It's been a while...

Yes it has. It seems like a year since I last blogged...even though it's just been a few weeks. This is such a good way to "vent" in a way. Writing is such a great way to express what God's saying to my heart. My absence on this blog hasn't been because He hasn't been speaking, I assure you. Things have just been a little "hectic" to say the least. But I am back, now, and that's all that counts. I want to share the experience of a lady I just met with you today. The reason that this experience of meeting this young lady means to much to me is that God used it to speak great truth to my heart.
Kroger is a great place to talk to people. I don't know what it is about the store itself, but I often find myself in conversations with people I've never met before while I'm strolling the isles looking for that perfect box of Apple Jacks. Anyway, yesterday as I was checking out at the self checkout lane a lady suddenly said to me, "You make me chuckle." "Okay," I thought, "it's good to know I bring joy to someone by simply scanning my groceries and bagging them..." I looked up and she said, "You must be single!" Why on earth would she say that?
Could it be that everything I had in my cart was instant or microwave-able? TV dinners, lunch meat, Dr. Pepper by the ton, Snickers by the crate...okay, maybe I exagerated on the Dr. P and Snickers part (see earlier blog, "Dr. Pepper and Snickers...hmmm). You get the idea, though - I was purchasing what appeared to be stapple diet items for a bachelor pad. I know this from experience, too. Before Shauna and I married, I lived on Romaine Noodles, Tony's pizzas, sodas, and TV dinners...my shopping habits haven't changed much, either.
Now, it's not that Shauna doesn't cook - she's an amazing cook! But she also works during the day, so when I go home for lunch during the day - I want something quick. Hence the instant stuff...but it didn't appear that way to the kind, chuckling lady behind me in line...which made me think...
How much more of my life isn't what it appears to be to the general public? My occasional bad attitude may communicate that I'm an unhappy, bitter person - even though I have the best life Christ could ever give anyone! My speed on the highway may communicate that I have no respect for authority or the government - even though I have the utmost respect for my leaders and those who are sworn to protect me. My hard head may communicate that I want things my way or no way - even though I am so open to others ideas it's not even funny.
Now comes the question: what does your life communicate to the world? The church I am blessed to pastor has a new "slogan" and pattern for ministry: Loving God, Loving People, Serving the World. It's simple - but it's the bottom line. I want everything I say, do, and communicate to scream this to the world! "I exist to love God, love people, and serve the world!"
What do you exist for? And is that what you are communicating to the world around you?

That's just a thought - and I welcome yours.
Feel free to email me anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com.
Until next time,
blake