Howdy......Stocking Shelves

Occasionally I hear a phrase that catches my ear. For some reason I hear it in one context and the next thing I know I have been chewing on it for an hour. Ever happen to you?  Happened to me last week. I was watching "The Voice" and one of the judges made the comment that this artist and her music would make a difference. His exact words were "you won't just be stocking shelves with more of the same, what you do will make a difference".

I thought about that for a while. As more birthdays come and go, I become more concerned with the things I spend time on truly making a difference. I want to make a difference in the lives of family, friends, and my attempts at serving Christ. So this phrase became an earworm to me for the next several days. Applying the words "stocking shelves" to a lot of areas in my life, I found some surprising answers, some that I liked and some, well..... not so much.

Bearing this in mind, let's ask the PHBC body and our friends in ministry the same question. Brother Clayton asked us this week, "you mad Bro?".  Great question isn't it? Are we mad or concerned enough about the people in our lives and our ministry in this community to go the extra step? Are we willing to ask God to use us in a way He may not be calling other churches at this point? We could show up on Sunday, sing some songs, pray for the sick, listen to a message and justify that we have met our spiritual obligation as a church. Those actions would fulfill most of the activities expected of a local body. Some would say we were doing what everyone else is doing, and have been doing.

The bigger question is would it fulfill God's expectation of what He has called us to do as this body?  Are we ready and willing to accept people of different shades on the color palette, backgrounds, or (heaven forbid) ideology? 

If in fact we are ready to be that church, don't you feel this would be a biblical way of living out the example Christ gave to us as He walked the earth. Loving and accepting people in this manner would honor Him. In doing this, God could use this body to reach people others may not feel called to reach at this point. Evidence shows He has absolutely equipped us for this kind of ministry. Wait, that sounds challenging doesn't it? If we do this I may have to do something out of my comfort zone. I may need to give up some time I have set aside to satisfy my own wants and desires. Why would I do that? Probably easier just to go back to stocking shelves....right?

You mad Bro?