The Blue Church

For those of you who regularly read my blog, you know that my last one was about how we were all set to go on vacation (to Florida). Well ….. as it turned out, a sizeable obstacle (in the form of Hurricane Dorian) emerged. Early reports were that it was going to touch down in Florida and that where we would be vacationing was in its path. So, using the best information we had, we cancelled everything and had a stay-cation. Wouldn’t you know it? Dorian never hit Florida.

Vacation – “a period of time devoted to pleasure, rest or relaxation.”

It’s helpful for me to focus on the words “a period of time”. Why? Because even after all of these years, I still put too much into the idea of a vacation. I start looking at my calendar months before I am supposed to leave. I say things to myself like, “How good will it be to have all that time away”.

What’s that grumbling? It could be your stomach, but it is more likely the sound coming from someone who is around you. People can be difficult, and complain a lot. Perhaps you are surrounded by many “grumblers”. What are you to do?

Moses was surrounded by many who grumbled, even though he was doing all that He could to lead them in God’s ways.

Exodus 17 tells us the account:

I like to get things done. When I have deadlines that I can’t meet, it really bothers me. That’s the way it is for me at work. I have responsibilities that are assigned, but I can’t get to them because of all the other work I have to do.

Perhaps you can relate?

How would you describe humanity?

Most people would probably answer by saying, “Well, there are good people and bad people”.

Others might say, “Well, there is good and bad in everyone”.

I am sitting at my desk and watching inmates go by my window. I wonder who they are. I wonder what their life was like before they got here. Were both parents around? Did they come from a loving home? Did they finish high school? Are they blessed with a high level of intelligence that was never fully applied?

What if I am not reading the right translation of the Bible?

What if I am not understanding key Scriptures correctly?

What if I am not studying the Bible hard enough?

What if I am not sure of God’s will for my life?

What if I am not behaving in the way that God wants me to?