To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”” [John 8:31-33 NIV] That is a question that we need to ask ourselves on this weekend when we celebrate Independence Day. Are we truly free? Are we free to be who God has created us to be? We live in a country where we celebrate the substantial freedom we have. Yet in our world today, there is a harmful tendency to divide individuals into groups or factions and put labels on them. This somehow makes life simpler. We don’t have to get to know someone individually or personally, but we can just identify them as being of “that type.” How easy is it today to be bound by an identity of what the world would call us? There are many labels that describe who we are. Married, divorced, single, widowed, young, middle-aged, senior citizens, Democrats, Republicans, conservative, liberal. And some of these labels carry baggage with them that weigh us down and try to restrict and limit our identity. In this passage in John, Jesus came to tell the Pharisees to proclaim that God wishes to call them by another name that cannot be taken away. It is their identity in which they are truly free. The Pharisees don’t understand Jesus’ claim because they assume they are already free. They are not slaves. We may be mistaken in the same way. What do you mean, we are not free? We live in the USA. The land of liberty. We are Americans. Christ came to set us truly free and call us His children. This is a title that cannot be taken away—that lasts beyond the other labels, a title that frees us to the truth of who we are. It is a name that sets us free to break through the labels that limit us in who we are and what the world sees us as. Only through this identity, as children of God, can we have true freedom. #aplaceforgrace #truefreedom

After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. [Mark 7:33-35 NIV] In Max Lucado's book, “Outlive Your Life,” he makes an observation that I had never noticed before about this story in the Gospel of Mark of Jesus healing a deaf and mute man. In the narrative a man is brought to Jesus who immediately takes him away from the crowds. He is taken aside so Jesus can work His miracle on him. Jesus explains to the man what he is about to do, because it is a bit odd. He is going to put His fingers in the man's ears, then spit on His hand and touch the man’s tongue to loosen it. Then Jesus did something that seemed out of character for Him. He sighed. Deeply. We don’t know what this sigh was about, but I never pictured Jesus, someone in control, composed, and serene, taking a deep exasperating sigh. I’m sure you have done your share of sighing: when things are not going your way, when there is one more interruption, when your car’s engine light goes on, when your credit card is not working, when the internet is down, when the gift you are buying for someone online won’t arrive until after their birthday. You sigh. Whether it’s a sigh of exasperation or mixed with anger and anguish, it’s a sigh. Life wasn’t meant to be this way. We live in an imperfect and down-right frustrating world sometimes. So, we sigh just like Jesus did. You can say that Jesus’ sigh was filled with “It was never intended to be this way. Your ears weren’t made to be deaf; your tongue wasn’t made to stumble.” But I have found new meaning for the “sighs” in my world—and that is “comfort.” When I feel a deep sigh coming over me, I remember this story in the Gospel of Mark, and know that Jesus sighed too. He understands where we are coming from and what we are feeling, and He is there with us. #aplaceforgrace

I have been thinking a lot about inflation lately. Every time I get gas or buy food I am aware that I am quietly worried about what we are headed for as a nation. Yet I must admit, my concerns are very different from those who are poor. For my family, it means eating out less and skipping the Starbucks. For other families, it is a deep and real fear. We often forget that inflation is the enemy of justice. If you are poor, you feel the realities of inflation in the most dramatic way. It means not paying the rent or skipping meals. It means staying at home because you cannot afford the gas to go anywhere. I remember my first experience of truly being poor in my early twenties. I moved to south Florida, and I did not make enough money to live on. I would go to the grocery store and realize for the first time that poor people who need the most help cannot take advantage of all the financial deals in the grocery store. The group who needs the most help is too poor to even get it. I knew it was cheaper to buy the products in larger amounts, but I could never afford the larger container. That was a small revelation, but during that period in my life I recognized many other realities of those who are not economically secure. As we struggle through the highest inflation in four decades we are going to feel it. It is just important to remember that we all feel it differently. It is in these times that we should remember the words of Jesus. “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40) Any opportunity to bless someone, like donating a bag of groceries for the Food pantry or simply giving a financial gift to someone you believe is hurting from inflation, is the same as doing it for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So, tighten your belt and be open to blessing another. #aplaceforgrace #blessinganother

