PET PEEVES

I have really been missing out.  I haven’t had a pet peeve for an incredibly long time.  I couldn’t manufacture one no matter how hard I tried.  Maybe it’s the mellowing of older age where things just don’t really bother you anymore.  But then out of the blue a pet peeve stood right in front of me in big bold, letters.  CAN’T PEOPLE LEAVE THEIR CELL PHONES ALONE FOR EVEN 5 WHOLE MINUTES?  You’re in a conversation with someone and a little ding goes off that a text has arrived.  The cell phone has to be looked at.  It’s like Pavlov’s dog.  The cell phone is the stimulus that controls human behavior.  The current conversation with a human being who is looking at you and interested in what you are saying gets put on hold and the cell phone takes priority.  Cell phones, as great a tool as they are, have become intrusive.  We don’t own them, they own us.  They have such a grip on us they entice us to engage in dangerous activity, like when we drive.  So I say, “Hallelujah for the cell phone”.  I finally have a pet peeve.  But I still I say it’s time to say dang to the ding and let the texts wait their turn.  

I feel better now.

HEALTHY

Here in southwest Ohio we are enjoying a beautiful rebirth of creation.  Spring is popping out all over in the form of blossoming trees, golden forsythia, hyacinths, tulips, and lush green grass.

I have made an observation many times over the years.  Every spring there are lawns that are lush and thick without a weed in sight, and then there are lawns that have been overtaken by dandelions and crabgrass.  Personally I much prefer the lush, thick, weedless lawns.  We all realize that lush, thick weedless lawns don’t just happen.  The those lawns get measured fertilizer, timely watering, and loving care.  The others not so much, if at all.

It struck me how similar this is to our spiritual lives.  To have a life where dandelions and crabgrass are minimized requires focused commitment just like our yards do.  The fertilizer of the Word of God, the water of the Spirit in us, and the heartfelt love of Jesus all create a lush spiritual life that keeps the weeds of the world from overtaking it.  It may be a challenge, but let’s be as intentional with our spiritual lives as we are with our lawns.

REACHING OUT

If you have been to CCC recently you have seen a new look in the atrium.  The Center has become a focal point and our mission motto can’t be missed.  It is written in big cursive letters on the wall.

The short motto of CCC’s mission is, “Love God, Love People”.  We believe that the deeper our love for God, the deeper our love will be for His people.  The deeper our love for people, the more committed we are to bring the love of God to them in practical and impactful ways.  So we offer support groups, like Divorce Care and Celebrate Recovery.  We also seek to engage the needs of people in our community through Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets and gift cards.  We ministry to prisoners’ families through Angel Tree, and send shoe boxes with goodies to all parts of the world through Samaritan’s Purse.  In addition, a group meets monthly in the church’s commercial kitchen to cook food for The Castle and Joe’s Java.   We are also involved with providing weekend meals for school aged kids through the Food2Go program as well as meeting kids’ needs through Shoes for the Shoeless.  

Helping the needy and hurting is deep in the heart of God.  Good deeds open up opportunities to share the Good News of Christ’s forgiveness and the gift of everlasting life.  To love God well, we must love people.  So let’s keep reaching out in the name of Jesus and let people know how much He loves them.