I do not now why I am shocked any more.  I have been part of this family for 16 years, and I helped create the monster that it is, but I still get shocked.

My children are harboring a fugitive.

With their father’s blessing.

Yesterday morning, I heard delighted screams coming from the garage and I assumed that they had seen yet another chipmunk running through the garage.  I also ASSUMED, that the boys would be running for their BB guns next, to kill said chipmunk.

Instead, I was shocked to find out the although there was a chipmunk involved, this time they were EXCITED because #2 was in possession of the chipmunk!  She had a six foot section of PVC pipe held up chest high with a chipmunk inside!

Mom, dad, two interns, and all kids come running, and somewhere in the excited chaos SOMEONE comes up with the INSANE idea that we should KEEP the chipmunk… even if just for a while.

WHAT?  Wait?

Did someone ask Mom?

Did someone consider the possiblility that that thing could KILL us with rabies? Mange?  Plague?  Hanta Virus?

Flu?

Chicken Pox?

Ebola?

You know, that thing must me a KILLER!

OH but he is SOOO cute, we are going to KEEP HIM!  .…um, no

and give him a name….NO!

and teach him to do tricks…NOOO!!

and keep in him in a cage…

I gave him French fries and pumpkin seeds… He ate the fries.  He must belong here.

Yes.. this is my family…and I love them!

By the way, I will really miss Alvin when we release him at the park later today.  

*disclaimer:  this post has to do with MANY, MANY examples that I have observed in recent YEARS.  This is directed at NO one person or persons.  It is  general observations about the church body as a whole INCLUDING ME! (not only my church family - friends are dealing with this too) This is a battle I have fought myself and I know I have not completely won. This post is not meant to offend, it is meant to provoke thought.    

Yeah, I know I have your attention now.

Could you even imagine?

Imagine a yearly event, when everyone aired their grievances with one another.  Scream. Yell.  Punch. Kick. Swing.  All out mayhem!  Get out those frustrations!!!!

REALLY! ?!    Is that what we want with our BROTHERS and SISTERS in CHRIST?

Is this the way we treat FAMILY?

Well then WHY do we have such anger and bitterness among us?

In the recent months, I have seen countless examples of discord among God’s people.

People who just can not get along.
People filled with jealousy.
People with personality conflicts.
People filled with anger.
People with grudges.

It seems to be running rampant among the body of Christ, and I am amazed at how many people do not see it as an issue.

“I mean, Goodness, I have not been out stealing or murdering anyone, so does it really matter than I don’t want to sit on that side of the church so I do not have to talk to that person?”

They figure their little grudge is not a big deal, I mean “Who will it really hurt?” They figure it will not matter if it is dealt with or not.   They figure “Why cause trouble stirring it up?” They figure it is not their problem, it is the OTHER person’s problem.

I try and keep my answer the same.

Biblical Conflict Resolution

Matthew 18:15-17

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

The Bible has given us the perfect plan for dealing with these problems, and I am not even going to pretend it is easy.  Although, I WILL  say  that if you need to “hide” behind something that God has pretty big shoulders for you to hide behind when dealing with something the RIGHT way.  You can rest in the fact that you are dealing with the problem the correct way.

Why do we want to hold these things in?  It hurts our brothers and our sisters.  They are our family!  We are to LOVE each other.  We are to esteem other higher than ourselves! (Phil. 2)  And yet, we skulk around harboring feeling as we delete them from our friends lists and move pews at church.

This is the way we expect unChristians to act, and yet we do the same.  We avoid, harbor, and begrudge all while lifting our hands in worship, opening our Bibles, and lifted our hands for prayer requests.

Can you imagine what power the Holy Spirit may unleash on God’s church if we would just do what we were supposed to and put away childish things and get over ourselves!?!

I can’t help but think of this verse.  

James 4:17

17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

When are we going to get serious about what REALLY matters and not about who irritated us?

It is not always fun.  It is not always easy.  However, it is what we are supposed to do.  We are supposed to go to each other, and then put aside out difference so we can work together for the cause of Christ.

People are lost and dying in a corrupt world and we are busy worrying about whether or not someone looked at us funny or does like the way we did something.

We are COMMANDED to be about His work, and we are too busy licking our wounds and feeding our anger to do what we know is right.

God help us.

Let it begin with me.

 

 

Thursday is supposed to Magic Waters day, but I refused to spend another day there with a high of only 75 degrees, so I told the kids we would hit a park… or two.

The kids are happy to have Tony and Haley back for the summer and insisted they come play too.  So off we went, Mom, two interns, and six kids in Betty.  Have I mentioned lately how thankful I am for Betty?  I really have NEVER wanted a ginormous 15 passenger van, but oh my goodness! Is it wonderful for hauling around the little people! I love that the kids, and all the friends can just pack on in and head on out.

The kids played a giant game of tag all over the playground. It was fun to see Haley and Tony get involved.  The kids love them, and I know why!  They play with them!

This picture of Tony just kills me. I am just sure he will LOVE it too.  Maybe he will make it his profile picture on Facebook!

Ok… Bubba… This dude just kept wiping out.   I had to take a picture one of the times 🙂

Noah… Having a teenager  is a huge ball of emotions.  I constantly overwhelmed by the mix.  He is truly a sweet boy (Shhh.. don’t tell him I said that!)  He has a soft spot for Jellybean, and here they are “hiding” from the big kids in the game.   She said, “T.T.  go away, we hiding from Kiss.”

Then, she decided they needed to hide by the big cow.  He dutifully went with, indulging her whims pretending they were hiding.

Every once in a while, he reverts to child status.  Rolling down the hill was one of those times.  I HAD to take a picture!  

I told the big boys I needed a picture of them on this pig.  I have a picture (SOMEWHERE) of all four of our kids on this same pig.  They used to fit… Not so much anymore.  

No visit to Lockwood is complete without a trip to the animals, and of course, #3 was in heaven!

The Whole Gang!

 

OH but there’s more… We went to another park… To be continued!