Just sort of thinkin'....

You know I've just kind of been thinking about some stuff over the last hour or so. I'm kind of wondering why it seems like I get more respect and sincerity from the unbelieving crowd than I do within so-called Christian circles. Around groups of professing Chrisians who are so involved in their church ministries and the like, and have therefore been raised around others like themselves and relate best (perhaps only) to these people, I feel like the blight in the midst of the cornifeld. Maybe I can't help it that our family has had a difficult time finding a church for most of my and my siblings existence. Maybe I can't use the big words or pun the corny religous jokes because I haven't been raised in this sort of environment and don't want to grieve God's Spirit within me. Maybe I don't "fit" socially into the religous cliche that Christianity in America seems to have become. But I do know one thing, I am a Christian saved only by God's grace. That sentence doesn't flow from a programmed mind. It flows from my heart since I know all that the Lord has brought me through but how He's used these things to strengthen my faith in Him. So, when it all comes down to it, I know that wherever I am in life and circumstance, faithfulness and obedience to the Lord precedes everything. In my weak and sinful humanity, I have no way of doing this apart from His grace. So, though I may lack the social fluff, I want to keep my focus on Christ and on living in a way that honors and glorifies Him. Master's or UW-RF, Public college or Private college, faithfulness to Christ should come front and center before anything else in my life. Lord, please help me to be content with wherever you place me, not being discontent, but realizing that you will guide and direct me and use whatever happens in accordance with you plans and purposes for me and every believer. Amen. -Josh