This past Wednesday, June 1, a longtime member of St. Andrew’s, Robert Kittner, celebrated his 100th birthday. I had the privilege of sitting with Robert and his daughter, Shirley Tucker on Tuesday. It gave me an opportunity to hear him reflect upon some of the big questions of life. Shirley also provided me with a background of Robert’s amazing life. So, you could say that this blog post is co-authored by Shirley, as well. If you have not had the pleasure of meeting Robert, he is a distinguished gentleman who attends the 8:15 a.m. service faithfully. He started attending St. Andrew's with his wife Nance back in 2008. Robert is a kind and humble man who has lived a life of service and adventure. He was born in Clifton, NJ spending summers at his grandmother’s hotel in Ocean Grove, NJ. Both his parents and his grandmother insisted he attend church. Because of this, his faith in God has remained with him throughout his life. I asked him about the most influential person in his life and he named his father. He was firm and loving to Robert, but also willing to make sacrifices for his children. Robert believes that his parents' decision to sell their home and move to a better school district for Robert’s high school years was a pivotal moment in his life, influencing his future careers. Following high school, Robert entered college majoring in mechanical engineering. After two years he enlisted in the Air Force. During this time in the military, he served as a flight instructor as well as flying C-47s. He was eventually assigned as an aide -de-camp to General Davies and promoted to 1st Lieutenant. He achieved this position because of his outstanding ability to fly by instruments. This was necessary due to the winds and turbulent weather that characterized the Aleutian Islands, where he was stationed. After he left the military, he finished his degree, moved to Vermont and built a ski lodge called the Wits End. Eventually he landed with Sheraton Hotels, quickly moving up to international positions, and spent the next twenty years living in England, Lebanon, India, Belgium, and then England again, and served as VP of South Asia. I asked him what lessons he had learned throughout his long life. He said, “Don’t do things you will later have to apologize for. Always have a heart for service.” Throughout his life, working and serving with humility were aways the focus. I also asked Robert what he was most proud of and he responded that he had not done anything he regretted. Amazing words for someone who has lived so long. When I asked him what the secret to a happy marriage is, he responded, “sharing.” He explained this response by saying that at some point in his life he and his wife Nance started sailing together. It was their shared passion for which they actively pursued. After they retired, they went every summer and sailed the Mediterranean, dry docking the boat at the end of their stay and then returning the next year and continuing their journey. They did this for 13 years. Robert is so grateful to God for the life he has lived. He has been blessed with a large family with six children: Lee (Shirley), Smokie, Chuck, Julia, Margaret and Mac; eleven grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Robert continues to deeply love God and serves in various ways. I asked him what makes him most happy these days and he said, “doing anything that reflects God’s creation.” Robert, you are an inspiration to us all. #aplaceforgrace #celebrating100years

The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches. [Matthew 13:31-32 NIV] In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus shares a parable about a mustard seed—a seed that produces one of the largest of all shrubs, with branches large enough that birds can perch on them. All this from the smallest of all seeds of the earth. One of the assumptions of this parable is that the one who plants the seed most likely will not be able to appreciate the fruits of their labor. It will be for future generations. St. Andrew’s has given its community an opportunity to plant seeds that future generations will be able to enjoy. Last year our church established a Permanent Endowment Fund and a committee to oversee its operation. You may not be familiar with it, but it is a way to leave a legacy to the church that will grow and flourish so that this church at the corner of Bryan Rd. and Bloomingdale Ave. will be an active and thriving presence in our community for years to come. It will ensure that this church will continue its ministries and mission to be the light of Christ into the world. This team, chaired by Boyd Ballard, has committed to the essential mission of helping those in our church community be informed of what avenues are available for financial considerations, options that will benefit the church as well as offer advantages to the donor. These may include wills, trust, annuities, bequests, or insurance policies. Through generous donations from various individuals in the church, the Permanent Endowment Fund has already amassed about $20,000. The Permanent Endowment Fund Committee wants to know what would be of benefit in helping you be informed of the options that are available for legacy giving. Please take a moment to take the following brief survey by clicking HERE . I leave you with these words from John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, It is not an easy thing to give back to God all that we have received… This work will require all our wisdom, perseverance, patience, and faithfulness. Good stewardship requires more than we naturally have within ourselves but no more than we receive from grace. God’s grace is sufficient for us, and we know that all things can be done for the one who believes.” #aplaceforgrace #endowmentfund

