Tired, but what do you do, part 2

I just received news from my friend that his family member who was at risk has decided to follow Christ's path of truth and light and not fall prey to the enemy. She has returned home and is choosing the way of God over the way of pain and lies.

This is why we do what we do and we keep making an effort to help those who seem to have no hope, live in poverty and desperation and will try anything to escape their situation. Simply put, we do what we do because of those who get God and His way and walk in it. The ones who don´t we give over to God regularly that some day, near or faroff, they will find His path.

Amen!

Tired, but what do you do

If you are like me there are certain times when you just get tired of stuff piling up and up and up. Maybe it's the junk we hear over the news online, on tv, radio, does anyone still listen to a radio? Maybe it's the load of work in your job that keeps coming at you. Maybe it's the struggle to balance family, work, hobbies, rest, and life in general.

I get tired of what I see or what I hear about the bad choices in people's lives here in Mexico. The past two weeks I have heard of three different situations where a young woman was making terrible decisions that could totally destroy any hope of a good life or future. Two of them I know, but one I have never seen or met. So, what do you do? Pray first. Well, at least it's a good idea to start there. Then what? Talk to them, support them, what????

Sometimes talking works in these situations. Some people actually listen to the counsel of others and make an attempt to salvage their life from the mess they have made. Some think it's just too hard, they've gone too far or messed up too badly. Some just don't care anymore, they are too far gone. So, what do you do?

Try. Do something. Don't quit. Pray again. Try. There are those few who do want more than a life of pain. They listen. Pray again.

Church...love, leave it, or just put up with it

Some days I love the church. Some days I could leave it and not come back. Some days I just put up with it. I know, this sounds kind of not so religious doesn't it. Well, I'm not so religious some days. Hear me out before you call me a heretic or a loser or any other names.

Sometimes I really get tired of the abuse of power, the struggle for power, the politics, etc. of the church. Sometimes I wonder if this organism called the church looks anything like what God intended it to be. Sometimes I wonder if we are doing it right or anywhere near what Jesus wants it to be done. Sometimes I look in the Bible and I see what the church is in the New Testament and think, "Huh?"

I have been involved with the organized church for over 45 years, my mom thought I should start early. She brought me to church when I was only a few weeks old. I have seen a lot of good things happen in the Body. I have seen some things that mad me cry with tears of joy or shout with an Amen, however, I shouted inside so no one would hear since I am in a conservative church. I have some of the best memories of my life in the church, baptizing both my kids at a small church called Bethany. I even remember a concrete block falling on my foot when I baptized my daughter. She was too short to stand in the baptistry so she stood on this block, until she kicked it on top of my foot, and I had no shoes on. Good times!

The last few years I have seen more of the fleshly nature in the church than the spiritual nature. And I don't like it. Not sure what God thinks, maybe one day we will find out. I know anytime you have people you have problems. Kenny C taught me that. I understand that we are all sinners and but by the grace of God we would stay in that sin mode all our lives. It just seems the church is over run by sin and lacking in people who are doing their best to walk in obedience to what Christ taught.

I am not perfect, ask my wife, my son, my daughter, oh anyone that knows me. I do not ever expect I will be. But I think maybe just maybe Christ wants me to make a serious attempt at living the words in the New Testament. Now I'm not talking legalism. Been there, done that. Left it behind. But when we will stop making excuses and start living Christ's way.

What does that mean? Love your neighbor as yourself. Do for others what you would have them do for you. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Bear one another's burdens.

Ha! Maybe you thought this was going to be a list of all the don't do's of the New Testament. Nope. There are so many things we are called to do if we would just do the do's we would not have time to worry about doing the don'ts. Go into all the world. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Do everything without grumbling or complaining. You get the point.

I talked to two great guys today, one who happens to be a missionary and the other a missionary recruit. They both get this, praise God! I love hanging out with these two guys. They make me love the church and see a hope for the church!

Jesus said something else, "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."