Tuesday, May 17, 2005

thank you.

so i thought i would explain the pictures you are about to look upon, if you scroll down. -for all the legalistic people out there. Last night the Dunn Bros' gang all went to Scott's house to have our own little goin away bash for him. i had to work till 9 but i got there around 9:20 or so. they had already been getting down with the long necks. i walk in, with a Diet Coke in my hand.-that's the extent of my drinking. like i would actually put myself through the grossness of beer. ick. anyways, we all have lots of laughs. i watched as 2 of the girls got completely drunk. took pics. laughed. just was there. showing that i can hang out with them. not being legalistic. not being all churchy. i left, completely, sober, and i got praised for that, even before people were drunk. they like my self-control. but i was walking out the door and Scott (not being all that drunk...) said, "thank you." most of me wants to believe that, that Thank You, was more than just thanking me for just showing up. i didnt' buy the beer, i wasn't supplying, what was there for me to be thanked for...?? i dont' know.

anyways, i left, driving home, thinking...i just watched people drink, to the point of drunk. still laughed, had a good time, was still in my right mind. not looking down upon them, for drinking or getting drunk...just loving them. not loving what they're doin, but loving who they are. and me and my Diet Coke, could have set a little example, who knows. maybe they won't remember me even being there, but maybe they will. it was still worth, trying to show a little Jesus, last night.

ministry...life.

Even though i am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, i have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized---whoever. I didnt' take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ---but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those i meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didnt' just want to talk about it; i wanted to be in on it! -1Cor.9.

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