Father's Day Surprise

This weekend brought a huge surprise. Doug received a text from Tammy to see if she could come over and demonstrate a product for us. While we never got to the demonstration, we revived a relationship that served to shape us and added such value. I was reminded how God delicately places people in our lives.

Several years ago, we offered a place to stay for this young lady who was having some difficulties after the loss of her dad to cancer. A unique relationship ensued and for the next few years she allowed us to mentor her. We lost touch with her for a while, but were invited to her graduation. What joy to know that she is at an important juncture in her life and we can be a part of it. During our conversation, we learned she lives at one of the apartment complexes where we do outreach. She has offered her time to help with Sunday Bible Blast.

A cool part of the story is it all happened on Father's day. A day I was missing my daddy who died of cancer two and half years ago. I think Tammy was missing her daddy, too. She has looked to Doug to offer a fatherly voice in her life and maybe, in some way that made the day a little easier for her.

Sometimes I personally get caught up in the things of life, I forget to invest in the people God has placed in my life. What about you? Is there anyone who made an indelible mark in your life that you've lost touch with? What would happen if you renewed that relationship?

Myopia

There is a vision problem among God's people. Somewhere along the way, we have lost focus on the things of God. We are more concerned with our own comfort and less about adults and students who struggle in their personal lives, many of whom are devoid of hope. We argue and gripe over uncomfortable chairs and lack of air conditioning, instead of being broken over those who are dying without Christ. We have families struggling with infidelity, drug abuse, debt, job loss, health problems, etc. We have a students who wake up everyday with the goal of trying to survive the abuse they face at home. Other teens struggle with unplanned pregnancy, parent drug abuse, pagan rituals within the home, the embarrassment of an incarcerated parent, mental illness,and just trying to fit in somewhere.

Somehow, we have lost our way. We have forgotten that Jesus endured hours of beatings, plucking of his beard, taunts, jeers, spitting, cursing, etc. He was falsely accused. After hours of torture, he carried a heavy cross through the streets and endured more ridicule and humiliation. He was nailed to the cross. He hung between two thieves. Soldiers gambled for His clothing. His followers deserted Him. He died. For you. For me. For all humanity. This is the hope for all the world. It is the difference between heaven and hell for all.

And we have the audacity to complain. In the church building. Among the church which is comprised of those who claim to have received salvation through Christ's sacrifice. Those who hold the very hope that people seek out. Hope that sets us free!

A few words come to mind as I mull over the 10 minutes I spent among the complainers. Selfish. Disconnected. Ungrateful. Grave concern. Life and death hang in the balance and we trade opportunity to share hope for...get this...comfortable chairs and airflow. That's right, material things...things that in the end will burn up and be destroyed have stolen our focus from the eternal things.

Do we ever come to a place in life where we do not HAVE to work out our salvation? Do we ever come to a place in our faith walk where we do not have a burden for those in our space who are without hope and going to hell unless we share truth with them? "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ–the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith." Phil 3:8-9 I think knowing Christ is having a heart for the things that He values. Note to self: there is mention in this verse that I consider EVERYTHING A LOSS compare to the SURPASSING GREATNESS of KNOWING CHRIST JESUS MY LORD. As a matter of fact, Paul considered them rubbish. In other words, everything else belongs in the trash bin when compared to knowing Christ.

In the world of vision, myopia is the condition also known as nearsightedness. Nearsightedness is when the eyes focus incorrectly, making distant objects appear blurred. Sadly, there is a spiritual nearsightedness that plagues the church. Wake up, people! Life is short and in the end the only thing that counts is what we do for Christ. It's time to be inconvenienced. Its time to be uncomfortable. Its time to die to ourselves and live for Christ!