Sunday, August 12, 2012

I Finally Caught Him


   Do any of you remember this scene from Loony Tunes?  After a series of running through pipes that shrunk both the Road Runner and Wile E Coyote and then made the Road Runner full size again we get blessed with this.  How many of you, at least those who weren't born and raised with faith, feel this way now? I know that I do.  For the first time in my life I have this powerful guiding force and purpose but where do I go from here?  I've accepted Christ, I've found God and yet I'm overwhelmed with the opportunities that it has opened for me.  I know that I was given this gift to write and I'm supposed to use it.  However, I also know that I am called to college age people who are lost.  One of these days I'll find a good way to reach out to them but for the time being I will do what I can with those that I know.  Maybe that is God's way to practice for what is to come!  I want you all to sit and think, maybe just for five minutes, about God's calling for you.  What can you do to help bring light into the darkness and give the gift of God's grace to other people.  Pray, meditate, then let God speak and guide you to the next step of your journey.  Remember, kindness and compassion, that will speak more to people that preaching and condemnation.  Good luck!

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Who Can Shepherd, When it is We Who Are the Lost Sheep?

   Today I had the opportunity to experience a sermon that affect other people more than it did me.  The message was simple, but it is kind of hard to restate.  For me, it was about understanding your gifts and giving them to God.  For others, it was obviously far more than that.  What it did say to me, however, is that my gift is my ministry here and I don't think I've always given it the attention and the grace it needs.
   It is hard, especially in the this day and age, to see the silver lining in everything.  That is one of the things that I fail at most of all.  If I don't watch myself I end up very pessimistic, to the point where I start alienating people.  The news is full of examples of Christians with influence that are doing as much, if not more, harm than good.  Of course, that is just another symptom of our lost and corrupt news media, but it is still enough to taint my perception of my faith.  How do we fix it?  I honestly don't know for sure.  I suppose being conscious of what we do and striving to walk in the tolerance and grace filled footsteps of our Savior.  Thank you to everyone who is still with me despite my failings and thank you to everyone who sticks with in the future, even though I will fail and fail again.  The only advice I have for you today is go out and be kind to others.  Make relationships with people that are so healthy and gentle to make other people jealous.  Show the world through your actions what it really means to follow Christ.