AWKWARD.. Then and Now

​THIS LIFE is filled with awkward moments. For example,

• I am horrible at remembering names.. leaving me saying .. "Hey.. 'you' how are you doing?" and..
• I remember a time walking briskly down a street in public on an equally brisk fall day, I could feel the cool air on my face.. and felt a draft.. realizing my pants zipper was down. 
  side note: I remember a pastor at church in my home town with a similar zipper dilemma until his teenage daughters, and his wife 'deftly' signaled to him his own 'wardrobe malfunction'.  

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Ok, TMI I know, but in reading my Bible I discover I am not the only one with awkward moments to deal with.

​There were miracles a plenty.. in my Bible leaving mouths hanging open speechless at the power of God. But of course as a cartoonist and self-declared humorist awkward silence in between the verses retelling these stories are a fine place for a awkward one-liners. For example, when..

• the Red Sea is parted, and you see this moment as a SEA HALF FULL
• you encounter a GIANT on the battle field, and SPRING A LEAK
• God Floods the Earth and you MISSED THE BOAT 

In all three instances someone awkwardly got wet.

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 or when..
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• you are attacked by a Jewish Marching band
• you go to battle armed with Jars & Trumpets
• in battle you are KILLED BY A WOMAN!? shhhh.
• Eve asked the age old question.. "do I look fat?"

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or when.. 

• Adam and Eve sinned, but passed the BLAME
• Camp Sanitation guidelines are detailed. 
• Abraham is 'painfully' obedient to God at age 99
• or explaining why you only have one hand

​all of the above and more from the the very pages of our Bibles cry.. AWKWARD!

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BUT.. that was THEN.. This is NOW
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The above are just a few moments that make me collectively cringe, smirk, and then realize the more things change the more they stay the same. 

Today's world is still so very awkward in response to this life and God. We as Christians are to be in this world but not to be of this world, but awkwardly we attempt to do both.  We reason.. 'Jesus is love so I should be about loving others'.. BUT.. in doing so we embrace the sins of this world.  AWKWARD.

If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. John 15:19 

​Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15

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So I pray we all stand strong for our God.. unwavering examples of His truth, and do so in love. To stand faithful in our words and deeds is to honor God and be a testimony to mankind.

May God bless and use each of you this day in ways that are beyond your dreams and even in the awkward moments of life.
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Blessings

Jeff (sitting awkwardly in the Back Pew) Larson

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