The projects of yesterday are now finished.  Greenhouse shelves are done, yard mowed for the last (maybe) time, and garden is now fully cleaned and rototilled for the last time this season.  My whole body is talking to me this morning due to the physical side of yesterday from cement bags to digging post holes and the rest.  My brother in law who was here over the weekend said he’d never heard me complain about aches and pains as I’ve gotten older.  Well, he could if he were here today!

Last night’s class had some revelations all right about emotions.  I am not alone in this arena.  It seems most if not all men struggle with their and others emotions.  What are we to do with them?  Somehow it seems we are just to let them go unless the emotion is asking for something.  Strong emotions have been a struggle for me as I’ve said before.  However, I do believe God is helping me see them as an expression of passion.  Sometimes a person needs to simply get them out by speaking them or physically doing something.  I don’t need to step into this but just let them happen.  I can ask if there is anything one can do to help?  If the answer is no then I can let it go.

Last night’s class also bought out a quote from the author of the materials that created quite a bit of dialog.  It said:  ‘This is not an ‘us and them’ issue. (Speaking about those in church who struggle with an addiction)  This is an issue about people who have been redeemed by a gracious God.  The people caught in the gay lifestyle, the abortionist, the pornographer and the couple caught in adultery aren’t the enemy.  The enemy is the enemy.  And our call is to help as many people as we can to get his noose off their souls.”  This message is one our church and every church needs to wrestle with.  It is not OK for us to continue to keep the façade in place that “we are ok and simply coming to church to feed our spiritual hunger.”  There are so many people coming in hopes to find true accountability and genuine help.  The relationships we build in a church should give people the sense of safety that I can share my hurt, hang-up or habit and not be judged, but supported.  We have miles to go in this arena.  God is not giving up on His people and I know He is asking us to join Him here.