Do not hesitate to share the important truth

You're walking along the street and your dear friend is with you.  She strays out into the traffic and a large truck is coming. It's going to hit her, there is no way it can stop in time.  She keeps walking, oblivious there even IS a truck, let alone the fact it's going to hit her.  All you have to do is tell her to move.  Do you?

You are going to try bungee jumping from a bridge.  You notice the cord is frayed and coming apart as your friend is putting on the harness.  In fact, it looks as though it's been "repaired" in several places but not well.  Do you stop your friend from jumping?

Now, your friend has begun a new relationship.  She shows you a picture.  He's your husbands ex-coworker.  He is being charged with assault and battery on his last girlfriend.  You know, because you witnessed the abuse at the company's New Year's Eve party.  You already see bruised finger prints on your friend's arm.  Do you tell her what you know?

OK, so the first one is obvious.  It's easy. You say, "Get out of the road!"  The second one seems easy to me, too.  "Hey! I don't think you should use this cord.  It looks like it could break."  The third one gets slightly trickier, but I think the answer is still pretty clear. You warn your friend.  You HAVE to tell what you know to be fact.  Remember? You even witnessed it!

In every instance you would do what you need to do to save your friend.  Who wouldn't?  So why do we hesitate to share the most important life-saving information there is?  The salvation message.  What are we afraid of?  If my friend, who was going to be hit by a truck, said angrily to me, "Don't tell me what to do!", then was hit by the truck, I'd be devastated.  But less so knowing I had done what I could. Same with the bungee cord friend.  I had done what I could, people are responsible for their own actions, especially when they have been given the facts.  Friend number three, although this is a different type of scenario, also has the will to do what she pleases with the information given.  We do run a risk of anger and even rejection.  She may not like what you are saying and ask that you not get involved.  There is not much you can do to physically protect, or protect emotionally, people who choose to ignore your warnings.

So what does that have to do with the salvation message? Everything.  Without Jesus, no one will enter heaven.  All will live eternally.  In either heaven or hell.  I believe without any doubt it will be one or the other and that hell is as real a place as heaven.  The old jokes about hell may be cute, with the parties, the little red man with the pitchfork and tail, but real hell is anything but.  It's a place of eternal torment.  Wailing and gnashing of teeth.  It will be a place of utter despair, darkness, misery, affliction, horror, and fear.  For eternity....  Now I think, if I truly love someone, do I want them there?  Stupid question, you say!  Of course I don't.  I want them in heaven, with Jesus and me.  How do they get there? The same way I do: Through Jesus and Him alone.

Why don't I tell my friend that?  Good question.  Answers are many but pretty much boil down to fear.  Fear of rejection.  Fear that my friend will laugh and make fun of my silly notions.  Fear that they will get mad at me for pushing my religious opinion on them.  Fear of them leaving me.  Fear of losing my friend.  Fear they may ask me questions I cannot answer.  Now, apply all those answers to why I don't tell my friend to get out of the way of the truck, not use the bungee cord, and get away from an abusive man.  Do those fears mean much?  What's more important? Your friend's eternal life or avoiding the consequences of your fear?  I hope through the new year I can take this to heart and heed my own advice.  I hope I can boldly, gently and with love, save my friends from their own-coming trucks.  Have a blessed 2011!

How Should We Celebrate Our Lord's Birth?

I just spent a week at my sister's home.  My mom had surgery (a raging success, Yea!) and I wanted to give some time to be with them both.  I have a fabulous sister.  We are separated by a mere 21 years and missed out on some bonding time when we were younger.  But, now, with me in my 40s and her in her 60s we have become the best of friends and beyond. 

She has become such a delight in making me see a better ME.  In understanding who I am, why, and how I can use my gifts and abilities for our Lord's purpose.  This last week we had much time to visit as Mom was in the hospital (we know where the good waiting rooms are, which ones have the best chairs; and Sis can even find free cookies!) and recuperating.  We discussed our disappointment in our past Christmas "celebrations".  What do we do to make this Christmas special... to be different from the past?  Basically, to bring the miracle of Christ's birth to our families in a REAL way. 

It all gets so lost in the hubbub of it all.  The shopping, the cooking, the baking, the decorating, the everything!  What do we do to simplify?  To really celebrate Christ?  We didn't come to any conclusions.  I suggested, perhaps, it isn't about what we do for our family, but for ourselves.  It's something we are both still pondering. Christmas is getting nearer and nearer and no decision yet.  I pray God will give me an answer and peace about this Christmas will be in our hearts.  The miracle of His birth should not be taken so lightly, so casually.  I do not believe that Christmas is about giving... at least not in worldly fashion.  It's about God's ultimate gift to us.  How do we celebrate that gift without losing it's meaning in our earthly giving of gifts? It becomes so out of control.   I try every year and family and "shopping" always seems to prevail...

Any suggestions or ideas from anyone who has been able to keep the meaning of Christmas? God's Blessing to you all!