We've Got It Covered?

A lot of people think that openly religious Christians are strange, weird or fanatics. I have to say that it is the strangest thing and I think about it a lot. Why would that be?

A recent ABC News poll found that 83% of Americans identify themselves as Christians. But, how many of those people openly proclaim themselves as followers of Christ? If asked the direct question, "do you believe in God?", 83% of Americans say yes. Yet, if asked the question in a different way, like "do you love Christ?", you're going to get a different answer, or no answer at all.

Why does that happen? Why do so many of us not feel comfortable to proclaim our love for our God? What is the difference between saying that you are Christian and proclaiming you are Christian? I think that it is a vast difference. It's a chasm that is filled with our humanness.

When your answer to "do you love Christ?" is followed by a squirm and then, "well, I guess so", what does that mean? It means that we are allowing our pride, our protective image and our cowardice to lay in front of us like a rock that we are hiding behind, or in this case, stepping around.

Think of the apostle Paul. He was a Roman citizen and studied with a member of the Sanhedrin. Yes, the same Sanhedrin that turned Jesus over to Pilate ultimately to be crucified. Yet he directly heard Jesus' call and received His commission to "teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:20).

What did Paul ultimately get from his commitment to God? A death because of his beliefs and acts. Is that what we are afraid of? Is it an ancient fear that we will be persecuted and will suffer these same judgements?

Well, I will tell you what I think. I think that we all need to own up to who we profess to be, in mind, body and spirit. No one will crucify us or have us beheaded like in those early days. We need to be brave in the face of our own fears and proclaim our dedication to our God.

We are at yet another moment in history where the power of God is being questioned and minimized. All because so many of us believe that we don't need faith and religion in our lives because "we've got it covered". That couldn't be less true. Every day as the economy wanes and more people succumb to the numbing effects of joblessness is evidence that we need God more than ever.

Don't think for a moment that we can do all of this alone. We are God's children. We need to hear and read the words of our Father. Those words with be our guiding light through today's darkness. This too shall pass, but only by His way. 

Footprints

When you think about someone who you consider successful, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Is it a person who started a company and grew it to be a source of income for years? Or, is it a person that helped their children to grow to be successful and happy? Or, is it someone who helped a community to thrive, while sacrificing any gain for themselves?

There is no one way to be successful. We all leave footprints, it's just a choice between leaving footprints that are a positive path to follow, or using your feet to step on others as you selfishly make your way toward your goals. How can we tell the difference? It's sometimes hard to see.

A business leader who is known for their brutal management style may be looked upon as a bad person by their colleagues. but the reason that they behave the way they do at work is so they can make sure, as a single parent, their children have a shot at success themselves. Someone who appears shy and withdrawn may be considered an underachiever, but in fact is a brilliant thinker who doesn't always know what to say in a conversation.

We all leave footprints, it's just a choice between leaving footprints that are a positive path to follow, or using your feet to step on others...

It really comes down to how any person can answer this question - am I on God's path or am I on the Enemy's path? We can answer that question for ourselves because God is in each one of us, in the same way the Enemy is constantly challenging us. What is true is that the less we focus on God, the more vulnerable we are to the influences of the Enemy, to the point where we are consumed by him and walk mindlessly on his path.

If you are a stern person that is perceived as mean and unapproachable, that's OK if you have God in your heart and you are building a positive foundation for those that follow you. But, if you are angry and withdrawn because you have let your faith go and the Enemy occupies your soul, then you are no good to anyone because all you will leave behind is a trail of poison. 

As you read this, what is your heart telling you? Have you cultivated your faith to the point that it illuminates your path, or have you lost your way? If you allow yourself to think deeply about this, you will either find yourself in prayer, or you will see an empty hole in front of you. The weaker your faith, the bigger the hole. What good it that to anyone, including yourself?

No matter where you are in your life, it is never too late to build a lasting, positive legacy. Just ask Him how to start.

The Craftsman

My father-in-law plays a vintage accordian. Over the years, the instrument had gotten a bit out of tune, with squeaks here and there when there should have been silence, or a more pleasing sound.

I am embaressed to say it but we said at least 5 years ago that we would get the accordian repaired, but we made the mistake of putting it in a closet and sadly it was forgotten. I know that my wife's father is too sweet to remind us that we had been hanging on to his accordian forever, so the poor thing sat in the darkness for years. Until two days ago when I saw someone playing the accordian and remembered that we had it.

I got online and found the Accordian Connection in New Hampshire that has testimonials from people all over the country. The shop was 1 1/2 hours from where we live, but I had a feeling that it would be worth the trip. We left this afternoon and got there at around 3pm. The shop was empty when we got inside. We were surrounded by vintage accordiams on one side and new ones on the other. There we pictures everywhere of accordian virtuosos. We knew that we were in the right place!

Arthur Welch has run the Accordian Connection since 1957 when he graduated from high school, and when he came into the showroom to greet us, I had a good feeling we were in for a treat. He looked over the accordian and told us what he thought, stuck keys, out of tune reeds. He shook his head in the way that only a true professional can. We knew that even though the bill might be a big one that he would take care of us.

While we were there, he told us stories about accordians that he had repaired, people that he had met, places that he had played. While I listened to him I started realizing I was talking with a person who had done one thing, with one business for 54 years! All of a sudden I found myself in awe of him. He was the best at what he did. He took orders from all over the world, including Iceland!

In so many ways I wished that I had the understanding of what I wanted to do for my career at such a young age. But, that wasn't the path that God set me on. He needed me to walk a more complicated path. One that has caused many bumps and bruises, but at the same time one with loads of experiences from many different places.

How can you know what's best for you? Will you settle into a career that you will retire from, or set out on a professional journey that will take you here, there and everywhere? No matter what happens, when you have been at it for 54 years, you'll be able to tell wonderful stories that make those that you are with smile and walk away happier than they were before they met you. So, keep at it!