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. [John 15:13 NIV] This Monday we honor Memorial Day. It is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering those who died while serving in the country's armed forces. It’s a time when we stop to truly honor and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, those who lost their lives in service to our country by fighting for and protecting the freedoms we cherish. I debated what to write about this week as there are so many events weighing deep on our hearts today. The horrible mass shooting of innocent school children in Texas as well as the lingering violence and bloodshed being waged in the Ukraine. Why write about a secular holiday? But, the core of what we honor on Memorial Day is sacrifice. In this light, we could say that Memorial Day is a religious holiday. We need only to look to Jesus’ words in John 15:13 to see that the ultimate expression of love is when one lays down their lives for others. Isn’t that what Jesus did? He displayed the greatest embodiment of sacrifice—being nailed to a cross so that we may be freed from the burden of our sins. Don’t interpret Jesus’ words to say that we must actually die for others. We are to set an example—make a statement in a world full of people who simply desire to live only for themselves. We are to put away our desires and think of others. Isn’t that what sacrifice is all about? To give up something we cherish for the sake of a better cause. The common good. To give up something we yearn for the sake of others. Memorial Day is a time to honor those in the military who lost their lives putting themselves in harm’s way. But it is also a time to remind us that we should live sacrificially. And when we do so, won’t this world be a better place? Life’s biggest problems are born when old-fashioned selfishness and pride get in the way. I cannot vouch for its validity, but I read an article on the Internet that one of the impetuses for the 18-year-old to go on a shooting rampage was because he could not graduate high school with the rest of his class. He didn’t get want he wanted. Our light really shines brighter and warmer, and we find fulfillment in life when we serve others, when we give up what we want for someone else. Live sacrificially. Isn’t that what we honor this weekend? Isn’t that what Christ did? Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. #aplaceforgrace #memorialday #sacrifice

Yet the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from my whole family to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah as leader, and from the tribe of Judah he chose my family, and from my father’s sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel. [1 Chronicles 28:4 NIV] Max Lucado’s book “Facing Your Giants,” speaks to how we face life’s disappointments, or even stronger, life’s defeats. Many times we wonder why God lets things happen. Sometimes we blame God and become bitter. However, we can change our whole outlook on the situation by changing a single, simple word. In the Old Testament, David wanted to build a temple. As Lucado writes, “And who better than he to do so? Hadn’t he, literally, written the book on worship? Didn’t he rescue the ark of the covenant? The temple would have been his swan song, his signature deed. David had expected to dedicate his final years to building a shrine to God.” That was David's intention, “King David rose to his feet and said: ‘Listen to me, my fellow Israelites, my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it.” 1 Chronicles 28:2 NIV. David had all intentions to do so. He made the preparations. Then what happened— a conjunction. A “but.” In 1 Chronicles 28:3 it says, “but God said to David ... ” It’s a no go on the building the temple. You are a warrior not a builder. As Lucado writes in his book, here is what happened to David: "I had intended … I had made preparations … But God … " You may know of someone who has had this experience, or maybe that someone is you. Plans for new career. Plans for a family or a successful marriage. Retirement plans. And then you are hit with a “but God” moment in life. How does one respond? If you look at the story of David, he followed the “but God” with a “yet God.” “Yet the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from my whole family to be king over Israel forever.” David trusted God and His different plan for him. David faced the monster of all disappointments with “yet God.” David trusted. His “but God” became a “yet God.” Who’s to say yours won’t become the same? #aplaceforgrace #yetgod

