Sin

This week my wife was approached by a friend who is big in the family/marriage industry. She wanted her to talk to a woman who was trying to leave an affair but struggling. After hours of phone time and emails the alarming thing that stands out is not that someone had an affair it's how prevalent it is in the Christian life.

This woman and her husband have both been involved in an affair with their spouses knpwledge for 3 years and she is finally thinking it might be wrong! She says they are Christians! Now as she finally gets some of this out of the dark she talks to others and they tell her about similar situations they are in. How sad that being a Christian now has no more meaning than being a blond or a football fan. We have watered down what Christianity is so far that it's no wonder those outside the faith have no desire to join and call us hypocrites.

It's time for us who claim to follow Christ to step up and lead this nation in a revival. It's now time to stop letting our flesh lead us and let God lead us. It's time to give up our desires and fulfill God's. God has warned His people over and over about the tragedy that would befall them if they did not turn from their ways and repent. Time after time God struck down whole cities who were flaunting their sins in God's face. Do we do that today? Do we love our neighbors? Do we submit to our spouses? Do we seek His guidance? Do we covet? What are our idols? We all say we would die for our families but would we serve them?

The old saying goes "there is always tomorrow". What if there isn't? What if God says "that's enough" and decides to pull up shop? Are we prepared for Christ's return? Is our house in order? Not just our personal house but the church. Are we doing our obligatory Sunday AM pew sitting and that's it? Who is challenging the establishment and saying "somethings missing and I think that something is following Christ"! Are we willing to give up all for Him who gave up all for us? I heard a pastor today ask "If you went out of town for a month would God's Kingdom notice?". He wasn't asking would they miss your tithe or would your kids miss their Dad etc. He was asking the big question, are we making any kind of difference? Are we?

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Pet peeve of the week

A manufacturer of baby monitors has recalled 2 million units due to the death of 2 children. Now, don't get me wrong. The death of any child is tragic but more children are killed in cars, on bikes, in bathtubs and by abusive parents not to mention the millions who have been killed by abortion. The recalled units did not explode or catch fire. They were placed too close to the cribs and the kids grabbed them and got tangled up. The company is now placing a warning on the packages about the potential for strangulation.

I have an idea. Maybe we should recall the parents who are either so irresponsible or negligent that they put the monitor too close to the crib. While we are at it lets recall cars, tubs, bikes and anything else we could hurt ourselves with. And since humans do so many stupid things maybe God should be recalled. After all He didn't warn us of all the trouble we could get into. Oh wait, He did, it's called the Bible.

Until we take responsibility for our actions society is doomed. Until we die to self and seek the One from Whom all knowledge is derived we will continue to be a blame someone else world. Read the Bible and see how well the people did who forgot about God and relied on their own brains. It's not a pretty picture.

Community

Lately I've been on a community kick. I don't think we take seriously enough the importance of relationships. God calls us to be in relationship, and not just with our self. And community does not mean 45 min. on a Sunday morning. I have been disappointed with how church and therefore many in the congregation dismiss or overlook this important part of following Christ.

Our hot water heater is going bad and needs replacing. I was going to tackle it this weekend. Friday I came home and we had a new hot water heater!!!!!!!!! We recently have been meeting with a younger couple and talking about marriage. The husband works in heating/AC and I had asked him how to go about replacing it. He took it upon himself to buy a heater and stop by at 9 in the morning and install it himself and haul away the old one. It blew my mind!!!!!!!! No one has ever done anything like that before for us. That is community! Helping others without being asked. There isn't a thing that couple could ask me for that I wouldn't try to do. But right now all I can say is Thank You.

With all my disappointment about the Christian community maybe God was showing me all is not lost. Just keep pressing on and don't give up.

I'm Bored!

When did society get to the point where we need to fill every hour of every day?

Our daughter and her husband are visiting from Texas and we are constantly asking them if they have something they want to do. Life is so full that the thought of sitting and doing nothing is a foreign concept. Somehow years ago families were able to get together and play games or read or take walks and talk. Today we are all tethered to a phone that gives us minute by minute updates on the world, friends and family. How did we survive without knowing within seconds that little Johnny said his first word? Would our quality of life diminish if we didn't get to see the Christmas pictures within hours after they were taken? Is it really that important to let everyone know that Wal-Mart is having a sale on hamster food?

In all the hustle and bustle of today when do we have time to really sit and talk to each other? When do we have time to quiet our minds to hear God speak to us? Perhaps it's time to get back to basics and live simpler and possibly happier lives.

Where's the line for Jesus?

A song that has been going around the last couple years asks this question.

What if Santa was at the mall and so was Jesus and you could only talk to one of them. Who would have the longest line? One guy is jolly, hands out candy and asks what he can bring you for Christmas in a couple weeks. The other guy looks pretty normal. No red suit or elf's. He has a brightness in his eyes but that's about it. He also knows all about you just like Santa but He isn't promising any gifts under the tree. He is offering you a gift but you won't fully appreciate it until you die.

So you have a dilemma. One guy is offering eternity but you have to wait while the other offers instant gratification. Which line is longer?

Being unique

Where I live people seem to have accepted mediocrity. The level or quality of work around here is poor but people seem to just look the other way rather than ask for more. I think parents have also gotten use to accepting mediocrity from their kids. We tend to raise our kids to fit the standard norms. Don't be too weird, don't dress different or call attention to yourself. But I have to wonder is that God's plan? Hasn't God made us in His image? I don't believe there is a cookie cutter in Heaven where people are made like carbon copies one after another. God has given each of us our own uniqueness, our own kwirks and gifts. We all aren't made to be athletes or musicians. We all aren't designed to go to college or to be pastors. We are individuals with our own abilities and passions.

For too long parents have tried to mold their kids into what they think the kids should be without really looking at the talents of their kids. Parents want their kids to "fit in". If being "normal" is such a great thing why is society in the shape it's in? If fitting in means conforming to the ways of this world than I say it's better to be non-conforming. What are the redeeming values in society today? It's hard to find many but if you did the opposite of what most people do you may be astonished what God does in your life.

Take a few chances. Step out of the norm. Follow God's call for your life wherever that may lead.

I have much to learn

Lately I've been seeking God and His word on the church. I don't think we are following the examples given us by the disciples. I don't think we understand the importance of relationship and how that fits into "church". Sometimes I just want to drop out and do things the way I think they should be done.

It's at these times that I begin to hear a small whisper that tells me to take a step back. It's these times when someone comes up to me and says "maybe you don't need the church but maybe the church needs you". It's at this point that while having a dialogue with my sister about church she indicates to me that I start to sound all knowing. It's during these times that I begin to see that I have much to learn.

While I will never stop questioning, I need to do it from a position of humility. While I still will not accept the answer "that's the way it's always been done". I will not condemn something just because it has been done a certain way for years. I will realize we are not all the same but will still strive to lead by example to all those in my sphere of influence. As my pastor put it "I don't have to save the world, that was taken care of by Jesus".

So God I ask you to give me your wisdom, grace and love but also the continuing desire to seek the truth wherever that may take me. Guide me as I travel this path you have me on, not knowing where I'm going. Always be thankful for those who have taken on the challenge of guiding your people and never be a hindrance to them. It's from all of your imperfect people, I being more imperfect than many, that I can learn so much.