Excuse Me!

Have you ever wondered what people from past generations would think about society today? Do you think they'd be puzzled that now we pay to exercise at a gym rather than get it while working on the farm? Do you think they'd scratch their heads that we communicate electronically rather than with pen and paper? Would they be shocked that we can browse, shop and even pay online, without ever leaving the house? Do you think they'd be amazed at how we keep up with folks on the other side of the world but we don't even know our neighbors? Would it surpise them to learn that we can get an education, a college degree from the comfort of our own home? Do you think their jaws would drop when they entered a church building with coffebars and powerpoint and sound systems? I am amazed at how much we have, how many things we have, each designed to make our lives easier and allow us to do tasks faster and better----more efficiently. We have gadgets to make us smarter, drinks and memberships and machines to make us stronger, doodads to give us more time, thingamagigs to make us more mobile and enhance our communication.

Ideally, we should be stronger, faster and smarter, (or at least more educated) than past generations. We have more time, more energy, more money and more resources. So why do we make excuses about serving the Lord and keeping His commandments? How can we say we are "too tired" to go to worship? How can we say we'd be happy to participate but we just don't have the time? How can we say, we don't know how? Are we timid or lazy? If we are lazy, there is only one solution--STOP IT! Repent and get to work, the only true cure for laziness. If we are truly timid, we can increase our faith by looking at some examples in the Word.

Given all the advances of our society, these seem like nothing more than excuses. As a preacher's wife, I hear lots of excuses. You know the ones:

• "I was going to come to church but I didn't hear my alarm go off" "I had a horrible headache" "My family was in town and they don't believe in church"
• "I would teach a class but I am not really good with kids" "I am going to be gone alot this summer" "I used to teach all the time and I just need a break"
• "I would like to convert someone but all of my friends are happy with their own faith" "I don't really know enough bible to teach someone else" "I hate to come off like a religious fanatic"

Sometimes excuses are so frustrating. Mine included. Looking back, I let excuses keep me from doing lots of good things. Things I know would have resulted in blessings for me and others. God has given me so much, He promises me He will not fail me, He will not leave me. He gives me power in His word, power in His church, power in His Spirit. Those are better than all the high tech gadgets and much more effective. And so I wonder, what would it take in this age of high tech, in the age of faster, stronger, smarter, to make us wake up and take the opportunities that come knocking everyday? What will it take? Think about the missed opportunities in your own life. Are there any? Are there many? What will it take for all of us to stop being "excuse me" people and become "git r done " people? We are robbing ourselves and crippling God's ability to bless us when we become so self-involved that we become uninvolved. There is an entire world out there waiting to know Jesus. There is an entire church family, longing to grow with us. Thre is Lord and Master sending us opportunity after opportunity. Why aren't we taking them? When God is with us, we truly have no excuse.

Peace
Neva