MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, I LOVE THROWING "STUFF" AWAY! Give me a mess, let me re-organize it, and something is going to be thrown away  

The other day as I was putting out the church trash, I noticed a large tote sitting by the door, strategically, positioned next to the garbage cans-- a sure sign that someone wanted it tossed and that its usefulness was over. But knowing my proclivity to toss what others might find valuable, I relented and left it alone. A few days later a member of our congregation was relating how she had waded 50 feet out into the mud, just to retrieve that tote, and upon examination it possessed a surface long crack. Yep, time to throw it away, right?  Well, not quite. After the woman cleaned herself up, she cleaned the tote and left it by my office; a sure sign that it will now meet its final demise. Ok, I'll do it tomorrow... But before our Sunday services were over I was informed by another member that this useless cracked tote was being reclaimed by our youth group, who will now use the tote as a collection box for candy in preparation for our " Egg-Hunt Extravaganza." Wouldn't you know it, spared again. 

Why should you care? 

Because our culture is in the middle of its own wrestling match with a worldview that years ago began to question the value if not the right of an unborn child to come to term and live. We have now arrived at a point where the needs and concerns of the elderly may prove too much of a burden for the younger generation, who feel the usefulness of these seniors declining, their cost of health care escalating, and their contributions to the modern way of life unnecessary, even detrimental to the brave new world of post-modern priorities. 

And then, there are the broken, physically deprived of the ability to clothe themselves, feed themselves, or provide their own mobility; who are joined by the special needs of those whose mental abilities prohibit them from that "normal" life that the majority of us engage every day, but whose contributions to family, church and even the business world, admonish us that our understanding of what is normal and productive is likely askew.  This week, a young lady from a prior ministry, will encourage her family, her church, and the culture at large by participating in Olympic events, and by living out her potential far more simply that most others even dream of. And this, by the way, would not have happened, had not parents who love God, love kids, and know the challenges of special needs children, saved, and I do mean, saved the life of two young ladies, who otherwise might likely be dead. 

You, yes you are important to God, He throws away no one, pursues us relentlessly through the Gospel of his Son, and offers you an eternity where you will never be tossed aside as useless.

"... Truly, I say to you, as your did it to one of the least of my brothers, you did it to me." Matthew 25:40

MJC