M is for Mommy

I promise this is true. One year ago, I began physical therapy for some back pain I was having. The pain was really getting worse and I finally gave in and began PT, which in Brazil is an endless endeavor. Anyway, so I worked hard and STR-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-ECHED and really enjoyed getting to know my physical therapist who, I thought for awhile there, was going to get saved in the process. BUT, I spent so much time on her treadmill I got hip bursitis. This happened in September and I got really discouraged. I couldn't do anything, it was pretty much all I could do to hobble around and get my work done at home. My back was feelling somewhat better, but my hip was ruining any joy I had in that. Months went by. In November, I really began to discuss this seriously with God. One day, I was praying about it and I heard Him say, "You need to clean your own house." Of course, I thought He was talking about the falling US dollar and the ever-increasing amount of ...

OK, so I'm not really. . . just married into it.

In my first ministry job, I had an office mate. Now this guy was INCREDIBLY BLUNT. He said exactly what he was thinking, all the time, with no flowery words or disclaimers attached. He loved God, he loved people, but he alienated most of them by being so very direct. I never understood why people got so upset with him. Couldn't they see that he loved God? Couldn't they see that he just wanted the best for them? Didn't they know what scripture said about those who don't listen to criticism? Anyway, every time Al corrected me, I listened, examined, prayed and, frequently, changed. One day we were working late and I was telling Al the latest saga of my adventures as a CSDS (Christian Single Desperately Searching). "Cam, you are so manipulative." He went on to point out how this is sin. "No," I responded, "I'm not! I'm not at all manipulative." I then went on to explain, in depth, how very UN-manipulative I was. Nevertheless, I took his...