What’s YOUR forecast? …

I’ve lived most of my life in the West.

The majority of that time was in California, some time in Arizona, and a few years in Hawaii. Because of my experiences in these places, I’ve grown used to the weather “looking like” how it feels.

But not here in Texas. For example, as I write this, it’s a cloudy, windy day that looks unpleasant. But it’s actually reasonably warm! The weather doesn’t feel the way it looks.

I remember my first experience spending some time in the Chicago area … during winter. A brutal experience for a guy from the West! I clearly recall the first time I went outside on a bright, sunny day (literally, not a cloud in the sky) and yet the temperature was zero degrees.

Yes, zero degrees.

Yet, the sun was shining brilliantly.

I had an actual mental disconnect for a second. All my previous experiences taught me that bright, sunny days meant pleasantly warm days outdoors. There was nothing pleasant or warm about zero degrees. The weather didn’t feel like it looked.

I think the world often has a momentary disconnect when it experiences something similar with many people who call themselves “Christian.” The world has an idea of what a Christian should be like (although, the world often has incorrect views and expectations of Christians), but far too often the actual interaction is very different from the idea they expect. Kind of like the weather not feeling like it looks, or not looking like it feels.

In Christianity, it’s Christians not living like their Lord. There’s an outward profession, some sampling of what’s claimed, but often a dramatic departure from living like Jesus lived, loving like Jesus loves, caring like Jesus cares, serving like Jesus served, giving like Jesus gave, discipling like Jesus discipled.

In the warmth of the Christian Gospel, we bring much colder hearts and interpersonal experiences. We far too often don’t feel like the Master to the world.

Who wants more bad weather?

Scotty