Alter egos?

(01-11-22)– Let It Shine! –Philippians 3:17)

My friend, may I ask you a question? It isn't always easy to set a good, Christian example for others, when our stuff, our space and our own egos are concerned. But, although difficult, i’s it the path God keeps steering us toward and we need to mind His direction?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

G.K. Chesterton wrote: "Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it's been found difficult and not tried." I grew up with the corrective phrase: "Is that acting like a Christian?" Perhaps I had just tagged one of my brothers with a nasty blow to the shoulder. Or it could have been an act of selfishness that would prompt the question. "Share with you brother. Is that acting like a Christian?" It was one of those questions to which neither Mom or Dad expected an answer. It was rhetorical. Deep down they knew that what really mattered to an 8-year-old boy wasn't how I could act like a Christian. What mattered was winning, coming out on top and not being some kind of altar boy in regard to my brothers' feelings or needs. Justice and fairness were for grown-ups and we boys were content with trench warfare; for us, acting like a Christian was difficult and not the first choice when it came to dealing with our stuff, our space and our egos.

It isn't always easy to set a good, Christian example for others, even as adults, when our stuff, our space and our own egos are concerned. But, although difficult, it's the path God keeps steering us toward. We need to mind His direction.

Here's a story: Back in 1966, Doug volunteered to work on a cleanup crew late one night in preparation for a faith conference the next day. Around 12:30AM, as he swept the floor, an older gentleman approached and asked if he was in the right place for the conference. Doug assured him he was. "I told him I would see if I could find him a place to sleep." The place Doug found was the room where he had been sleeping on the floor with about 50 others. Laying some padding and a blanket on the floor, he handed the man a towel for a pillow. Doug asked him if he had eaten. "No," the man said, "I've been traveling all day" The two share some Corn Flakes and milk. Upon awakening the next morning, Doug discovered that the man he'd been sharing Corn Flakes with, the man he had accommodated on a cold, hard floor, was none other than the conference speaker, Dr. Francis Schaeffer, one of the most famous Christians of the past century. Doug later related. "This humble man of God sleeping on the floor, eating Corn Flakes! This was the kind of man I wanted to be." (Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances dictate.)

We leave little behind when we leave this earth. For most it's a few items in a will, perhaps a home and an engraved tombstone. For Doug, Francis Schaeffer left behind a much greater treasure than these, he left behind a legacy of humility, grace and service. He found Christianity to be difficult just as you and I. He tried it anyway and left others richer. I pray it will be said someday of you and I. We put our stuff, our space and our egos away and "acted like Christians."

We pray. Heavenly Father, it isn't always easy to set a good, Christian example for others, even as adults, when our stuff, our space and our own egos are concerned. But, although difficult, it's the path You keep steering us toward. Help us by Your Spirit Lord to mind Your direction so that when we try it we will leave others richer. We pray it will be said someday of yus. We put our stuff, our space and our egos away and "acted like Christians." In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.

Alter egos?

(01-11-22)– Let It Shine! –Philippians 3:17)

My friend, may I ask you a question? It isn't always easy to set a good, Christian example for others, when our stuff, our space and our own egos are concerned. But, although difficult, i’s it the path God keeps steering us toward and we need to mind His direction?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

G.K. Chesterton wrote: "Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it's been found difficult and not tried." I grew up with the corrective phrase: "Is that acting like a Christian?" Perhaps I had just tagged one of my brothers with a nasty blow to the shoulder. Or it could have been an act of selfishness that would prompt the question. "Share with you brother. Is that acting like a Christian?" It was one of those questions to which neither Mom or Dad expected an answer. It was rhetorical. Deep down they knew that what really mattered to an 8-year-old boy wasn't how I could act like a Christian. What mattered was winning, coming out on top and not being some kind of altar boy in regard to my brothers' feelings or needs. Justice and fairness were for grown-ups and we boys were content with trench warfare; for us, acting like a Christian was difficult and not the first choice when it came to dealing with our stuff, our space and our egos.

It isn't always easy to set a good, Christian example for others, even as adults, when our stuff, our space and our own egos are concerned. But, although difficult, it's the path God keeps steering us toward. We need to mind His direction.

Here's a story: Back in 1966, Doug volunteered to work on a cleanup crew late one night in preparation for a faith conference the next day. Around 12:30AM, as he swept the floor, an older gentleman approached and asked if he was in the right place for the conference. Doug assured him he was. "I told him I would see if I could find him a place to sleep." The place Doug found was the room where he had been sleeping on the floor with about 50 others. Laying some padding and a blanket on the floor, he handed the man a towel for a pillow. Doug asked him if he had eaten. "No," the man said, "I've been traveling all day" The two share some Corn Flakes and milk. Upon awakening the next morning, Doug discovered that the man he'd been sharing Corn Flakes with, the man he had accommodated on a cold, hard floor, was none other than the conference speaker, Dr. Francis Schaeffer, one of the most famous Christians of the past century. Doug later related. "This humble man of God sleeping on the floor, eating Corn Flakes! This was the kind of man I wanted to be." (Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances dictate.)

We leave little behind when we leave this earth. For most it's a few items in a will, perhaps a home and an engraved tombstone. For Doug, Francis Schaeffer left behind a much greater treasure than these, he left behind a legacy of humility, grace and service. He found Christianity to be difficult just as you and I. He tried it anyway and left others richer. I pray it will be said someday of you and I. We put our stuff, our space and our egos away and "acted like Christians."

We pray. Heavenly Father, it isn't always easy to set a good, Christian example for others, even as adults, when our stuff, our space and our own egos are concerned. But, although difficult, it's the path You keep steering us toward. Help us by Your Spirit Lord to mind Your direction so that when we try it we will leave others richer. We pray it will be said someday of yus. We put our stuff, our space and our egos away and "acted like Christians." In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.