The Mustard Seed Parable is a favorite of so many. I can remember mustard seed necklaces, little glass balls with a tiny mustard seed in it, how popular they were. That was J. C. Penny's idea. He distributed them. As I recall you could write him, not to the corporation but to him personally, and he would send you one.

J. C. Penny was an active churchman. He practiced tithing in his personal life. He believed that tithing was the reason for his spectacular success in business. It is just a fact that I remind you of as we look forward to the financial campaign around here in the next couple of weeks.

Jesus said, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this sycamore tree, `Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea,' and it will obey you."

In Luke this parable is preced…