Well it's summer time for family gatherings and picnics. This year we decided to have a large family gathering in the state park over 100 attending. In years past we always held these gatherings but this is the first time for me as a grandfather and it is nice to pass on the tradition to our grandchildren. The whole concept of eating outdoors amongst friends and nature is just memorable. We usually play guitars, banjos and fiddles - yes we are a wild bunch. I have to say many are not christians but we grew up together, somehow the house got divided.
Half my family are very devout christians and half are very devout party persons. We meet out of love for each other and some may panic because of the strange combination. My cousins are very close almost like brothers and sisters. We all lived in the same block or within walking distance growing up, now in different states and parts of the country. We still get together for fellowship and share our childrens pictures and stories. I remember visiting each relative and telling them about christ over 30 years ago it was my mission to reach all members of the family. To this day when a relative is in the hospital - will take a ride out of the way home from work and stop to visit them.
We all lived hard lives but the ones that turned to christ are still there, and their children seem to have more joy. Christ changes you but also the next generation , this is something of an experiment over 35 years. Seeing the difference in the 2 camps , so to speak -the new generation of faith is the best reward one could ask for. I always feel that it is necessary to come together with the other camp and remiss of old times , not just hang around with the saved. Jesus often would reach out to worldly , stay at their homes. He was often ridiculed for this , imagine eating and drinking with worldly, but he did.
“for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost”
We can never be to proud to think we are better than others , we are just fortunate to have found grace and if we separate ourselves completely from the worldly will never reach them. It always baffled me in contradiction there was a word, come out from amongst them and touch not the unclean, yet Jesus did not adhere to that he was the living word but yet lived amongst the sinners. I think Jesus meant for us not to be monks and separatist but live in the world as an example. As hard as it may seem - we sometimes have to go to dark places to be a beacon of light. Many missionaries have settled in villages where they were not wanted , some go to prisons. I tried prison ministry stuck my neck out a few times for some troubled souls , got them jobs , places to live. It seems like they were appreciative but in honesty most returned to their own vomit. Prison ministry was many lessons learned , I think truthfully God wanted to touch the lost but some just were not reachable. Some persons do have a gift for that ministry , after years of trying I only reached a few.
I will not go into details it would be a breach of trust but you do not need go far to help a young man or woman, before they go to prison is my belief. Prevention is the best cure. Don't panic if you made the same mistakes I have, cause you can be a mentor and make a lasting impression. Reach the younger crowd while there is still hope.
Back to picnics wrote a poem about an inanimate object that diverts away from usual thinking but reminds me of family get togethers.
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-picnic-table/
Half my family are very devout christians and half are very devout party persons. We meet out of love for each other and some may panic because of the strange combination. My cousins are very close almost like brothers and sisters. We all lived in the same block or within walking distance growing up, now in different states and parts of the country. We still get together for fellowship and share our childrens pictures and stories. I remember visiting each relative and telling them about christ over 30 years ago it was my mission to reach all members of the family. To this day when a relative is in the hospital - will take a ride out of the way home from work and stop to visit them.
We all lived hard lives but the ones that turned to christ are still there, and their children seem to have more joy. Christ changes you but also the next generation , this is something of an experiment over 35 years. Seeing the difference in the 2 camps , so to speak -the new generation of faith is the best reward one could ask for. I always feel that it is necessary to come together with the other camp and remiss of old times , not just hang around with the saved. Jesus often would reach out to worldly , stay at their homes. He was often ridiculed for this , imagine eating and drinking with worldly, but he did.
“for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost”
We can never be to proud to think we are better than others , we are just fortunate to have found grace and if we separate ourselves completely from the worldly will never reach them. It always baffled me in contradiction there was a word, come out from amongst them and touch not the unclean, yet Jesus did not adhere to that he was the living word but yet lived amongst the sinners. I think Jesus meant for us not to be monks and separatist but live in the world as an example. As hard as it may seem - we sometimes have to go to dark places to be a beacon of light. Many missionaries have settled in villages where they were not wanted , some go to prisons. I tried prison ministry stuck my neck out a few times for some troubled souls , got them jobs , places to live. It seems like they were appreciative but in honesty most returned to their own vomit. Prison ministry was many lessons learned , I think truthfully God wanted to touch the lost but some just were not reachable. Some persons do have a gift for that ministry , after years of trying I only reached a few.
I will not go into details it would be a breach of trust but you do not need go far to help a young man or woman, before they go to prison is my belief. Prevention is the best cure. Don't panic if you made the same mistakes I have, cause you can be a mentor and make a lasting impression. Reach the younger crowd while there is still hope.
Back to picnics wrote a poem about an inanimate object that diverts away from usual thinking but reminds me of family get togethers.
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-picnic-table/
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.