Diversity was designed by God

Yesterday I talked with both of my sons; one was at an airport in Philadelphia during a layover awaiting a plane to New York and the other was sitting on a plane experiencing a weather delay on his way to Dallas Texas. Important business matters awaited them both. They asked me what I was doing and I sheepishly told them that I was down at the tractor place ordering some equipment and had run into some fellows down there who were acknowledged as the county experts in dove hunting and designing dove fields to best accommodate the sport. We were discussing putting up some telephone poles and wires overlooking my corn and brown top millet fields and the best placement of them for the doves to light upon. We also exchanged some hunting stories, (some of which sounded like tall tales).

Hmmm I suppose I was not exactly engaged in the most high powered business decision-making situation that I have ever been in; however I am as happy as a pig eating slop now that I have taken on a new job. I am now the Chairman/CEO of Honey Lake Timberlands and Plantation and things have slowed down a little. Instead of 180 employees, I now have one employee on the payroll, (but he is a good kid). The weather no longer affects my travel plans to important meetings, but it has everything to do with putting in my wildlife food plots and maintaining my roads. I still drive my wife crazier by getting up long before dawn and I go to bed early.

Some of my friends say I do not look as stressed anymore and I reply that somehow I don’t feel stressed anymore either. Some things never change though and I am on the hunt to find a church to attend nearby my new home site. I have visited one and felt like I was in a coma when I emerged from the service an hour later. The pastor seemed as if he too might have been in a coma and he talked very low and in a monotone and I could hardly discern what he was talking about with my nearly deaf ears. The music program was equally boring except for one bright spot when a beautiful young lady got up and sang her little heart out. No one even clapped and I gathered that the protocol was to remain stoic. (I am going to kiss our choir director right on the lips when I go back to Islamorada and apologize to her for chiding her about her music program because I sincerely miss her lively praise music and orchestra and the way the Lord is worshipped in our church.) I suppose I have not been a big booster for praise music, but after last Sunday I am a new person.

My wife chewed me out for loudly flipping my Bible pages throughout the service and distracting everyone within three rows instead of paying attention. I told her I had to do something or I would have fallen asleep or worse drifted into a coma. There are many churches from which to choose in our area and I will find one that is right for me in time. This brings me to the point of all of today’s meaningless drivel. Finding a church that fits your personality is achievable no matter where you live. Some churches will rock the roof and others will sedate you, but all worship our Lord and Savior and serve God’s purpose. I don’t think God much cares how we worship; I think He is more interested that we find a place to worship together and that we worship. There are many different kinds of churches because there are many different kinds of people. The main criterion is that the preacher preaches directly from the Bible and the word of God is the foundation and Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for our sins is the main theme. Without that it is a complete waste of time.

The Bible tells us that diversity is not only natural, but necessary. It was designed by God who is diverse Himself. It compares the body of Christ, (the church), to the human body having various parts that are different and yet necessary and as much a part of the body as any other member. Too many people condemn others who do not worship exactly as they worship, or for that matter, that look different, have a different skin color, or whatever. We all are an important part of the body of Christ, created by Christ specifically for God’s pleasure. From the Methodist who could baptize the entire county with a cup of water, or the Baptist who wants to dunk em in the river, trust me God enjoys all forms of worship that is Bible based and in which Jesus Christ is the focal point.

Lighten up on your Christian brothers and if you find a church that does not suit you, then move on to the next, and the next, and the next until you are comfortable. If you do not want boring, try a lively church; if you want to be lulled to sleep try the church I attended last Sunday, but whatever you do, attend church this Sunday. You will be glad that you obeyed God and did.

Speaking of boring, I suppose I have bored you silly today, but my new life is not as conducive to lively material. I will try to do better as time goes on, so please don’t cancel your subscription just yet.

1 Cor. 12:12
For as the body is one and has
many members, but all the members
of that one body, being many, are
one body, so also is Christ.