Irony

It has been a while since I wrote anything here, but much has happenned. We (my son Terry and I)
haved moved from an upstairs one bedroom apartment, with no air conditioning that we've lived in for nearly five years, to a three bedroom house with central air and many other cool amenities. It is located right across the street from our church, Anchor Community Church. It was, in fact the original parsonage and we rent from the church. It has proved already, to be the kind of enviroment where one can give back, care for your neighbor, and make new followers of Jesus. This, my friends, is what its all about. Its not about health, wealth, fame, prestiege, or security. We cannot live side by side with hurt and poverty and all the other things we don't want to think about, without being engaged and expect to find true joy and happiness. It is better to stay up all night with a troubled stranger, than to let your weary head hit the pillow wondering if you could have done more.
Case in point; I tell this little story with permission from my son Terry, who is now a staff member at Anchor C.C. as Neighborhood Liaison.
My son was standing in line at a local tobacco shop and the lady behind him asked if she could go ahead of him because she was "in a hurry." Terry, sensing that someone was just trying to get over on him, and the fact that he was "in a hurry." also, made him decide to deny her request.
When Terry got to the checkout, he discovered that he was seven cents short, to which the lady graciously paid for him, and remained cheerful through the whole experience. Obviously, this touched Terry, and the irony is, this is now part of Terry's Job, which he fully embraces, as Neighborhood Liaison. He is always looking for opportunities to help. To let someone go first, to pay when some stranger is short, to help lead someone to Christ, Who, though He is King of the Universe, became the servant of all.

Calling

It has become apparent to me that God wants my attention, my FULL attention. I have been struggling with finances and bills and other related things for a while. I have always had what I needed at the very last possible moment, but I am treading quicksand. My faith tells me that I am not being punished, but rather I am dealing with the effects of  causes. Some or most of these causes are choices I have made. Some are not.
I have prayed and prayed about these things and I don't seem to be getting better. Some of it has gotten worse. I believe my problem was that I was trying to pray my way out and don't get me wrong, I was willing to do what it took. I am not lazy, I will work, but what I didn't stop to see and hear was the reason for it all. What is He teaching me that I am supposed to use for His purpose? So He had my attention because I needed help. That wasn't enough. He wanted my FULL attention so I could learn something here, something that really matters besides my pride and discomfort. He has already shown me time and time again, that I am not doing this alone.
What I am starting to get here is a Calling. He is actually showing me something I am meant to do.
There is a passion building in me that I wasn't fully aware of. I am in training for something. Although I don't have the full picture now, I know it has to do with helping people in similar situations as me and finding new and better ways to do it. I will always remember this time as holy ground. I will remember what I have been delivered from by always being ready to extend my hand to someone who needs it. When I have a choice, I will make purchases that are in keeping with that calling, such as a pick up truck instead of a car, or a house with extra rooms, or more groceries than I need, not to sit on my shelf till I forget whats there and the expiration date is long gone, but to get them to those in need now.
The poor may always be with us, but its not a sin to try to prove it wrong. I don't intend to hang on to the serenity prayer when things get tough.
I have also learned that when one is in this position, you tend to lose a sense of self-worth. You can feel like you are lowly and less than others because of your difficulties and being humble feels like humiliation. You can think of yourself as a complete failure and you deserve what has happened. Maybe your situation is the result of bad choices, but everyone is just as guilty and nobody has anything on anyone. Their journey is just different. Pride is your enemy here. But you can still hold your head high, because you are under His grace. As I said, this is holy ground, because He is about to do something wonderful. I am privileged and He has my FULL attention.

Mint


I have a friend who, whenever you sit next to them at church or other event and you offer them a mint or
candy of some kind, they always graciously accept. It makes my day. It is a simple gesture of recieving
a gift that is probably the coolest no strings offer of kindness there is. Small as it is. It can break down walls in its simplicity. Most times people refuse graciously. Sometimes they tell you of some malady that keeps them from enjoying your offer, which makes you feel bad that you offered in the first place. I have had people actually insult my choice of mint while refusing.
I recently was on plane and the flight was about two hours long. I had the window seat and a very sleepy looking man had the aisle. The middle seat was empty for a bit, and then an attractive black woman came and took that seat. After a few minutes, I offered her a mint, because I was having one.
You would have thought I was asking for money! "No." was her reply. Not, "No, thank you." Not anything but "No." Ok....Fine. It was a very long flight of me wondering just what I did wrong.
Now in her defense, I am sure she had her reasons, and I'm not going to judge her. I only use the story to illustrate the contrast the between that, and my friend who always accepts and makes you feel very good and just how a simple gesture can impact lives.... and my point? Every little thing we do and say matters.                        Terry L Leatherman

Bubble  TL Leatherman


As I write this, I have $3.10 in my bank account. I do not have a car. I need a car to do my job. I am months behind on my rent. I am not sure whats going to happen. I have been like this for a while now. I have been living on faith and I always seem to have what I need in the nick of time. Although, I have to admit, it is beginning to wear me down.
I don't reveal this for pity or a loan, but to make a point. There are so many people right next to us that are in need. It seems like we live in a bubble. In that bubble, we get upset about bank charges and how long we have to wait at the Doctors office. We are devastated at the ding on our car door. We think about important things, like shopping. There are all kinds of statistics about how much we waste in this country.
 That is not going to change anytime soon, unless we adopt an attitude of thankfulness. The more stuff we get and are able to have, the more we forget how blessed we are. Right now if I had the problems I mentioned above, it would mean I had money in the bank, health insurance,  and a car, none of which I have. I have to believe that God will deliver me from this situation in His timing. My prayer is this;" Lord, never let me forget what you deliver me from. Help me remember by sharing my blessings with others in need, not just as I stumble on them, but let me seek them out."

Don't Judge Me T L Leatherman
How many judgements do we make in a day? What we will wear, this shirt is cool, those pants are too small now but, I am going to wear them anyway; as a tribute to my denial of weight gain. What we will eat, or whether we will eat at all.
Then we go meet the day, and we make judgements about other people. "Why is that idiot in that lane", "she looks gorgeous I'll bet she......." and people make judgements about us. Why is that creep in the too small jeans staring at me?
But as christians, we are not supposed to judge, are we? We believe as the bible teaches, that the measure we use to judge others will be used on us. That  tends to level the playing field a bit. However, we seem to find loopholes around that, especially when we know we are right. After all "they" are heritics and don't realize they're in danger of the fires of hell. Gay marriage; "Heavens no! Thats an abomination against God". Abortion; "They are murderers!" Alcoholics;" Why do people do that to themselves?" " I'm not racist, but..."
Ironicly, when things get really elevated on these subjects, something usually does end up on fire.
Think of the very worst thing someone could do. Now picture yourself doing it, because any one of us is capable of the most henious crime if we are put in the right set of circumstances. Even without the perfect storm of circumstances, we've done enough already, haven't we? If we were honest with ourselves, all the things that we point fingers at, we are guilty of in some form or another. It would serve us well, when we start thinking we got all the righteous answers, to keep in mind, to God, a sin is a sin and we all are sinners; Born again or not.
I wonder if in Jesus' time on earth, he might have met a gay person. I wonder how Jesus would have made that person feel when talking to him or her. What would Jesus be thinking about that person while they were talking? What kind of body language would be going on?
When you talk to people do they feel like they are talking to a friend of Jesus?