Hello!
Been a while, How are you doing? Can't begin to tell you what all has happened since the last post. It would most likely crash Google. I have went from the worst to the best (so far) in a matter of 4.5 years.
To maybe help keep this post some what short..... I have been going to Bible study for a few years now. Pastor Joshua is my Shepard and best friend. Back a year or so ago he stumbled across this book written by a Oakland Fire Fighter whom is now retired. His name is Jason Sautel. His book is "The Rescuer" Like many of us he has seen complete darkness in his life and has now found the Light. Jason is kind of a different dude as he was called to write a book about his journey. No not like the phone rang and some random person said "Jason, you should write a book" it was more of a long distance phone call. Like from God.
Jason listened.
It had to have been a struggle. To write a book was to revisit the dark times, over and over. Yet he held strong and did it! To our luck it was published and PJ (Pastor Joshua) stumbled across it. We talked about it one night at bible study. We both agreed we would read it and work through it. The book actually had what I would call a "study guide". It was more like the author, Jason, wrote down questions. You would read a chapter and then answer the questions. It was an awesome idea, as it helped put you understand why Jason wrote the book. Making the book a great way to self reflect, and not just read a book.
Sorry to say when PJ ordered his book it did not come with the study guide. So PJ emailed the Author and asked where to get a copy. Jason replied to PJs email. A seed was planted. Flash forward and you will see that Jason and PJ and pretty good friends, even though they have never met!
When PJ and I meet we always have a chat about whats going on in life. Back when COVID hit PJ did a lot of sermons on YouTube, he even did Podcasts. At the same time Jason also did podcasts. Both felt like Gods message wasn't getting out there like they both wanted. And then one day....they both got together and did a podcast together called "Hey Pastor".
With all of this happening I have become Facebook friends with Jason. He isn't your typical Michigan guy. He surfs and skates. He lives in California. In Michigan if I told you we surf and skate you would think surf the internet and roller skate. Not Jason, Bro.....he skates on a skate board and surfs the water. Strangely he has no "man bun" or dread locks......
Today on his FB page he posted:
"and...the winner of 'today's best message/email' is..."
"Email-after reading your book, I visited your Facebook page and was disappointed. I thought your life would be more interesting but from the few public posts I could see, it isn't"
That made me think, no it didn't hurt...but thanks for asking!
This person, maybe they are hurting. Jason's book really speaks to Fire Fighter and Medic's as that was Jason life. Many of us can relate to every one of his calls in some way or another. Perhaps this person related to how Jason felt before he was Saved by Grace. This person, lets give him a name! How about Monte? So Monte, lets say, is still in the dark. Monte can relate to Jason's days in the dark. After reading Jason's book he thought maybe Jason was still in the dark. Maybe Monte felt they were in the same area of darkness, just a different shade. This thought gave Monte a little hope, he had Jason there as help. Who hates being in the dark alone? Who feels a little better in the same dark room with someone else? When Monte went to Jason's FB page, he didn't see darkness. To Monte that was disappointing, he felt like he was alone again.
Ok, I know you have done this. It is a magical thing that we all do, repeatedly. You find a cool looking flash light. What is the first thing you do? You find the power switch, then you point it right into your eyes and flip it on. Milli seconds later you feel the pain. and then you say to yourself. "You idiot, you do that every time".
Picture yourself in a very dark place. Your pupils are wide open, trying to find light. It is just like your spiritual soul really, if your in the dark it longs for light. Now you're in that dark place and you turn on every light in the room. You flinch, its to bright, shut off the lights quick. But what if you could turn a little light on? Just a little light, let your eyes adjust, then little by little turn the other lights on! Soon that room is so bright you could wear sun glasses, and no pain!
I want you to think of something. You're back in that scary dark room. Alone. Scared. If you were to ask for help, most people, I know Jason, PJ and I would, we would help you the best we could. Walk toward you, stand next to you in the dark. Then turn on that dim light, let your eyes adjust. Then turn on the next light. We have seen the dark, yet also we have seen the light. Going into the dark to bring you to the light is something we are called to do, just like stopping bleeding, starting a pulse and dragging a line into a house on fire. We can stand in the dark next to you knowing what being in the light is like and we can and we will get you there. Step by step, little by little.
So if you look at someones life as disappointing....maybe take a deep breath. Evaluate whats going in your life. Maybe the fact is that your in the dark, you can't find the switch, to scared to ask for help. Ask for help, the Light is there and it doesn't have to hurt.
Maybe, just maybe, they are in the dark and it is YOU that can help them find the light.
We know where the light switch is....
Mathew 11:28 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
