Yesterday was very mild in our neck of the woods.  Temperatures remained in the 70’s, warmer today, but not too bad, barely in the 80’s, at least right now.

We can tell Fall is coming, soon.  Our air conditioner is only needed a few hours a day, coming on around 1200 and off in the early hours – vs having it on through the night.

One of the things I miss about Central Oregon was the cool night air after a very hot day.  I didn’t know anyone who had an air conditioner in their home, opening windows and doors was enough to keep cool.  – of course a different era, didn’t worry too much about break ins.  It can still be done, just have to make it so the windows can’t be opened enough to allow someone to gain entry, easily done.

1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

To me, frankly, this is one of the scariest verses in the Bible.

Paul is saying I live my life in Christ so well you should follow my example.

They didn’t have cameras, videos or still; they didn’t have all the outlets on social media we have today – but still he was well known.

We know of once well thought of and followed evangelists that were living a lie in secret.  They were eventually exposed and their witness to others was destroyed. 

They were a disappointment to those that believed they were true men of God and an example used by the unbelievers as to why it doesn’t pay to follow God and His commands – look at these hypocrites and charlatans, all they were looking for was fame and money.

I have sinned so many times and in so many ways in my life, and there are those that know and have readily pointed out my failures.  It gives them an excuse to not accept Christ.

How can I possibly say what Paul has said, and yet we know that is one of our missions – live a life for Christ where others will see Him in us.

Whether we like it or not, we are an example to others.  People who we have no inkling of are watching us to see if our actions match our words.

A while back I had a woman come up to me.  As a child and teenager she attended the same church I attended.  I never had her in one of my classes, but since I was a man in the church she knew who I was.

She also knew I was a police officer.  When she came up to me she told me that when she was younger one of the things that kept her out of trouble was the ‘fear’ of having to disappoint me – and probably more significantly – of being caught doing wrong by me.

I had no idea, of course, that she would even contemplate doing something wrong – and I rather doubt she would have turned into a criminal, but the thought of being caught by a police officer who was a Christian and leader in her church helped keep her on the straight and narrow.

I am sure each of you have had similar experiences where years after you have had contact with someone they come to you and tell you a similar story; perhaps even of how they found Christ because of you.

Don’t think that your sins are going to be so bad that you can never properly serve Christ.  We are not perfect, and because of that imperfection there are times we have shown ourselves in a different light and there will be those that will forever hold it against us – but, dwelling on that is exactly what satan wants us to do because he knows if he can make us discouraged, it is half the battle!

Now, if I can just accept that fact, myself.

Later, Art :-)