Often in a church, there are ministry happenings that most of the congregation may not know about. This past April, our Quilters Corner group made a difference in Ukraine. They did so by sending 26 quilts to the border of Poland to a church that was handing them out to Ukrainians as they crossed the border. It all started with a quilting shop in Dade City called Quilted Twins. Some of the ladies from our quilters group frequent this shop owned by two sisters. One sister lives here and the other lives in Poland. The one in Poland attends a church that is deeply involved in supporting those coming over the border from Ukraine. The two sisters got inspired and began to collect quilts to send to Poland. The ladies of St. Andrew's heard about the need and jumped in as well. Twenty-six quilts were delivered from St. Andrew's and several trips were made to the shop to help pack quilts for shipping. Our own Sid Eskridge helped the owners of the shop come up with a process for shipping the quilts, which was going to be a bigger challenge until Sid jumped in with his expertise. Ultimately, four thousand quilts were shipped to the Ukraine in the month of April from this small shop in Dade City. I love this story because this is how the body of Christ is supposed to work. We are all called to use our gifts when we see a need in front of us. Scripture teaches us in 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, “There are different spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; and there are different ministries and the same Lord; and there are different activities but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good.” What this reminds us of is that through our baptism we are given unique gifts that we are called to use. Some are spiritual gifts like compassion or empathy, yet others are talents, abilities, and life experiences we can draw from. God uses all of us to meet the needs of others. Maybe for you it is quilting, or maybe you are good at developing processes like Sid. For others it may be cooking or delivering meals for a ministry like Meals on Wheels. What is important is to be on the lookout for ways to serve that may be right in front of you. Ask God to help you see the need and then know He will help you meet the need. If you are interested in helping the people of Ukraine, join us for our Virtual Night of Prayer on Thursday, May 26 at 7 p.m. We'll be praying as a community for the people of Ukraine, as well as sharing opportunities for you to support them with your offerings and time. Visit SAUMC.Life for the Zoom link the night of the event. #aplaceforgrace

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who were sent to you! How often I have wanted to gather your people just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. [Luke 13:34 CEB] This Scripture passage in Luke is part of Jesus’ response when He is told to leave Jerusalem because King Herod wants to kill Him. Jesus refuses to leave the city, but not out of defiance. Nor does Jesus say, “bring it on” and is ready for a battle. His response is a response of genuine love for the people of Jerusalem. Even though they have killed and stoned the prophets or messengers of God who were sent to them, and they are about to kill another one (himself), His reaction is not resentment or anger for these acts. He has compassion on the people of Jerusalem. “How often I have wanted to gather your people just as a hen gathers her chicks under wings.” He compares His love and compassion with a mother hen’s love and compassion for her chicks. What a remarkable testimony—that the closest example of God’s love for God’s people is a mother’s love for her children. Throughout the Bible, motherhood is raised to a special standard, and is as near to God’s love as we can experience here on earth. The Apostle Paul, in all his teachings on the Christian faith and in his words of encouragement to the early Christians in his vital writing in the New Testament, would always take time to stop and send greetings to certain people. And in some cases, he not only sends his greetings, but also reminds them to say “hi” to their mothers as well. “Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.” Romans 16:13. And in 2 Timothy 1:5, he writes to Timothy himself with these words, “I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice.” One of the 10 Commandments, the standard of how we are to live our lives, tells us that we are to “honor our father and mother.” Yes, it does mention fathers as well, but it is the only commandment that comes with a promise, “so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12 There is the special love between Jesus and His mother Mary. How often do we read that Mary observed all that Jesus was doing, and treasured it in her heart? And, as Jesus was drawing His last breaths on the cross, He was concerned about His mother. He looked at His disciple John and His mother Mary standing together and in John 19:26 turns over the care of His mother to John. Motherhood has a special place in the Christian faith. Yet we know in our own lives that motherhood may not live up to that special place. Mother’s Day may be different for you. You may be a mother of a child you are estranged from. Or you may be a woman who is not able to have children. You may be grieving the loss of a child, something that no mother or father should ever have to face. You may be grieving the loss of your own mother this year. Or maybe your own mother was not the shining example of motherhood. Maybe she was not there for you, nor did she provide for you. Mother’s Day involves all kinds of complexities. Mother’s Day may not be a glorious day of celebration for you personally, yet we can celebrate mothers this Sunday if we look at the ideal that God set out for the love of mothers as a reason to celebrate. Jesus longs to gather us together in His love just as a mother—a mother hen who gathers her chicks under loving, supportive and protective wings. Amen. #aplaceforgrace #amotherslove

