What do you say when someone calls you a fake? What do you do when people say things falsely about you? What do you do when people walk away?
Welcome to the Show
Yesterday I had a friend visit and she shared that she ran across an old party friend of mine. She stated this friend called me a Christian fake. It prompted me to want to visit with you this morning a little bit about how my life has changed, and that I can understand why someone would say that.
First off, I didn't grow up a Christian. I grew up with alcohol, drugs, boys and parties. I eventually owned my own bar and enjoyed Coyote Ugly as much as the next. I was Karaoke crazed, and I fit in excellent, because I was always the instigator for finding the "most fun". The bar wasn't always packed, but it was always loud and we never shut down until the very absolute last moment and then would turn around and do it again. I had lots of friends and we did as we pleased. I was always invited to go out and I always went.
Welcome to the Show
Eventually my chosen lifestyle caught up to me and the bottom fell out of my life. I was in so deep I didn't know how to get out and I was having so much fun, I don't know if I wanted to, but as I looked around I realized that everything I had was not worth what I was giving up.
After the biggest bout of non-medicated, untreated, suicidal depression I've ever felt, my Mom drug me off to see a Pastor.
From the moment I walked into that tin building of a church, my life changed. It wasn't a fancy church, it wasn't a church with a steeple and it wasn't bling and glamour, but it was real inside. People worshipped Jesus with all their hearts, they prayed, they believed and they had a desire to see lives changed. I didn't know how to be a Christian, but I could maybe start acting like it. I quit smoking, drinking, dressing inappropriately, I quit watching R rated movies, stopped listening to inappropriate music. I stopped going to the bars and started a Bible Study. And no one understood....not even me.
Welcome to the Show
People in my life walked away, they stopped calling, stopped inviting, and I cried and grew into a larger depression. Frankly, though, I made up in my mind, I didn't care, because it made it easier to try to live a Christian life. There were lots of people my age at this church. I didn't feel like I fit in, because I lived a whole different lifestyle than they did, but I was determined I was going to try.
Welcome to the Show
I continued to learn about Christ, I continued to give my life to him, my family gave their lives to Christ and life continued to get better. My perspective changed, my lifestyle changed. My church friends became my family, some of my past friends returned. My family got stronger, we overcame hardship. A once near destructive life, was made whole again. We were now functioning, having fun, and loving life. My marriage was restored, my life was restored. My children would see a better life.
I smile when someone from my past calls me a fake... it reminds me of how amazing God is and what amazing transformations he can do in people's lives. We are all a different story, with the same possibility for transformation endings...
Welcome to the Show
Welcome to the Show
Yesterday I had a friend visit and she shared that she ran across an old party friend of mine. She stated this friend called me a Christian fake. It prompted me to want to visit with you this morning a little bit about how my life has changed, and that I can understand why someone would say that.
First off, I didn't grow up a Christian. I grew up with alcohol, drugs, boys and parties. I eventually owned my own bar and enjoyed Coyote Ugly as much as the next. I was Karaoke crazed, and I fit in excellent, because I was always the instigator for finding the "most fun". The bar wasn't always packed, but it was always loud and we never shut down until the very absolute last moment and then would turn around and do it again. I had lots of friends and we did as we pleased. I was always invited to go out and I always went.
Welcome to the Show
Eventually my chosen lifestyle caught up to me and the bottom fell out of my life. I was in so deep I didn't know how to get out and I was having so much fun, I don't know if I wanted to, but as I looked around I realized that everything I had was not worth what I was giving up.
After the biggest bout of non-medicated, untreated, suicidal depression I've ever felt, my Mom drug me off to see a Pastor.
From the moment I walked into that tin building of a church, my life changed. It wasn't a fancy church, it wasn't a church with a steeple and it wasn't bling and glamour, but it was real inside. People worshipped Jesus with all their hearts, they prayed, they believed and they had a desire to see lives changed. I didn't know how to be a Christian, but I could maybe start acting like it. I quit smoking, drinking, dressing inappropriately, I quit watching R rated movies, stopped listening to inappropriate music. I stopped going to the bars and started a Bible Study. And no one understood....not even me.
Welcome to the Show
People in my life walked away, they stopped calling, stopped inviting, and I cried and grew into a larger depression. Frankly, though, I made up in my mind, I didn't care, because it made it easier to try to live a Christian life. There were lots of people my age at this church. I didn't feel like I fit in, because I lived a whole different lifestyle than they did, but I was determined I was going to try.
Welcome to the Show
I continued to learn about Christ, I continued to give my life to him, my family gave their lives to Christ and life continued to get better. My perspective changed, my lifestyle changed. My church friends became my family, some of my past friends returned. My family got stronger, we overcame hardship. A once near destructive life, was made whole again. We were now functioning, having fun, and loving life. My marriage was restored, my life was restored. My children would see a better life.
I smile when someone from my past calls me a fake... it reminds me of how amazing God is and what amazing transformations he can do in people's lives. We are all a different story, with the same possibility for transformation endings...
Welcome to the Show
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