Here's a Thought with Jay Daniels

Let us return to that  thought  of "radical hospitality" as shared last night by Father Kim. As churches, we are always looking at the next "program" to draw people in - specifically a younger audience.  We plan all of these great things, while often overlooking one simple fact. People simply want to have an authentic experience with Almighty God.  What do our lives show to others? How do we play a part in that experience?

I hear many people say that they've moved on in their lives. Let's face it; it is a great feeling to move forward. Yet, when you continually dwell on the hurts and the regrets of the past... have you truly moved on? The more that we cling to yesterday, the less that we can prosper tomorrow.  You can never move forward in your life until you have let go of the past.

Many of us have a friend or two that we talk with just about every day. From time to time, however, we may get busy and sidetracked with life. The joy about those close friends - those friends that are there through thick and thin - is that no matter long you go without speaking, when you do speak again, it's as though the conversation never stopped.

Friends, when you build a house, you need a sturdy foundation to ensure longevity and stability within that construction. What is your life built upon? What is your relationship with a spouse, a friend, a co-worker built upon?  I don't wish to liken everything back to love, but let's look at something quickly. The divorce rate is over 50% in this country. Most folks aren't even worrying with getting married these days. In fact, countless people within the  church are filing for divorce. What are we building these relationships on?  Here is the humble opinion of this writer. Relationships are not being built on the Cornerstone. It has been often that a marriage rooted in the love of God is similar to a triangle. The closer that the husband and wife draw closer to God, the closer they draw to each other. From past experience, I can tell you that without God, that marriage is hard-pressed to succeed.  When a faucet breaks in the house, you don't go out and buy...

In the MGM film "The Wizard of Oz," Dorothy was quoted as saying while in Munckinland, "My... people come and go so quickly." That they do, that they do. Let's think for a moment. There are some people in our lives that have made a profound impact, and yet they went as quickly as they came. What are people seeing when we enter their lives? I'm as guilty as anyone; I'll let you down more than I'd care to admit. However, in spite of our faults, we must alway s think about how our actions may impact others. I am not one who always looks for the best; I simply try to understand people for who they are. I am not an optimist; I am not a pessimist. I am simply a realist. So here's the question. Will you be an encouragement or a detriment? If you wish, share your story about someone who has made a lasting impact. Then, when you've shared your story, make sure that you tell that person how much they've meant to you.