So one of the things that we were asked to do while at MOVE was to talk to one person about Christ; just one when we got home. This wasn't just a challenge to those of the teenage generation, I felt it too. So I got brave and asked a friend, whom I love deeply to come to church with me on the 20th of this month. She seemed very interested in going. We have been having some very good convos about different stuff and I've been very truthful with her. I told her my fear in asking her. And she was real receptive to that. I just hope she goes and likes it. She was also very truthful with me. She told me her fears. She let me know that her Fiance has a very hard time with "organized religion" and he wasn't too grand on her going to church. I told her I understood that. She did ask a question that stuck with me, not only in the sincerity but in the simplicity of it. She asked, " Do you think, if I started going to church and he saw a change in me that he would want to go?" I told her yes. I did not tell her that it might take a while. It didn't hit me to say that to her so I will the next time I see her but when she asked me that question it made me think. And almost every one I knew that had brought someone to know the peace of Jesus had done so b/c that had started coming and the subtle changes of following Jesus had proved the power of Him or their friend could see a real difference in the life lead by those who were followers. It just made me think. We are being closely watched. And if we are pursuing Him, and real with the world they will see that. The one thing that I have been with Meg is honest. She knows my struggles and knows that I'm not perfect and will never be, but that doesn't stop me for pursuing that. There is a delicate balence between being a forgiven repetitive sinner. I don't think we could be talking about her struggles as openly if I wasn't just as real with her about mine. As Christians we go from one extreme to another. We either feel we need to show no flaws, be perfect little angels or we think we should tell all in great detail and just say we're saved and keep doing what we do so that we can relate. Neither are good.. "should we keep sinning so that grace may abound more?" no I think we need to always strive to live a blameless life but I think that involves showing our friends and family that we struggle and in that struggle we have overcome, that way those who have lived lives outside of Christ know that it is possible to change but that they aren't expected to do so over night that God will do His thing, but so will the devil. That the struggles won't go away but neither will the support and love of friends who'll struggle with them. I mean Jesus was even honest with His temptations. He was all alone when the devil came to Him so common sense would say that He had to tell someone and the fact that the devil came after even Him shows me His humanity even more. He had a choice and he overcame. So why do we think we can be better than Jesus by not being real with our friends. I know we are afraid of being called hypocrites but I will tell you I have never been called that unless I was doing something that I knew was wrong but wasn't truthful to anyone about it. Own up instead of covering up and then people will wonder what makes your Christianity different and maybe you'll find yourself on a Saturday evening asking your friend to church and finding that it's not as scary as you thought it would be. If I could ask that you guys would please pray that Meg would follow through with her willingness to come to church and that she feels Gods love and joy followed by her fiance Brad. Thanks for listening to my ramblings ; )