and so began the Saturday evening service…

We are pleased to announce that we are adding a second service.   That’s right, in order to make room for everyone, we’ve added a Saturday night service at Raymond & Nikki’s beginning this week at 5 p.m.  Well, actually, we’re going to start a new service on Saturday nights on the first weekend of each month.  It will be instead of the Sunday service and it will be different.  It’ll be shorter and different in it’s teaching.  It will be more media driven and will give everyone an occasional Sunday free to spend as a family.  We hope that you’ll join us this Saturday, May 4th, at 5 p.m. and then again on the first weekend of the next month (which will actually be May 31st).  We’ll plan to be done by 6 so that you’ll have your evening free to hang out with us, or have a night on the town.  See you there!

Tony

Ο Θεός ευλογεί

Ο Θεός ευλογεί

 

A co-worker, whom I have never met, signs his email with this Greek inscription.  Below this is his name, title, contact information, and the tag line “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few”.

 

I don’t read Greek, but I recognize a Bible quote when I see one.  The tag line is from Matthew 9:37 and again in Luke 10:2.

 

I send my co-worker, whom I will call Jordan, an email asking what the cryptic Greek translated to.

 

“It means God Bless”, he said.  “Upper management made me remove the “God Bless” from my signature, as it might offend.  I figure you can’t offend if they can’t read!”

 

There are so many ways to go with this. I hesitate to even broach the subject. 

 

I responded to him with a hearty Matthew 5:13-16,

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

 14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

I meant it as a sign of fellowship, that I agreed with him wholeheartedly.  I wish, now that I read it again, that I had chosen differently.  Hopefully, it didn’t come across as “Tell it like it is, and thumb your nose at upper management!” 

 

As I write this, he responded. He didn’t take it wrong.  He actually consulted a Christian Lawyer, who told him the corporation has every write to regulate his email signature.

 

So what do we, as Christians, do in a world that is hostile to Christians? I guess we follow the rules, so long as those rules do not force us to deny Christ.

 

I read an article about a young college student who is failing a mandatory philosophy class because she refuses, within the context of the class, to entertain the concept that there might not be a God.  Good for her. The ACLJ has taken her case, and they will fight for her right to believe in God, even in philosophy class.

 

I have the right to believe in God at work.  I even have the right to let everyone know that I am Christian. The best way, at the moment, is to let them see how I live my life; to “let my light shine before men”. Given the idea that talking about Christ at work is career limiting, I am pondering ways to keep the light out in the open while at work. I have some ideas, but I would love to create some dialog on the blog.  What are your ideas?

 

God Bless,

 

Cliff

An open letter to my friend and Accountability partner, Brent

Brent, 

By now, you are on your way to your family home in East Texas.  When you are there, you will be thinking about your Mam-maw, now in heaven. You will be talking to family and friends in the small cotton farming community of Cooper, Texas, and reflecting on her impact on your life, and how awesome she was in your family and in your community in being not only a source of love, but a reflection of Christ. I’ve been thinking about your Mam-maw today, and thinking about you.  I cannot put into words how eloquently you expressed your love of your grandmother over the years.  You inspired in me a desire to meet her.  You actually relayed your feelings and your love in such a way that I found myself longing for such a grandmother.  You made me regret that I had never had a grandmother at all.

It struck me that we as Christians could learn a lesson from you about how we should talk about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We should be able to express our love in such an honest and forthright manner that others would want to know Him. So much so that others would regret that they had no such Lord in their lives.  

Brent, your Mam-Maw, through you, has had a much greater impact than you can know.   

Thank you, 

Cliff