Distracted

Ugh.

"They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen."

"Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them."

Romans 1:25, 32

Those verses make me saddened but also condemn me and make me think of the idols in my life that consume all the time I could be spending with the Lord. There are so, so many distractions in our culture, it's gross.

I feel like I've been hearing this message a lot over the last several weeks. I hear, but do I really hear? I dislike how distracted I can be from what should matter most in my life, God.

How depraved have we become that we don't know what it means to live for Christ or live by faith or suffer for the Lord. How sad that we are so comfortable that we can't even see what our relationship could be with our Creator. We are too comfortable to follow Christ with our whole self. It's too easy for us to follow the temptations and desire of the culture around us. It's so difficult to be different. Boy does our enemy have us fooled!

"While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, [a beautiful city of art, philosophy, and literature] he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols." Acts 17:16 What would Paul say about our culture now? What 'distress' or sadness would he feel after walking a moment in our world with our modern day idols? We're so easily distracted, we're so comfortable we can't even know.

Yuck.

Evidence of a Broken World... (And Other Ramblings)

...as if anymore evidence is needed! What's that saying? The proof is in the pudding. [I wonder where that saying comes from. How did it get started? What was in the pudding? What did it prove?]

This note (minus real names) was intercepted by one of my 10 or 11 year-old informants on Friday:

I [heart] U (girl) More then ever and (boy) he didn't hit any body that hurt you I did have you ever stayed the knight at his house no pluse if we do go out ever I won't be bad and I won't do the stuff that you tell me not to do if we don't are we still friends call me or write me back and I was going out with (girl) but not write now because I want you. I [heart] U

This reminds me of a couple conferences I had with parents in the fall. I was concerned after a student announced openly that he had slept with another student at the school. When I addressed this with both parents, they responded in a very matter-of-fact way about the students watching TV or movies in each others rooms and falling asleep together. 

So, so sad. Obviously, these parents living in darkness will have no concept of why this is wrong. They live and teach their children according to the world's standards. How can I expect anything other than the behavior I'm getting from some of my students when they are being trained to serve the wrong god?

---  ---  ---

On another note... I came home this afternoon, used the bathroom, washed my hands and noticed a long blue mark on my neck. It easily washed off, but I have been consumed by the question Why didn't anyone tell me about a blue mark on my neck two or more inches long? I suppose I can understand the kids not saying anything. Perhaps they aren't trained in that sort of etiquette. It's not like this was a day where I had little to no interaction with any adults, though. In fact, we had a staff meeting after school where I sat at a table with other teachers. So, still I wonder, Why didn't anyone say anything?

---  ---  ---

I had a nice evening. Good conversation. Good food. Good times. I got to tell about the wonderful experience on my missions trip over spring break. I like talking about that. About our time being stopped at the border. About how welcoming and loving the people are. About working with the kids. About working with the missionaries.

I miss seeing the brothers and sisters in Los Fresnos and Matamoros and their love for the Lord. They obviously weren't perfect humans [perfect human, isn't that an oxymoron?], but they didn't seem as consumed with treasures and schedules as I notice around me in El Dorado. Many of them were living a life in service of the Lord. Doing, for the glory of God. God first, me last. That's a mindset that we are missing. It's just so, so awesome to see a such a love for Christ.

What a World...

A woman today mentioned that they haven't attended church for quite some time. Randomly, at best, since their child was born. Their church's Sunday service is at 10:30 A.M. and it doesn't fit in with their child's schedule.  

Really? Our lives should be centered around Christ, not around our kids (or earthly things). In this world, not of it. Do not conform to this world... started swirling through my mind. My heart is saddened for their sweet child and the missed opportunities to learn, know, and grow in God.

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6

The purpose of this woman sharing this unfortunate information was actually to set up a story. They drove past their church twice one day, and she mentioned that they were probably going to go to church on Sunday. I guess the child began throwing a fit about not going, not liking that place because it was too noisy each time they passed it. (I think the child's only 3 or 4.) She thought it was funny.

Wonder if she did go [or will be going] to church on Sunday anyway?

What a broken world we live in!

I'm so, so thankful for una vida eterna with my Lord and Savior! Amen!