Is there any chance that a person can go to a county fair and not have rain? I'm not so sure. This year my youngest two kids took 2 ducks to the fair. After taking bunnies, chickens and 3 whacked out goats over the years–bringing ducks was a breeze. The bunnies started the fun for us. One of our bunnies decided it would be fun to pay us back for locking her in a cage surrounded by hundreds of other Oryctolagus cuniculus's– She had diarrhea the morning of the show…and so we scrambled to clean a partly white bunny. I never knew that you could bleach a bunny… After the bunnies we took 3 mangy looking chickens. I fed them the wrong food, so they were not as developed as most, but someone had pity on us and bought them. On a positive note, the extra chickens were pretty good tasting. And then came the goats from the place I cannot say. They did not train well except how to drag 70-100#'s across the show arena.
This year our kids took 2 female Mallards. By far they were the easiest. The only problem was, it rained and rained a lot. The finances are not the greatest in Hardin County, so the poultry showing was held in a tent. This would not normally be a bad thing unless it rained. As I was wading through the mud/water mix helping my kids carry and care for their ducks, I thought about God. My Jesus, left perfection, glory, beauty—and came to this earth to set us free. You can see this in this verse:  2Co 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
Jesus left heaven… to descend into our mess, because He wanted a relationship with us, and He did what was necessary to make it possible. As I think about what Jesus left, in order to make a way for me to come to Him…I think about what I need to do to help reach others. Am I willing to get dirty? Am I willing to leave the comforts of this church building? Would I leave my nice air-conditioned office for someone who has nothing to offer me in return? What would I be willing to do to see someone come to know Jesus? God has challenged me, and I believe He is also challenging His church to do the same:
Pro 24:11Â Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
As you read this verse, what does it mean to you? Are you willing to do what it takes to reach people? Are you willing to get dirty to rescue those who are being led away—to their DEATH? I am confident that the Spirit of God is showing you what He is asking us to do. He and I are not asking you to compromise in your faith in any shape or form. When I say: “Are you willing to get dirty?” I am talking about are you willing to GO to where people are at? We have averaged the same attendance in our services since I have been at County Line. There are many reasons and factors contributing to this result. One reason is unless we do something different—how can we expect different results? Another reason: How many of us are going to where people are at? (Pause to think about that question). How many are involved in their communities. How many realize that we are enlisted to be part of a rescue team? How many are ready to roll up your sleeves and go to where the people are? That's what Jesus did. He didn't hang out in the Synagogues and wait for people to show up. He ate with the heathens, forgave the prostitutes and corrected the religious…It should be clear that we need to do more than just invite people to our services. If it's not then wake up!
Blessings,
Pastor Ray