Mordecai had been a father to Hadassah (that is, Esther), though she was really his cousin, because she had neither father nor mother. The girl had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at. When her parents died, Mordecai had taken her to be his daughter. [Esther 2:7 CEB] If you have never read the book of Esther in the Old Testament, take some time to sit down and read it. It only takes a few minutes to read. I cannot get into the whole plot right now, for that would take up quite a few paragraphs of this devotion. Yet the story of Esther is a remarkable story and unique for a variety of reasons. For one, if you searched all through the text of the book you will not find any mention of God, or prayer, or any worship practices. But even though God is never mentioned specifically in the text, as you read the story of Esther, you cannot help but see the handiwork of God interwoven all throughout the story. God’s guiding presence can be seen throughout the story as certain events unfold. How often do we go about our business unaware of what God is doing in our lives? We never see a huge neon sign come out of the clouds pointing to something that says, “God is here.” Just like the book of Esther, we do not see signs of God’s work spelled out in big block letters, but the evidence of God is all around us. How often do we fail to detect it as we go about living our lives? There is an anonymous poem that captures this sentiment. “Oh, where is the sea,” the fishes cried, As they swam the Atlantic waters through; “We’ve heard of the sea and the ocean tide And we long to gaze on its water blue.” Just as these fish swim about looking for the sea, we today live and move about in an ocean of God’s providence, but we cannot see the ocean for all the water. We are unaware that God’s presence is all around us. We live in a world where the direct activity of God is comprehended as other things, other reasons. To quote the author J. Wallace Hamilton, “In a world that could not for one moment exist without the activity of God, we have conditioned our minds to a way of thinking that leaves no room for him. So many of our wants are provided by what seem natural and impersonal forces, that we have lost sight of the great Provider in the midst of providence.” It is no wonder that we feel like the fish in the poem, looking for the great ocean of God’s presence among all the water, when it turns out that the ocean is all around us. We are swimming in a sea of grace. #aplaceforgrace #seaofgrace

