Making It Plain

There is this wonderful, exuberant time in every relationship where the tingles and butterflies pale in comparison with what goes on within you when you see that special person you have agreed to be a major factor in your life.  Don't mistake how great the feeling is when you have a liking for someone and they don't know you even exist - that's cool too especially when you are a child. It's the agreement of two people believing and knowing that the compatibility is everything you could ever think it would be. Having like interests, conversations that aren't difficult, family values are equally treasured, and the roles that each have are obvious and not debatable. Eventually, the conversation changes because you both question where the relationship is going. Is this long term or something to do over the Summer? It's a scary thing to approach if you are immature. Grown folks have had discussions like this before. The sooner you find what the other person is lookin...

Have you ever said a word so much that it lost all meaning? Have you ever thought you knew what a word meant until you saw someone else do it better then you ever could? While the first question might seem childish, try it. Say the word, devotion about 20 times. It should start to sound funny. Now think of any circumstance where this word describes your action or reaction. I liked to think that I was devoted to the ministry I attended for so many years. I volunteered in various areas of the ministry. I taught classes. I attended classes and I was beginning to look forward to being a part of the staff. Even when other ministers were leaving the parish for whatever the reason, it had nothing to do with me. I enjoyed the place I was in. I kept myself away from those that liked to gossip and focused on whatever task I was assigned to. My purpose was doing the will of God, not man. Then, without me knowing it, some of the stink that caused certain ministers to leave was coming for me. M...