Fruitport Area News • December 2011 • Page 21

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God uses people no matter what they’ve doneBy Pastor Dan Gardner, Crossroads of Life Ministries I wrote an article some time back, called “Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth for those things which are before us.” I feel I need to say some things that have happened in my past, because recently I had a lady show up in the parking lot on a Wednesday night after church got over with, who proceeded to tell one of the ladies who attends our church all about my past and what I had done. So here it goes. At the age of 20 I did some things that were not appropriate, but in no way did what I was accused of. I was arrested and paid the price for it. Yes, I have a felony; yes, I have a past. Yes, I did some of the most ungodly things, but let me remind you, I was only 20 years old. Today, I’m 39 years old. It was a long time ago, and God forgave me. I’m reminded of the story of King David, who God called at a young age. I want to emphasize, “God called,” not by man but by God. In I Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said unto Samuel, look not at his countenance, or on the height of his stature, because I have refused him; for the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” God called me to preach at the age of 15. I ran from the Lord, did worldly things. But the calling of God never leaves the individual. Just so you don’t think I made it up, you can fi nd that in Romans 11:29. It says “…for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” Now, back to King David, God knew exactly what David was going to do in the future. God knew David was going to commit adultery; he knew David was going to commit murder. But God said David was a man after his own heart. So you tell me, is it worth talking about my past or coming to my church and making sure people fi nd out about me? Let me make it clear to you pastors and so-called Christian brothers and sisters in the Lord. My church already knows, and true Christians won’t gossip about it. Now for the rest of the people out there, let me tell you I’m a true pastor. I’m a pastor who won’t throw stones at you or condemn you for your past mistakes. Our church looks at your future. When you accept Christ, it’s not my place to judge your past. It’s just my place to love you and get you where you need to be with Christ. I’m calling on all pastors. Please quit talking about what I’ve done and teach your people how to love and forgive, because if they have alt against me or anyone else they will not make it when Jesus comes back. My desire is to build the body of Christ and work with other churches. We all have a calling and that is to preach Jesus. Thank you and God bless you all.•

Lessons from a gift of God: A puppyBy Reverend R.A. Shackles It had been more than a year since our well-loved Maltese, Romeo (“the world’s greatest kisser!”) had died, when we brought home a tiny handful of white fl uff, our new Maltese puppy. We struggled over naming him, but fi nally chose Sunny –– for the little ball of sunshine he quickly showed himself to be. Our reluctance to fi nd him arose out of fear no pup could ever replace the irrepressible Romeo. As so often, we were wrong, for in no time at all he did indeed bring a glorious ray of sunshine into our home. As the months went on, we soon realized we have a real character around our house. To watch him play with his teddy bear, a gift of the breeder from whom we bought Sunny, is far more entertaining than any TV sitcom, especially when he lies on his back to tumble teddy on his amazingly adept four paws. At other times he races at full speed –– incredibly fast for such short legs –– circling the dining room table, stopping sharply to challenge us to catch him if we can, then when we try, zooming off again. We spend a lot of time laughing these days! We didn’t realize how lonely we had been for him! There is so much a little puppy brings to us, like a tiny ambassador of God’s love, to remind us to love. His unself-conscious devotion gives us a sense of what true love really is. All this little guy asks of us is to let him love us! What a unique talent! Even when rebuked for being naughty, only moments pass until that little loving heart is beating with joy for simply being snuggled in our arms. What a gift –– and what an ambassador for our God who loves us with a superb generosity of accepting us, undeserving as we so often are. What a lesson God gives us in little Sunny! What if we practiced such love, genuinely as our little pup does? What if we could reach out to others in such an unconditional offering of our love? What if every time we greeted someone, our smile made them feel truly welcomed into our lives; our hand reaching out to them a warm drawing us to each other, or even were they familiar enough, with an embrace that tells them certainly, “You are welcome to me as surely as Christ loves us both?” Sunny’s God-gift to us demonstrates what the answer to such questions must be. How delightful of God to give us such a gift through His tiny creature, a puppy named Sunny! And just consider: What if I really take Sunny’s love seriously? Wow!•

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