Craig’s Blog

The first statement I’m going to make here has nothing to do with this post.  I am gaining a huge appreciation and respect for those of mine who make it a priority to fill their blogs with interesting content every day.  I entered this new year with just the desire to not neglect this place and have seen how crazy a feat it is to provide something new all the time. So to those of you who provide us with fresh new content to enjoy on such a regular basis, thank you and a hearty well done!

Now to this post.  I do not have a great category set aside for these types of entries because I don’t plan on many like it.  Trust me I also am very well aware of my awful writing skills so I promise not to kill you with these too often

I have a good friend named Aaron Edwards.  We have known each other for a very long time.  He was my buddy in high school that I got into trouble with all the time.  Somewhere about six or seven years ago, Jesus made a radical change in Aaron’s life.  It was awesome to see and now he is always such a great source of inspiration to me when we get the chance to speak.  Last night I got a call from him at what seemed to be a random time of night so I answered in hopes that all was okay.  He was fine and had just put someone up in a hotel because they were on the streets and strung out.  Aaron does not make much money and truly does not know where or when it is coming but still uses his own dollars to help people he comes across like this guy last night.  As I sat very comfortably in my beautiful home, watching my great TV and listened to his experience from that night, I was truly blessed and inspired by his selflessness.

He began to tell me another story about meeting with some pastors in an affluent area of town and how disgusted he was by the tone of the meeting. He said that at first he was touched by the efforts that this pastor was making in the area of Social Justice.  He saw many pictures of this man with starving African children and some of the amazing things that were going on with that cause.  It was soon after that he began to learn of this man’s opinions of some guys here in town that are doing things “different” and was immediately turned off by the disdain in his voice.  So Aaron came away thinking to himself, “why is it that we can go to Africa, dig a well, or feed some kid and then come here and slam someone for doing church ‘different’?”  He said to me. “Let’s just see what would happen if we just loved others the way that Jesus does and not worry about making it a ’cause’.  Why do we think that we can be effective by joining a cause if we cannot love here at home.”

Now I want to say that his tone and deifinetly my thoughts here to day are by no means belittling amazing efforts being made by some many to bring needs and love to people that are done so under an organization.  I think that groups like Thirst Relief play a crucial role in giving of ourselves to provide for those in need.  It was the statement that if we all LOVED the way the Jesus does then there will be no need for cause.  It is so easy to find some sort of identity in a cause when really it is that our identity is in Jesus and when we live like that people’s lives around us are changed.

So please do not read this post thinking that I am anti-humanitarian efforts by any stretch.  I was just truly touched by the reminder that when we love others (even those closest to us) the way the He loves, He changes people through us.  That’s all for today.  I hope you have a blessed day

craig