Follow the Leader

Do they play that game anymore? Maybe they call it Simon Says now. To me, this phrase hit home in Viet Nam as we followed our point man on patrol through enemy territory. It comes to life even more now as I struggle every day to follow my new point man and leader, Jesus.

Among the great benefits of following Him, is that he has been there, he knows what it is like to be human, and to struggle with the trials of this world. It says he was tempted in every way as we are, and still maintained his sinless nature and his beliefs. Always easier to follow when the point man knows the way.

• "A faith that hasn't been tested, can't be trusted".  Adrian Rogers
  

This Sunday during our first service at 9 AM, two battle tested women are making the commitment to follow Jesus. Their faith has been honed in the struggle to overcome addiction and the life style that it brings. They know that the battle is not over, but may just be beginning, because snipers are always after their new point man, and looking to alter their new direction.

Both graduates of the awesome Mary Hall program, Tabatha and Angie are two very special ladies, and as we baptize them, we must remember that is is always good to walk down a dark alley of life with folks who know how to get out of there. So, we who have been there are not only asked by the Lord himself to take this new walk with them, but we are also supposed to act like we are following that same leader.

I always recount the story of when we first began a recovery ministry at North Atlanta when one of our ladies mentioned to some of her friends that she was part of our 12 Step group. The reaction from the other woman was to say "Why do you belong with those people over there?" Seems I read a similar story in the Bible.

My reaction then, as it is today, is that those people over there are now these people over here, trying as we all are to live as we are supposed to. That's how our leader wants it, and it may be that a test of our faith is to get out of that box that says "do not disturb" and get in a new one that says "open when ready for instructions" because we have been there and can share with openness and honesty what our struggles have also been.

Let's be there Sunday for support, and show them the love that happens when we follow THE leader!

Glenn