Enough is enough.

Just this week a thirty year crime was put to rest: The BTK killer who alluded the police for so long, and who sent an entire region of the country into a lengthy state of fear, has been found, convicted, and sentenced to 175 years in prison.

BTK - stands for "bind, torture, kill." Doesn't need much explaination does it?

Maybe you've seen movies about serial killers: Silence of the Lambs, Seven, Murder by Numbers. They all show serial killers as shady people who live in shadows. People who avoid the public, and who seem to spend more time underground than above.

But, this was not Dennis Rader. He was a known member of his community. He was a dog catcher. He was a community compliance officer.

But, the most shocking point in his life to anyone who has followed this case at all, is that he was a church-goer. And, not just any church-goer - he was the President of his Lutheran Church.

This is a position that mirrors our "Senior Warden."

People thought enough of him to nominate him for the position, and then elect him as their leader. They saw him as a spiritual leader. A friendly fellow. Someone they trusted to help run their church. His wife sang in the choir.

If Dennis Rader, the BTK killer can teach us anything, he should stand as a glaring example that just going to church isn't enough. Sitting in the pew, singing the hymns, listening to sermons, and putting our envelopes into the plate isn't enough. Reciting the Nicene Creed, the confession, and even taking Communion week by week, isn't enough.

There's more. Much more. And it's all in our heart, our soul, and our honest relationship with God.

This morning, in our Gospel lesson, Peter gets it right. Jesus asks him who he thinks he is, and Peter tells him that he is the Messiah.

The Greek word for "Messiah" is Christos. Remember that "Christ" isn't Jesus' last name - it's his title. It's who he is. "Messiah" - "Christ" literally means "the annointed one."What Peter is saying here, is that he believed that Jesus was the one that God annointed to save the world, and Israel in particular. Israel was in deep, deep trouble - oppressed by Rome and under social and political pressures to become more worldly and secular. Peter saw Jesus as the person God annointed to keep Rome at bay, and keep Israel faithful to the ways of God.

This is usually one of those biblical passages where we remind ourselves how great a disciple Peter was. He got the answer right. He knew who Jesus was. He got the gold star that day. And then Jesus tells him that he will be the rock on which the Church will be built.

This should be one of those days when churches like the one in Lonaconing (named after St. Peter) should rejoice: Peter here is lifted high. He got the answer right.

But, before we put Peter on too high of a pedestal, we must read on in the 16th chapter of Matthew. Because, in the very next paragraph Peter's world comes crashing down.

Jesus tells him what being God's annointed one - Messiah - Christ means: he will have to suffer and die. Peter flies off the handle, and tells him, "No!" "This can't be" "God forbid it!" And Jesus retorts, "Get behind me Satan."

You see, Peter got the answer to the question right: he knew Jesus' title, but he didn't understand what being God's annointed meant. He didn't know what God was requiring of Jesus, and quite obviously by Peter's later denial of Jesus, he didn't know what God would require of him either.

Having all the answers wasn't enough for Peter. It wasn't enough to know Jesus' name. It wasn't enough to take a few steps on water before he fell through the surface. It wasn't enough to pretend he was Jesus' best friend, until Jesus needed him the most.

There was more. Much more. And that 'more' needed to be in his heart, his soul, and his honest relationship with God.

We don't need to be perfect - that is impossible. What we need though is the willingness to foster and grow a relationship with God. If having the right answers, and logging in Sunday morning church time isn't enough, what we need to do is actually connect with God.

I have to believe that if Dennis Rader had actually connected with God, and honestly sought a relationship with Him, there's no way that he could have done the things he did. I have to beleive that if Peter took the time to connect with Jesus, and honestly seek a relationship with him on Jesus' terms instead of his own, he would have been more understanding of Jesus' mission and would have claimed him not only as his friend but as his Lord, when Jesus needed him the most.

And, I have to believe that we too can go deeper into God. Like a good marriage where both people come to know each other better, more intimately, and deeper as years go on, so can we do the same with God.

Being here this morning is a good thing. But, it's only a start.

Worshipping, reading the Bible, and saying the Creed are good things. But, they are only the beginning.

The deepening of one's understanding of God in the heart and soul is what we should most desire. That the Creator of the Sun, moon, and stars offers this intimacy is amazing. But, it is only a start.

We must return the offer of intimacy, and grow in God as God then grows in us.