Have you ever had a simple experience change your life in a profound way? If so, did you notice you had to allow it to change your life before it could? A few weeks ago I experienced something ordinary which I later realized could lead to something extraordinary if I would allow it. I took a while to catch on, much to my chagrin.
Sayings, songs and sundry speeches have long and overarching reaches.
I’ll explain this bit of verse after setting the stage.
People often put stock in wise-sounding sayings. But does everyone examine each saying closely before jumping on its bandwagon? Having said this, I realize anything I say—particularly on this subject—should have its feet held to the fire as well.
“Stop forcing your beliefs on me!”
“I’m sorry?”
“You heard! Stop trying to force your Christianity on me. I don’t want to hear it!”
Dear Healed by Wounds,
It is hard to be known as a Christian these days. There are so many people against the message of Christ that once they find out you’re a Christian, you can forget about being taken seriously. How can I share the love and truth of Christ in a world that seems to be increasingly anti-Christian?
Frustratingly,
—Saved by Grace
Dear Healed by Wounds,
I’ve been getting frustrated lately by people who say to me “Hey, whatever helps you sleep at night!” when I share my Christian beliefs with them. It’s very condescending for them to say that to me when I’m simply telling them about Jesus. When this happens, I feel shot down and the conversation is pretty much over. How should I be handling this?
—Basically Blessed
This past Easter I was reminded of something I’d heard of most of my life but hadn’t spent much time observing—some people only attend church worship services at Easter and Christmas. This year I really watched for it. Sure enough, there was an influx of unfamiliar faces from somewhere. While I don’t have an official count, I could tell our pews had much fewer empty seats than non-holiday Sundays.
“Thank God it’s Friday!” Ever wonder where that phrase came from? I haven’t “googled” it or read a Wikipedia entry. I’m going to do my own digging for the idiomatic origins of this well-used blessing. Actually, all I’m going to say is that it must have started when somebody learned about or was reminded of “Good Friday” from the Christian tradition.
Have you ever felt overly drawn to the things of this world? Do you ever get drained by an attraction to undertakings that are at best fleeting pleasures but at worst leeching parasites on your soul? I know I get drained, and fairly often. Is enough ever enough?
Dear Healed by Wounds,
I was on a flight recently where I had a conversation with a woman who told me that all religions are basically the same and that all of them lead to God. I told her that I believe Christianity is the one true religion. Which one of us has it right? Can we both be right?!
—Basically Blessed
Would it have been funny if I had simply answered with the word “Yes” and published this article? While “Yes” may be a good and accurate answer to this question, it wouldn’t make for a very interesting read. On the other hand, it may end up being more interesting than what I end up writing! Only time and the reader—hi Mom!—will tell.
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