Memaw's Biscuits

I used to be a less cynical person, when it came to people that is. I have discovered that if you want to become truly cynical and less hopeful of the good in man, work with the public. I have worked at some truly "character building" jobs since, well..... since I started working. However, the most challinging jobs I have had (by far) were 1)the Methodist Children's Home and 2) dispatching at both Bienville and Lincoln Parish Sheriff's offices. I have seen and heard things that at some point made me question the goodness of God. Now wait a minute,....before some of you decide to jump on me, hear me out. I'm sure everyone has had moments like this. The rape, abuse, and mistreatment of children tend to make one sit back and ask, "God why do you allow this to happen?" If you have NEVER done that, than you must have super hero Christian "powers", and I stand amazed at your ability to not have those moments. I, however, admit my inability to remain so strong in my faith. Yet another thing that adds to my extreme cynicism is the overflow of RIDICULOUS calls I receive (and received) everyday I work (worked) at the sheriff's office. (Past tense is in regards to Bienville parish). I'm not talking the legit calls i.e. : traffic accidents and the sort. I'm talking: "my neighbors headlights shine into my window at night and it wakes me up"or, "I want this man out my house, he hittin' me and stuff" (two days later same caller) "I want this man out my house"---didn't we remove him the other day, "yea, but we was doin' alright and he said he was sorry, but I'm sick of him today." To quote a great philosopher: "AAARRRRGGGHHH!!! GOOD GRIEF!!! (mad props to you if you can name that philosopher) I swear, some days I feel like this world has gone mad and there is nothing good left. I keep thinking: "Jesus I know your just around the corner and I am SOOOOO ready!" I, however, saw the sweetest thing that took me back to simpler times. I was in SuperOne in Ruston on Sunday; I was rushing to grab a snack to take to my church group when I heard something that made me stop in my tracks. In the cookie isle was a white haired grandma looking lady, in front of her was a buggy with (what appeared to be) two little grandsons (maybe 6 and 8) sitting in the buggy. That scene was touching, but what capped it off was when I heard "grandma" say, "Now get what you want." Instantly, I was taken back to the times My sister and I would spend the night with Memaw and Pa. She would pick us up, we would go to Brookshire's, and she would tell us that same thing, going down the cereal isle. "Memaw can we get this cereal?" "Get what you want", was the reply. We would then go to the house, watch tv and have cereal and a ham sandwich. In the mornings, usually the first thing to wake us up, was not Memaw, but the smell of sausage cooking and (you guessed it) Memaw's biscuits. In that moment, at SuperOne, I was taken back to a sweet time. A time when things were good, and everything was made right with Memaw's biscuits. I realized, in that instant, that maybe everything wasn't so bad. At least for two little boys, who probably enjoyed cereal, ham sandwiches, and their very own version of "memaw's" biscuits.

Being saved is NOT a free ticket to sin! So why should I be a Christian?

When I was in high school and started going to church, I had a great youth minister by the name of Mike Teague. Now Bro. Mike (as we all called him) used to say: salvation is not a free ticket to sin. I used to agree, because, for one thing, he was right, but I never truly understood what all that entailed. I thought, duuuuhhhhhh, of course you can't go out and get drunk, kill people, steal, be a nympho...I could go on and on. What I was looking at were the so called "big" sins or "obvious" sins. However, I'm seeing something that is becoming a huge problem. I'm as guilty (probably more so) as anyone else, when it comes to this. The problem is this, Christians who are going around letting cuss words fly, drinking and going to clubs (just to dance or for what ever reason) and being perfectly ok with it, because they are covered by these four words: "God knows my heart". You're right God does know your heart, but does the nonbeliever sitting next to you know your heart, does the agnostic dancing next to you at the club know you're a believer. What do these people see that is so different in your life that would make them stop what they are doing (and having a very fun time doing, mind you), lay it all down, pick up their cross, and follow Christ. If you honestly think the answer to that question is anything but NOTHING, then you are sadly, sadly mistaken. We are living in such a time where Christians are put under a microscope and criticized for EVERYTHING we do. I would rather be criticized for doing the Christlike thing than to make up my own rules and have nothing to back it up with. The Bible says we are in this world BUT not of it, and while we are in this world we are to "shine like stars in a crooked and depraved generation". That doesn't mean that we go around with picket signs and tell everyone what they are doing wrong. What we are supposed to do is spelled out for us in the Word, follow the example of Christ, plain and simple. Be a light, forgive as we have been forgiven, set an example in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity. As a Christian, we can't just go around making up our own rules! Look to Jesus before you go or do ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING. Honestly...I mean H-O-N-E-S-T-L-Y... ask yourself would Jesus be on this dance floor doing what I'm doing? Would Jesus be telling and or laughing at this joke? Would Jesus be happy that I am about to jump into bed with this person? Would Jesus......you can fill this in with your own question. Jesus is THE EXAMPLE, not Billy Graham, Beth Moore, Ron Luce, Louie Giglio, or anyone else that you can think of. Jesus Christ is the plumb line and only by Him can you measure anything. I think we have gotten away from that truth. We want to read good "christian" books to tell us how to live, how to raise our children, or to interact with other people (believer or nonbeliever). In the process, we have replaced the simplicity of discovering the truth in God's Word and spending time with Him to reveal to us what we should or should not do. If I've offended anyone by what I've written, well I don't apologize... I think maybe you should dig into why your offended. I've only spoken the truth and what God drove home with me just a few days ago. I'm not writing as if to someone else, this was a truth that had me weeping (seriously) in the middle of my kitchen at 10:00 at night. I know too many people that are heading down a path of destruction, but have labled themselves Christian. I'm talking about self proclaimed swingers, liars, homosexuals, adulterers, nympho's, racists...and I realized, I can't say anything to anyone of these that I've mentioned, when I am not standing apart and even make exceptions for certain sins. Why would anyone want to be a true christian, when they can just do what they want, when they want because God knows their heart and he will forgive them. I know I'm rambling at this point, but this truly is a problem that needs some radical movement. We need to be so broken and on our faces before the Lord for what is going on in the "church" today. And broken over the confused and misled that are on a path leading straight for hell. Oh Lord God, break our hearts for the sin in our land, heal the broken and confused. Lord we need you so desperately. I pray that we as Christians, can start truly being a light and a true representation for Christ. Forgive my rambling, but this is such a burden on my heart right now.