The Church Clique

   I attended First Baptist Church Norfolk in Va. before I became a believer in Christ at the age of 17.  Even after I became a believer I attended FBCN until I joined the military at the ripe old age of 18.  I had attended FBCN from a young age, maybe 8 or 9 years old.  I tell you this to set up the picture.  I attended FBCN but no one knew me until I was 17.  My Sunday School teachers knew me because I attended their class, but the other kids didn't know who I was.  After I accepted Jesus as my Savior, after I was set on fire for Christ, that's when people began to ask me if I just started attending the Church. It's kind of sad that we can attend Church for so long and not be recognized.  Have you ever been to a church and no one shakes your hand or introduces themselves to you?  I have.  Have you ever attended a church and notice the same people every week gather together in their own little clique?  I have.  Have you felt left out? Have you felt alone? Have you felt uncomfortable? I have.
  
   I make a self conscious effort to introduce myself to new people at church because I know how it feels to be the new guy.  But why do so many people in the church shun new people?  It's because we are comfortable.  We have allowed ourselves to make a comfortable bubble around ourselves where we control the enviroment.  I do this with friendships, so I know what happens.  I share only what I need to with others and only allow my friends to see the real me.  I don't think that is bad, because I feel as though you should not air out your dirty laundry for everyone to see.  Some people can't handle the stink.  BUT, there is a difference between being friendly to everyone and being friends with everyone.  Proverbs 18:24 says "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."  I don't have many friends, but the ones I have are loyal and true.  I digress.  When we gather in the name of Jesus we should extend our hand to those around us.  You don't need to be best friends with that person, but you have to be friendly.  Greet the new person or persons.  Make them feel welcome. Show them the love of Jesus through your actions.  Get out of your bubble.  Get out of your clique.  I believe that many things can ruin a church and one of those are cliques. 

   This morning, as you get yourself ready to worship, find a new person, shake their hand and welcome them.  You'll be surprise by what a big difference that small gesture could have.

You are only as strong as the weakest link

I have always liked that illustration.  "You are only as strong as the weakest link."  I'm sure I don't have to explain the science behind the saying, but it does make you think.  Or at least it makes me think.  At work, when you're working on a project, you're only as strong as the "weakest link" in the group.  A baseball team is only as strong as the weakest hitter in the lineup.  Stats have proved me right on that one.  In a family, you're only as strong as the "weakest" link.  This has given me the most internal fit.  Because to say that is putting a lot of weight in that comment.  But I have seen families struggle with their teenage children.  I have seen families fight alcohol and drug abuse.  I have seen porn take a grip on a family.  I have seen gambling, murder, lies, and hate destroy families.  You are only as strong as the weakest link. I have seen fatherless children struggle with their place in a family or in life. 

I have felt the fury of hell itself on my family while growing up and the attacks of me personally.  I recognize that the enemy would love for me to have a failed marriage, to be a bum at work, to isolate myself from friends and loved ones.  I don't want to be just a good husband and father, I want to be a great husband and father.  I tend to fall short at times.  I won't bore you with the details, but it's true.  I pray with Jurnee every night that I'm not working.  I always pray for her and for her husband and ask that God prepares him for my little princess and that this man child I allow to marry my daughter is a man of God.  This week, however, I prayed that God makes this boy a better man than I am.  After we said "Amen", Jurnee said, "Ah Daddy, you're a good daddy." Her tone made me feel as though I shouldn't pray that and that I am good enough.  It made my heart melt.  It almost brought a tear to my eyes, but it was just allergies.  Her statement made me realize that I tend to be more critical of myself than others are of me.  It's like I fight a ghost within. I walk around like a one man army fighting memories, ghosts and shadows of the past in my head.  I don't want this to be something my children will have to struggle with.  The chains of past generations WILL BE broken with me.  It will stop here.  I will battle for my children to have a father who is involved.  My children will see that no matter what happens in life, that their father will fight for his marriage and his children's soul.  I will be the man of God that God created me to be.  But, I also recognize that I can't do this alone.  We all need help and we all need accountability.  So, I implore you to get a few guys, or if you're a gal get a of couple of gals, to hold you accountable.  True friends will not leave your side to fight alone.  I have a few great buddies who have the scars of going through battle with me and I have the scars of going through battle with them.  Don't believe what the world preaches.  If you do, you will only find yourself hurt.  Don't believe me?  Listen to the screams of your heart that have already been scarred from the world.  Follow Jesus.  Why?  Because what do you have to lose?

In Him,
Jimmy