Round Tables And Living Rooms

Psalm 133:1
Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity.

It has been a good two days....
Tuesday night, I got to go out to Rapha to teach a Bible study. Since it is voluntary, I never really know how many or who will show up. Tuesday there were four of us.
We took a look at Matthew 15:8, which read..."This people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far away from me." The very idea that we could stand in the presence of God, having all sorts of worship going on...singing and proclaiming His goodness with our lips.......but our hearts are focused on another. I think maybe you could classify this as "Spiritual Adultery".

I mean how would you like it if you went out on a date with your special other. You lined up the finest restaurant....chosen their best meal....had music that you wanted played was extra special to you. Everything was set. There you sat gazing across the table from the one you love....and they are telling you how much they love you.........telling you how important you are to them....how they want to spend the rest of their life with you....yet all the while this is going on.......they are thinking about and wishing they were with someone else. How would you feel if you found out this was going on? Bottom line is that we will chase after what our heart is focused on.   We truly become what we desire...Jeremiah 2:5- "Thus says the Lord...'What injustice did your fathers find in Me, that they went far from Me and walked after emptiness and became empty?'" Such is the heart of sin/addiction. An every growing emptiness that demands to be filled. A demand that can never be met. As we use to say at Rapha..."Addiction/sin is cunning, baffling, patient and powerful. 

Yesterday, I got to make my way over to Shane Elmore's transitional houses to hang out with the guys. Doug and Brian were there so we sat in their living room as they shared what was going on in their lives. Put these two guys on your prayer list (as well as the others who reside there). Doug went to court to take care of legal issues. He has been faithful to continue to address his legal stuff. As he told me yesterday, "In the past, I would have just ignored them all and let the powers that be come and pick me up...then I would deal with them." Of course in that mind set, "dealing w/ issues" usually meant spending time in jail. 

Brian has a new job that is pretty taxing, but pays well. He's excited that he's making his own way now and not trying to slide by or scam someone for money. Brian has to return to Missouri next month to take care of his own legal problems, but he too is excited to be dealing with his past junk so he can move forward in this new way of living. He is also going to get to see his son while in Missouri. It's been sometime since Brian has been able to spend time with him. So be in prayer for Brian that this trip would be a fruitful and productive time.

While we're on the subject of praying...Please add Gretchen Elmore in your prayers. She is going through some physical stuff right now and could use a healing from God. 

Well, coffee is finished, and it's time to get my wife up....
Guess I better put it all in gear and move out...
Thanks for stopping by the Greene Street Letters this morning...
See you tomorrow...
God on you...
mbb

( just in case your wondering about today's heading.."Round Tables and Living Rooms"...it's where my two visits took place. Round table at Rapha....Living Room at Elmo's.)