Leaving the ledge

This blog was created without purpose or point. I knew I wanted to create a blog that focused on something other than myself, but I wasn't sure what the subject matter was. I prayed about it and created both the blog and e-mail for it. The title comes from Steve Curtis Chapman's song, "Dive."

My heart is racing and my knees are weak
As I walk to the edge
I know there is no turning back
Once my feet have left the ledge
And in the rush I hear a voice
That's telling me it's time to take the leap of faith
So here I go

So here I go.

Lately God has been impressing upon me that I really don't have it that bad off. That seems like a "duh" statement doesn't it? But everyone is good at self pity, myself included. It's very tempting to think that a certain relationship is very taxing, that money issues are too stressful, that my job is too hard, that my spouse doesn't listen to me, that my car is running on its last leg (or wheel), that I've been physically sick for too long. We are very tempted to focus on the worst in front of us instead of the best. We are very tempted that we are worse off than everyone we know. That very well may be the case, but that doesn't mean that you are worse off than someone you don't know.

Which brings us to this blog.

I was searching online and found many websites and blogs regarding The Persecuted Church. Everything I found seemed to be focused on the church around the world, which is great! I think it is fantastic that people are starting to sit up and take note that there are Christians around the world that are worse off than we are in the good old US of A. However, it has also come to my attention that there are Christians within the United States which are being persecuted for their faith. Sometimes they are persecuted by the media, sometimes by a political party and/or agenda, sometimes by false accusations and sometimes by people within their own church families. (Think about that one.)

This blog will likely morph and evolve into something I do not intend for it to become. That's fine. I can always shut it down if need be. I'm not going to moderate comments in any way, shape or form. I will post whatever I want, whenever I want. The subject will be the persecuted church in America which, yes friends, does exist.

The point of the blog? It is not meant to attack those who are attacking American Christians. It is a reminder to myself, mostly, to pray for brothers and sisters in Christ who have it worse off than myself. It is to remind me to be thankful for all that I've been given. I would hope that it would encourage you to do the same.

That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10 (NIV)

Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.
2 Thessalonians 1:4