One other unavoidable fact in our neck of the woods, is that as Fall arrives, so do cooler temperatures, darker skies and a bit of rain following.  That is what greeted us this morning.

Not much rain, but the clouds were dark and threatening, plenty of sunshine this afternoon, however.

Smoked a whole chicken when I got back from working out this morning.  Brined it all morning and then instead of salad oil to make the rub stay on it and instead of butter inside the skin over the breast, I used bacon fat; and, it was good!  (Just don’t tell the dietician I did that, she and I have gone around and around about bacon!!)

Teresa got me set up with the fit bit.  I haven’t worn a watch in over 15 years.  When I worked as a Realtor I used my pager (for those of you that don’t know or forgot – a pager was a small device men worn on their belt (not sure about women) so if someone wanted to contact them they could page with a return phone number) it was about the size of a pocket watch, and I used it as my watch.

Eventually, I didn’t need to have such a specific time structure, so I use my cell phone, when I think about it.

Anyway, the fit bit is to be worn like a wrist watch.  In my case there is a problem.  To be most accurate it has to be an inch or so above the wrist bone.  I purchased the largest one the store had, but it isn’t large enough.

I have a large wrist and it barely fits between the wrist bone and the hand.  I got readings, they weren’t completely accurate, but ‘relatively’ close.  I called them to see if I might be able to get a larger band and they are sending me one free of charge.

So, I will be without for a few days, but felt they backed up their product, and I appreciate that – course we will see if anything happens, but I have faith it will be done.

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Luke 11:33  KJV  “No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light."

There is so much unrest in our nation today.

There are those that have decided that if you do not agree with them you are either racist or un-American.  There is not room for quiet, reasonable discussion; there is no middle ground you are either one or the other.

If I say something you don’t like, you label me.  If you say something I don’t like, I label you.

Now isn’t that just a fine way to live?

How can we possibly come to any kind of reasonable decision and have respect for the other side’s position when all too often we think the other side’s position is without merit, of ANY kind?

That the other side is too criminal or hateful or just too stupid to understand the real world?

As Christians we often find ourselves not able to support either side because of radical comments and beliefs.  It goes contrary to our commitment to our God, AND, yet we find that we are being forced to comply with actions that deeply offend us.

There is no middle ground it seems. 

How can we as Christians make people realize that our desire is to live for Him and to share His wonderful message? 

A message that contains His love, His compassion, His mercy AND yes, His condemnation of sin – with the promise that when a person confesses those sins and wishes absolution it is freely given.

A message that understands people are not perfect, that people make mistakes and God will still forgive them.

How do we convey that message, when it seems no one wants to hear it?

One of the things I have learned through the years is that people respond to kindness, to being available to them, to standing up for Him, not necessarily shouting out, but letting everyone know you are a Christian and not just by saying so.

Your manner, your language, your willingness to listen overcomes their reticence to talk to you about Christ, about their problems and how they might be able to overcome them.

If they come to you, it is because of that relationship with Christ and they know you will be counseling them from that point of view.

It is shining our light provided by God, not letting it grow dim (although we WILL make mistakes and there will be those that will condemn, that will point and call hypocrite, at the very least;) but, showing that we are different from the world.

The Holy Spirit will bring them in, we just have to be prepared to minister to them.

We will miss some.  We will make mistakes in the manner we address their concerns, but if we strive to speak as Jesus spoke we will be much more successful in helping them.

We cannot hide our light without destroying our relationship with Christ.  But, when we make the stand for Him, our light will shine into areas we had no idea even existed.

There is that Sunday School Song that little kids LOVE to sing:  “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.  This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.  Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.  Hide it under a bushel NO!  I’m going to let it shine....”

Let’s let our light shine and let God lead us to or lead those that need His light to us.

“No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light."

Later, Art (-: