Dear Steve,

Today, I went and visited a friend who is in a really bad place. It made me think of you.  So, I decided to look you up today. Thought maybe I’d finally reach out, and maybe visit. I’ve been saying that for years. Looked once or twice on the internet but couldn’t find you. I bet if I pushed hard enough, asked the right people, I could have. 

Well I found you today, at least your obituary. I feel like the worst friend ever. I loved you like a brother. You were my partner in crime. We had so many great memories. Laughing through the tears right now at how crazy we were. 

Sorry I didn’t see you the last several years. I lived overseas a while and when I got back I thought I’d look you up. I’m asking myself right now why I never really did though. I think it’s for a couple reasons. 

I couldn’t stand seeing you like that. You were actually about the only guy in my life I was semi-jealous of. There was a part of you that was larger than life. You were the party. You had so much energy it was insane. To witness that energy trapped in a mostly lifeless body was hard for me to witness. I felt like you were tortured and trying to hide it. I saw me in you, because we were so similar, and I don’t think I wanted to face the fact that something like that could happen to me too. 

The second reason is, you always asked me so many deep questions like I was your older brother. You asked me more “Why?” questions than a nagging 4 year old discovering the world. I always felt the need to have an answer for you brother. When your accident happened…I had no good answers. I rehearsed your questions and how I might respond a million times in my head over the years. Damn it, I never had a good answer. I was afraid you were going to ask me some really tough questions about God and about why. I didn’t want to let you down. I kept waiting till I had the answers before I was gonna see you. 

I see pictures of you now online. You were out and about some living your life as best as you could. How is it you were the victim and you came to terms with it; I was not, and I never did. My pride and fear kept me from enjoying years with one of my best friends. That is something I will have to carry for the rest of my life. I am ashamed. 

Just a couple weeks before your accident, we had dinner. It was the first time my wife had met you. She went on and on after dinner about how you looked like “The Rock”. It was another moment I was semi-jealous of you ;-) I think that is how I will choose to remember you. 

Jesus, can you help me redeem this sin I’ve committed somehow? I’ll burden the guilt, it’s mine. I just want to be better for it. Oh, and I know you are “The Rock”, but would you mind giving that “rock” a hug for me, and tell him I’m sorry and I miss him. 

Scott

Feeling all "warm & fuzzy". Encouraged to Love!

To me, Paul’s greatest encouragement, which stands the test of time, is to love.

 “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” -  Romans 13:8

Think about the law and loving your neighbor. If you loved someone, would you steal from them? Would you covet what they have? Would you murder them? Would you lie to them? It is easy to see that, love not only fulfills the law, but reveals Gods character. God is love. (1 John 4:8)

Without this love, even our most “sacrificial” acts are in vain. When things are done out of love, they are done with the intent of serving another. When love is absent, there is a selfish motive, sometimes even hidden in the heart from the doer. “If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” – 1 Cor. 13:3

Gifts are useless without love. Acts and character benefit no one without love. The law is useless without love. But Love, ties them all together perfectly. “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” -  Col 3:14

“…and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Cor. 13:13

“Love never ends.” – 1 Cor. 13:8

How you can support our free Christian Podcast

We are having great success with the launch of our free Christian podcast. The link below will take you to a post on how you can continue to support our podcast. We want to make sure that you who have been faithful readers of the blog for more than two years, dont miss out on the podcast as well.

Click Here to Learn About the Wrestling with God Free Christian Podcast

Official Release of the Wrestling with God podcast!

For the 2 year anniversary of Grapplers Church "Wrestling with God" blog we released the official Wrestling with God podcast!

The first few episodes are on iTunes and Stitcher already. They include some incredible interviews with gospel hip hop recording artist K-Drama as well as Missionary and Church planter Patrick Hubbard. We will be releasing a new episode weekly and have some really inspiring people lined up.

After only one day we are already on the New and Noteworthy section of iTunes Religious podcast. With your support by downloading, subscribing, and rating we will climb to #1 I am sure!

You can find it on iTunes here! Wrestling with God Podcast

You also can listen directly from your web browser by just going to GrapplersChurch.tv

Know of a unique ministry that we should feature? Have an album or book you are releasing? Let us know by leaving a message on Grapplerschurch.tv Just click the leave a voice message tab on the right hand side of the website!

Enjoy and God Bless!

Scott Blair

Cadillacs and Camels

 In my mind Scripture presents a dichotomy that I wrestle with. I would really like to find a solid answer for myself. Maybe you can recommend a book for me?

Cadillacs

Proverbs 13:22 "A good person leaves an inheritance for their children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous."

I want to be a good person! I want to leave a financial legacy for my grandchildren. Most children in American spend 90% of their inheritance in 90 days after receiving it. You got to have a lot of "cheddar" to be able to not only leave an inheritance for your children but your grandchildren as well.

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world"

I want to be pure and faultless in Gods eyes! What do widows and orphans lack? A providing man! For me to look after widows and orphans I need money! 

Read Matthew 25:14-30. Did you see how God dealt with the servant who didn't properly use his finances? The one who didn't generate a profit? Now I am really worried ;-(

Camels

Matthew 19:24 "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." 

I find it hard enough to have the required faith to be in the Kingdom. I throw myself on the work of the Cross. But if wealth makes it nearly impossible or even harder..........why would I want it? 

Luke 9: 58 - Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." 

Acts 3:6 - Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."

Jesus and the Apostles appeared to be broke and homeless? Shouldn't I want to be like them? 

Is there a dichotomy that truly exist between Creflo Dollars and Mother Teresas? Are both acceptable? A basic look at scriptures like these I sometimes feel "damned if do, damned if I don't"! 

Thoughts?