Try, Try, Try, Try, Try, Try...

When you meet someone new at work and the conversation comes around to God, religion, or church, the odds that they will respond positively are low. This of course is true, if you have shared the Good News at all in your life.

You know it will most likely be unfruitful. After all, it has been like that almost every time you took that risk and told them the truth.

Anger, hate, dismissal, and or indifference.

Oh, sure, you do get the occasional "I'm a believer too!" That's always encouraging, until you find out later that they are really not...yet. So, you hope, and persist.

Martha and I travel full time now that she is retired. It just made sense for us, both financially and socially.

You see, because of my calling, I am not well liked at church and haven't been for a long time. No, it's not what I say, as many times I have said nothing. No, it's not how I treat people, as I have always treated people better than they have treated me. HE would not allow me to do otherwise.

If I had a community, a good fellowship experience, at home, I would never have sold everything and left. Even the relationships in my neighborhood had soured. All because of a mark, a presence, a feeling, that I give off...or rather He gives off.

Oh, sure, you mock. I get it. You have not experienced anything like that, and why would God do that to anyone.

Ah, but why would He give one man super strength and then have him kill himself to save others?

Why would God anoint a young boy to be king, while the current king is alive, in order to set up a hard path where the promise would be fulfilled many difficult years later?

There are many questions of why God does what He does. It doesn't bother me that no one else can see it in my calling. No, its not the doubt that bothers me. It is the mocking, the rudeness, and most of all the ostracizing dismissal.

"No fellowship for you!"

Church Nazis

I have visited churches in other countries. The service is not in my language. They might have a translator, but there is still no interpersonal connection. No fellowship.

Of course, in say Vietnam, I cannot blame my calling for that, so it is refreshing in a way. Still, I feel like I'm still stuck on the bench...with the Coach.

It's not so bad when I think about it. I mean He is right here, close to me and accessible. I would like to play once in a while though. I keep hoping He will send me in. It gets boring on the bench. Tiring too, as the other "players" look down on you as you just sit and watch them play.

It's the calling.

It's HIS call...for me.

It is not yours.

It is mine.

You don't know His calling for you. How can you possibly judge His calling upon someone else?

No, to do so is not wise.

Either way, I don't see the point in visiting a local church in Vietnam. I could try, but why?

Because just this time...He might let me play.

I don't know what He is going to do unless He tells me otherwise. He might do something awesome. It is likely, from past experience, that He won't...but He might, this time.

I won't know...if I don't try.