I think "praising His name" brought more response than any other letter I have ever published. Which shows God's Glory, my ineptitude and trepidation as I face the screen wondering "what do I say now?" or perhaps "help!" is more appropo.

Maybe it was the testimony? But please do not think that any of you have to go off the deep end to "increase" your testimony. I am much more impressed with the keeping grace of God in a person who came out of a home, staying pure, than the saving grace that so many of have experienced. I would so have desired a testimony that was "quiet". My life could easily have been enjoyable without upside down vehicles, red and blue lights, sirens and pain...

I have a testimony(thank God for that!) that unfortunately many other people have these days, as well. And I think that is one of the greatest reasons for each of us just learning the art of communication (you know...talking!). Many times you will see a person pulled in simply because you share something with a coworker or an acquaintance going through a divorce. You may be the breath of fresh air they need to hear. Everyone else will probably be advising "get out-go have fun!!!" When we become salt and light, the world automatically sees us as different.

Last night someone brought up integrity and said "do I have integrity?" (Not me. The longer I am a Christian the more I realize I need Jesus!!!) We talked about what is integrity. Many describe maturity as "being in private what you are in public" (assuming you "look good" in public!!!) and I put things in simple terms when I can, so my response was "what do your creditors or you bank think about integrity in your life?" And you may think that is painful, and yet aren't we trying to reach these "heathens"?

My life was one of craziness. I was one of the original "no money downers" in the real estate world. I was a drunk and an addict. Money was a toy. People were pieces in games to be played. My line was "that if I could run family like business, I would be ok". I couldn't and two divorces proved that. Three children I rarely see(two in over a year and half until my dad's funeral-talk about emotional!) I struggled with pain so deep and emotional. I was diagnosed "crazy", and bipolar, and type A and demonic. Where were all those Christians of 20 years. In their "high ceiled houses"(Haggai) I assume telling one another about Jesus, when Jesus told them to build the church!

And then when my dad was dying, God placed me smack dab in the middle of the town I had trashed. I would see people and hope they would not remember! I had no integrity then. And if I treated the bank badly then and did it now as a Christian, would they think Jesus was real? Church! Wake up! The world is looking at you. They want to believe that you might just have something to offer. You don't need to tell them a war story (maybe you don't have one, praise God!), just show them love.

I remember this one Christian coming to me, parading towards me and telling me I was going to hell and she was here to help me!!! I looked at this woman who looked like she was crazy (pretty scary when a crazy person thinks someone else is possessed to the point of danger!), dressed like a street person, driving a car that told of "richness in heaven" (the car was a junk!) all the while speaking of prosperity, and telling me I needed Jesus! She didn't even introduce herself. Her "girlfriend" looked worse. Ironically, she went to the same church(til she was carted off one day) that the couple who were so loving to me came from. So as I bodily removed them from my store amongst people, I vowed never to talk to anyone like that! And probably so did others.

Will we ever get our lives "cleaned up"? The longer I am a Christian, the more I see the depravity of man, the more I know we need Jesus. Today many of us begin a national fast for 40 days to spiritually deal with things. It begins with people.

I could have used some spiritual help when my parents were getting divorced. I had a church minister tell me "God can not help you with your addictions". I could have used a shoulder when my best friend was killed, or on one of my overdose visits to the hospital. Or when I felt like I was going crazy at 15. Things aren't any different now. Ecclesiastes says there is "nothing new under the sun", and that means...someone needs you and I. We need to come out of our high and mighty place(Hey! We are servants!) and show some Jesus type love.