Just Rambling

I hadn't intended to write anything tonight. It's 1130 PM and I wanted to read before going to sleep. I've enjoyed a quiet evening at home sorting through email and watching wrestling with my son. Yes, I'll admit it... I watch wrestling AND I enjoy it! I guess I tolerate it because it just isn't real. I cannot watch MMA and UFC. That's real. I know people are actually getting hurt.

My cousin Sean fought in his first MMA match a few weeks ago. It didn't end well. He got a broken nose and he loves it. He thought it was the coolest thing. His mother did not agree. As a mother, I get where she is coming from.

While reading my emails one of my friends wrote about inflation. Her question was if inflation had affected others as it had her. That got me to thinking. I realize I am blessed. Yes, I notice inflation. But not so much so that it worries me. I realize, too, that I am wrong. I should be concerned -- deeply concerned.

The Bible says that in the last days it will take a week's wages to buy just a loaf of bread. The Bible foretells the coming economic crisis, yet I sit here unconcerned. That is wrong on many levels.

It is obviously foolish simply because inflation is not going away. The way our government has run things has ensured inflation -- crippling inflation -- will be a part of our lives for the foreseeable future. I would be wise to be saving more than I currently am.

But there's more to it than just that. The Bible has plainly stated that the economic crisis of the end times will be but one indicator that the Lord's return is near. Taking that into consideration, Christians need to WAKE UP! If we are living in the end times, and I believe we are, we should be on fire for the Lord. We should be talking to those around us all the time about the Lord and salvation. I don't mean you have to preach at those around you, though if you are moved of the Holy Spirit to do so, that's fine. I mean that our testimony should be strong and instead of hesitating to mention God in every day conversations, we should boldly mention God.

As Christians we've often heard it said that our lives may be the only "Bible" some people ever read. What does your "Bible" say? I'm afraid all too often my "Bible" reads of selfishness and apathy. It's easy to say you're a Christian, but sometimes it's a lot harder to *be* a Christian.

Don't get me wrong. I know sometimes it's uncomfortable to bring God into a conversation. I was faced with this about a month ago. The chiropractor I see is a Christian and the women I usually see when I got in are Christians. But I am having to see the massage therapist now. I don't know if she is a Christian or not. As she was doing my massage I was thinking to myself that it's amazing how God made our bodies to respond to touch. It's truly amazing what a simple massage will do for you. I caught myself hesitating to voice my thoughts because I wasn't sure if the massage therapist was a Christian.

It can't be that way. As Christians we have to voice our thoughts. Maybe the conversation won't go any further than the comment you made, but maybe that comment will get the person to thinking. If you plant the seed, then another Christian that God put into that person's path may water that seed. And when the seed germinates, God, who controls everything, will see to it that a Christian is available to nurture that seed as it grows.

I find often that people think they are failures as Christians because they didn't lead someone to Christ. It's like people have taken their professional lives and applied the "closing the deal" principle to soul winning. I don't agree with this outlook. I believe that God sometimes puts you in someone's path simply to plant the seed of the gospel. He will send others to water the seed and nurture the seed.

Of course, we can't use that as an excuse to back off either. It's all too easy to just mention something and quickly move on because you're unsure of your ability to communicate the gospel message. But really, do you think God would put you in such a position? Of course not! If you're in a position to witness, then you can rest assured God has given you the words with which to witness.