument, that is until I met Betty.

And I have since handed over my crown and admitted defeat. And Shelley couldn’t be happier!

But you know, believe it or not, like it or not, we all practice the art of arguing, we all debate on a daily basis!

It may not be as involved as Shelley and I debated over what restaurant, but every couple has debated in some way or another, where to go eat, or what color to paint the guest bedroom, or what name for the newborn baby!

If anyone has ever negotiated a salary knows the benefits of the debate.

Anyone who has ever talked down a price or interest rate knows the benefit of the debate!

Even Betty and I debate rather publicly each week over who has a better football team, the Clemson Tigers or the South Carolina Gamecocks.

And this past week, the American people have experienced the benefits of the argument as we watched two very important debates between the presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

We all were able to see where each candidate stood on various issues that are important to us; taxes, health care, abortion, and social security.

Some of us may have changed their mind after watching the debate, while others of us have strengthened our original position.

That is after all, the goal of arguing, the goal of debating, to either sway opinions or to affirm an opinion.

We were able to hear each candidate explain why their plan is better for the American people and why we all be better off if we give them our vote, and it was wonderful because we were able to see for ourselves firsthand, the goals and promises of the candidates.

And we can decide for ourselves who will better the United States of America as the candidates arguing their case for keeping the peace and security of our nation, who will lead and ensure the FREEDOM of the freest nation in the world, the most POWERFUL and PROSPEROUS, and the most INDEPENDENT nation on this planet.

We’ll argue and debate over coffee at the café and in living rooms across America.

In fact, it’s the second greatest debate going on in our world today! Who is going to enter the office of President of the United States of America?

But there is another debate that is greater. There is another question that means more than who will lead this country for the next four years.

We won’t see the argument between politicians behind podiums and referred by a moderator.

We won’t see polls each morning on the news on which argument is winning over the public.

But the argument is made every day.

The question is asked every second. We ask the question with our thoughts, our doubts, our fears, intellect, and our actions?

We discuss it in our homes behind closed doors and in our hearts and minds in the deepest part of our being.

The greatest debate is not who will enter the highest office of the land, but who will enter the Kingdom of God?

What must I or anybody do to receive the joy and hope that comes from being a child of God?

Some say it’s what we believe, but we all differ on what that is!

Some say it’s what we do, but still others say our works mean nothing!

What do we have to do? Who do we have to be to know that we are loved, to know that there is a place for after we leave this one?

What does it mean for us to be a child of God? And who do we become one?

The greatest debate in our lives is not over who will lead us, but who will live IN us.

The greatest issue is not tax relief, health care, or social security, but peace, love, joy, and life everlasting!

The candidates are not Republican or Democrat, but Faith and Disbelief.

This Great Debate has been going on for centuries. Kings, and peasants, rich and poor, famous and nameless have all shared in this debate, who will enter the Kingdom of God?

The answer may surprise you.

The disciples were members of this debate. In fact, they were active participants, arguing for their side. And they make their argument in our scripture lesson this morning, without saying a word.

Remember when I said that we all have debated the issue of who may enter the Kingdom of God with our actions? The disciples were doing just that when they saw a bunch of children coming their way.

People were bringing their children to the man called Jesus. They just wanted him to touch their child, to lay his hand on their head just for a moment, just for a simple blessing that would last forever!

The children wanted to see this man who everybody talked about, they wanted to see what he looked like, what he sounded like, how he smiled.

But the disciples thought different. How dare these children bother us and Jesus! Who do they think they are coming and climbing on such a great teacher?

They and their parents should be ashamed for outrageous act of disrespect! And the followers of Christ began to push them away while those little children tried to protest "but, but, but".

Without saying a word, their actions were screaming that those children were not worthy to be in the presence of Christ. That those children are too young to understand and debate the issue of faith.

Bring them back when they’re older and wiser they might have thought. Without saying a word, they were dictated who they thought should enter the Kingdom of God.

And in the midst of disciples shooing children and scolding parents rose an angry Jesus, stopping his followers from judging who may see the face of God, and called them back.

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

This was the second time Christ had mention children and the kingdom of God in the same sentence. What does he mean? We who have followed you for months and have studied the laws of Moses and hung on your words are told that we must be like children?

Ignorant and foolish? Running around bothering everybody and asking so many questions? So fragile and delicate?

Who are they to lead the way into heaven? Who are they to lead the way to God?

They are what we are called to be. They are what we should strive to be like. They are what we have worked so hard to move away from in this life.

While we work so hard to be independent in every walk of life, they remain dependent, needy and they know it. When they fall, they cry for help.

When they are scared, they cry for help.

When they are happy, they show their gratitude.

They may be ignorant of the world and how it works, having been sheltered are cared for, but they understand grace.

They are too young to have been tarnished by the nature of this world. When they receive a gift, they are thankful, not suspicious.

They are grateful, not looking for the catch.

They may not possess the vast knowledge that is found in volumes of books, but they trust the answers we give them. They trust and believe wholly, regardless of whether of not they understand.

They run to those who love them. They don’t wait to see if they run first.

The Kingdom of God belongs to such as these; those who depend and always look to God, those who receive the grace of Christ, those who have the faith of children, those who love.

This is who the kingdom belongs to.

It’s not the little details and what we do that punches our ticket into eternal life, it’s our faith and dependence on God which yields love and joy, that makes the difference.

Who may enter? You and me. Once we become like little children, and run into the open arms of Christ.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.