Last week I had to call my bank for a personal matter. I called the 800 number as I knew things would go faster. I ended up getting a guy named David Belton from Roanoke, VA. He was able to fixed the things I needed. Then out of the blue he ask me what "The Singles Network" was. I am used to this question as most folks think its a dating site. I quickly shared what it was and what I did. We continued to talk for over 30 minutes about the needs of singles and what society things about them. We talked about the breakdown of the family and the increase of singles living with other singles as well as singles living alone. We also discussed how emails and texting have affected relationships. That the next generation isn't learning how to deal with conflict. He appeared to agree with me on every point leading me to ask the question of where he went to church. I didnt't think he was necessarily a believer but he didn't seem at all afraid to talk about God or the Bible. He said well, I don't go to church. He said he grew up in church but found it hard, unforgiving, judgmental and full of hypocrites. He did read the Bible, however, but instead of the "traditional church" he belonged to a group called "Wicca". I also lost my breath. He ask if I was familiar with Wicca. I said yes. He said, the group he is involved with is family focused, caring, supportive and nurturing. That they care about nature and each other. I told him the only connection I had with Wicca was a group in New Bern, NC who worshiped the devil. He proceeded to say his group did not and that the devil was found only in the Bible. He said he found a group of folks that showed real love and that the traditional church did not to him.

So, hmmm, this made me start to think. As far as Wicca, maybe there are other groups that do different things. The thing here to me isn't so much what he belongs too (of course he is lost) its more about where he found support, encouragement and a family that cared for him. I felt sorry for him that his experience with a church was so bad that Wicca was more attractive. I felt sorry for the "Church" as a whole who has not done their part.

So OK, what does this mean to me. It gives me food for thought. I want to stay connected to this guy. I told him my email address and other contact information. I want to pray for him, for his salvation for his life. So if you would, please join me in praying. David even said he felt no connections were by accident. Boy, if he ever knew how true that is. God wants David. I am thankful for the messed up with my bank that allowed me to speak to David.

Psalm 65:2
You who answer prayer, to you all people will come.
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Lettuce Not 02/05/2011
 
Today I was eating some lettuce, romaine I think. I made my own homemade lettuce wraps with hamburger, rice, beans and tomatoes..hmmm, so good. As I was scooping the meat onto the lettuce, I stopped for a moment and looked at it. I wondered how long it took to grow this lettuce. Did it take days, weeks or months? I followed the veins/branches with my finger, noticing how each vein was different than the rest. Each vein had spent hours and hours working hard to grow. And as each vein grew, the color had gone from white to a dark green (the part that is the healthiest).

I thought this lettuce spent all this time growing for one purpose, for me to eat it. That someone planted it, watered it, fertilized it, etc. There would be hours of hoping it wouldn't get eaten by a critter or infested by a disease, again all for me. And if God cares so much for this amazing plant with its beautiful intricate branches, then of course he cares for me. For my purpose far exceeds a head of lettuce. My purpose is relationship with my Savior that glorifies Him and as a result a relationship with others to bring them to Him.

Thank you Lord that even in something so ordinary is lettuce, you can show your splendor to remind us of your splendor in each of us.

1 Chronicles 16:29
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
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