Brick by brick

When I received my salvation, it was like a ton of bricks had been lifted off of me. I was young somewhere around twelve, when this happened. Over the years I placed all of those bricks back one by one. Somewhere around a year ago, I rededicated my life to the Lord. The bricks were gone again. I felt on top of the world and on fire for Christ. Slowly the bricks started coming back again. I was losing my way and I knew it. I attended church every Sunday, Wednesday and any other time the doors were open but still the bricks were there. Then it hit me, the bricks will always be there as a reminder of who I was and who I am now. It is up to me how I stack the bricks; how I let the bricks block my way. It took being hit by one of these bricks recently to realize this. My pastor was giving a sermon on regrets and what we regretted from the past year and how to fix these regrets.
As I sat there and listened to the sermon I realized that I had lost my focus. I was rather upset with myself for letting this happen. I resolved that I know that I will struggle in my walk but that I will strive to realize when I am struggling and seek help. We cannot walk alone. Christians need fellowship and need to build each other up, need to hold each other accountable.

The Truant Christian pt1

I haven’t “blogged” in a while and I apologize for it. I have been Truant in many ways in my life. A truant blogger is the least of these. If I just list all of the ways in my life that I have been lackadaisical, it would be a long list. I think one way to wrap it all up is that I have been a Truant Christian. Truant by definition: as a noun Truant is a student who stays away without permission or a person who shirks or neglects his or her duty. Now I have been to church every time the doors are opened and services conducted. I have led Sunday school, filled in on Wednesday night bible study even led worship on Sunday Morning. I have even attended seminary to gain knowledge to better my grasp on Christianity. In all of this I have shirked my responsibility as a Christian. I have not followed through with the seeds that I attempted to plant. This in turn has led me not necessarily astray but to stop my journey.
My New Year resolution is to turn away from my Truancy and be the Christian God intends for me to be. I need accountability and strive to hold my brothers and sisters accountable as well. I am not going to be a fru-fru tutu wearing good guy Christian and tell you that it’s all going to be alright. Do not claim to me to be a Christian on Sunday Morning and then live your life how you and the world see fit the rest of the week. I will call you on it. My family is proof positive that if you give up and give to God and live the way He designed us to live that He WILL reward you.
We were struggling to make it as a family when we started attending church and “living right.” He blessed us with a stronger marriage. We were struggling to find our calling then a terrible disaster hit Haiti and I was called to serve there. We were struggling to add to our family when we started tithing and we got pregnant. We were struggling financially with two incomes living week to week, my wife became unemployed and our income was cut in over half, we put our faith in Him and we have been paying bills early and actually have a little to put back each check. Then we were blessed with the arrival of our daughter, Delilah Joyce. This is what brought me back to where I need to be as a Christian…
I will continue to update this blog as much as possible and continue to post on FB. I will continue to hold not only myself but YOU accountable. I will pray for you and help you in whatever way that I can. I am going to strive to be the best Christian brother that I can be all that I ask is for you to do the same. Strive to be the best Christian that you can. Strive to shed the Truant Christian title.