It was still the first day of the week. That evening, while the disciples were behind closed doors because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy. [John 20:19-20 CEB] It is interesting to note, as we read the narratives of that first Easter Sunday in each of the four Gospels, how each character reacts to the resurrection of Jesus. To Mary Magdalene, her experience of the risen Lord didn’t happen until Jesus called her by name. Mary didn’t recognize Him and thought He was the gardener. John recounts in his gospel that the disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. We read how Thomas didn’t experience the risen Lord until later, for he wasn’t with the disciples on that first evening and wouldn’t believe it until he put his finger in the nail marks of Christ’s hand. Then there were the two men who thought the risen Lord was just some wise stranger, even though He walked with them all the way to a town named Emmaus. When we read Scripture, we are peeking into the stories of those who were there and revisiting how they experienced the risen Lord. So, the question we must ask ourselves today is, “How do WE experience the risen Lord?” One of the things we can say about the stories we read in the Gospels is that Jesus appeared to each in different forms, different ways. So maybe the risen Lord is revealed to each of us in a way that uniquely touches us. Maybe we experience the risen Lord in a voice—an inner voice that guides us, gives us direction, warns us of danger, or soothes us when we are seemingly uncontrollable in crisis. Maybe we experience the risen Lord as a presence—not a presence that we can take a picture of, but as an overpowering sense that we are not alone. Maybe we experience the risen Lord as a sudden, unexplainable change of heart—something that overcomes us with comfort when we are in the depths of sorrow, something that saturates us with joy when our world is dark and gloomy. And maybe, just maybe, we experience the risen Lord through others—others who can say that they have experienced the risen Lord and who live out their lives as witnesses to the resurrection. These are people for whom the resurrected Christ has so deeply touched them that they have given their life to be bearers of Jesus’ light. The witnesses to the resurrection are not solely the ones we read about in the Bible on that first Easter Sunday. We can all be included in that group. We can be "Easter people" by being witnesses to His resurrection through the way we live our lives—by helping to alleviate suffering; by standing up for someone who seems to always be put at the end of the line; by seeking and granting forgiveness; by striving for reconciliation rather than strife in relationships; by offering healing for those who are broken; by striving for what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable and praiseworthy. At Easter, God vindicated the kind of life that was in Christ Jesus. Shouldn’t we somehow make these things a part of us? #aplaceforgrace

Very early in the morning on the first day of the week, the women went to the tomb, bringing the fragrant spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. [Luke 24:1-3 CEB] If you just stop here at the end of Luke 24:1:3, you will be left hanging. Perplexed. The women go to the tomb on that Easter morning to take spices they have prepared to properly bury Jesus. But when they get there, they find that the tomb is empty. Jesus’ body is not there. Gone. What happened to Jesus? It might be a thought-provoking exercise to just pause at this point in our reading of the Easter story and contemplate an empty tomb. Yes, we have the advantage of reading the rest of the story in the Gospel of Luke, which gives us a grand picture of the message of the Easter story. We observe the reactions and the reflections of the disciples, the two men on the road to Emmaus, and others as they sort through the events of the last few days and come to the grand realization of the risen Christ. We follow along with them and fathom everything through them. But if it is possible, let’s push aside that we may already know what happens next and just stop after verse 3 to ask ourselves, “What about the empty tomb?” “What does the empty tomb mean to me?” Is empty a good thing or a bad thing?" I read an article in Homiletics Online that explains it this way. Given a choice, we may say that full is always better than empty. Think about it. "Full" is good. A marriage full of laughter and love? Good. A full bank account? Good. A full stomach? Good. Children full of respect and manners? Good. Full church on Sunday? For us pastors, that's good. A person who is "full" is one who's able to look at her or his life and say, "Every need is met, every fear is silenced, and every obstacle is overcome." Most would say, "That's what I want. That's what I'm aiming for!" But let's be terribly honest. If we believe that we're complete, that our lives are as they should be, then this day, this message, this reality of the resurrected Jesus Christ just isn't for us. Here's the deal: Easter isn't for full people. It isn't for the "have-it-all-together-life-is-good" people. No, Easter is for empty people. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is for those who've figured out that in this life, "full" is a fleeting feeling. Some of us have felt the emptiness of losing someone close. Others know what it's like to have your health fading or your family fighting. Let’s be honest, we all have to admit to experiencing one or more of the following: a prayer that's unanswered, a depression that's lingering, a faith life that's stagnant, a marriage that's struggling, or a future that's uncertain. We all know what it feels like to be empty. And the good news is that for all of us who fall into that category, we are the ones Easter is for. Easter is not for full people. Easter is for empty people. There are two types of people in this world—empty and full. Which one are you? Empty isn't a bad thing. An empty tomb means Jesus is alive. Emptiness in your life simply means you're the one Jesus rose for, and you're ready to receive all that He has to give. #aplaceforgrace #emptytomb