Be real

This morning I walked by a guy in the waiting room of the car dealership I work in and he had his Bible out reading it. It was well worn and you could tell the guy had used it before. As I was walking toward him I felt prompted to ask him “What’s the word for the day sir?” He looked up at me without missing a beat and said “What ever you do let it be real.” He went on to say “There are too many people out there pretending to be something they are not. We need to be real.” He said some other things as well but you get the idea.

It really hit me that the guy is right, on a lot of levels. We need to be real with one another, not putting on a mask. The Biblical term for masking what is real is the term HYPOCRITE. Jesus used it to describe people who were pious on the outside but full of religion and self seeking on the inside. We need to let down our walls and stop pretending. The term hypocrite is a theatrical term that was used to describe an actor who would hold up a mask to their face as a prop and pretend to be another person. Is that not just exactly what we do when we curtail who we are, what we believe, how we talk, how we act around people just to get along? I’m not advocating a license to be nasty to people in the name of being real (although that may be the real you needing deliverance and maturity). I am advocating being who God made you to be and not allowing yourself to be fit into someone’s ”God mold” or “Maturity Mold”. I would say this morning we absolutely need to remain humble and teachable but we need to be who “we are” in Christ.

I just need to be real.

How do I show love?

I don’t know if any one out there can relate to this but there are times in ministry that the role you stand in is a very uncomfortable one. There are times when the ones you love require more than an embrace and a pat on the back. The Bible indicates that if what we do is not out of love it is sin, but love manifests itself in many different ways. Does it show love to allow a drug addicted child to continue in their lifestyle without confronting them with the realities of their choices? We may say “we don’t want to offend them and lose our place to speak into their lives” but I question whether we have a place to speak so we can use it to help them see the truth. When we deal with people’s lives and minister to people God has placed under our oversight and care there are times when my properly “relating” to them is going to be a death for me to die. There are times when their needs must overcome my self preservation instinct, and need to not have people upset with me. If we love people sometimes we must do that which is uncomfortable for us so that they can receive the ministry that they need. May God give us all the grace to do what is required so that those we minister to can have what they need.

Can any one relate?

My Secret Love is………. the Roller Coaster

 

My family and I love rollercoasters! We spent the weekend in Tennessee with my brother’s family. We went to Dollywood after church and had a great time. They have some great coasters, but Rockin Roller Coaster at Disney Studios is still my favorite! If I could parlay my coaster addiction into a living I would. I really had a great time in Dollywood but Disney World is still the happiest place on earth. I wonder if I could start a church in Orlando? We could have church socials at the Starlight Cafe in Tomorrowland. Would Wednesday night services on It’s a small world qualify as cultural diversity?