Smells like Garbage

I left my unfinished chicken salad lunch in my classroom that doubles as an office for myself and two other co-workers over the weekend.  Upon entering the room, I was immediately greeted with a smell like the one when you're driving in your car following a garbage truck.  Wow, something had cured over the weekend.  My quick Sherlock Holmes investigation led me to a plastic Safeway bag that encased the smelly culprit... two plastic containers with the remains of Friday's leftovers.  I never realized how much a smell can leak out of a plastic container.  When my co-workers entered the smell zone they immediately questioned with great interest, "What's that smell?"  I don't know why I didn't want to part with those cheap plastic containers.  They must have cost at least a buck at Wally World.  But, I didn't want to throw them away.  I guess I'm too cheap.   So, I tried putting them in an empty filing cabinet.  It didn't work.   The smell was still seeping out and hanging like a dark cloud in the room.  Finally, I put them in the trash can, wrapped them up in the trash bag and threw the whole thing out.  The wonderful smell of rotting food finally left the building.  The smell remained until we had it removed.  I've always kinda felt sorry for those guys who collect my garbage every Friday morning around 6:30 am and have to ride on the back of those trucks.  Do they get used to the smell?  I'm glad those guys do their job.  They probably feel unappreciated.  

You know, I've collected a lot of trash in my lifetime.  Not just literally, but metaphorically also.  You see, there are things in my life that really smell.  Garbage.  I've been jealous.  Jealousy stinks.  I've lied.  Lying reeks.  I've gossiped.  Gossip is foul.  I've made people and things into idols.  Idols have a stench.  I've not loved my neighbor as myself.  Unloving is offensive.  I could go on and on.  Failures.  Regrets.  Shame.  My bag of garbage I carried around was overflowing and it really stunk.  Until... until the Trashman took it all away.  The smell remains until you have the garbage removed.   The Trashman asked me one day, "Can I have your trash?  Will you give it to me?"  Until then, I had no idea how to get rid of the stench.  On the day I decided to give my garbage to the Trashman, he took it all.  He took it all away.  

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!  John 1:29

He'll take yours, too.

Duane

Details and Toilet Paper

It was amazing.  What we've been praying for for such a long time finally happened.  God answered our prayers in a mighty way.  The grand opening of Mosaic was pretty cool!  It all went really smooth... except for the toilet paper.  So many details.  I thought I had it all covered.  I had checked my list twice to be sure we had everything covered.  My wife, Mechelle, had even given me a call earlier in the morning while I was taking care of a few other details, to remind me to check the bathrooms for toilet paper.  Everything was done.  The evening began with Mandorla playing music.  It was cool.  I get up to welcome everyone who showed up.  A great crowd.  Then it happened.  I hear a voice from behind me say, "Uh, Duane, there's no toilet paper in the bathroom."  The voice was from Esther, our violinist, a member of Mandorla, and faithful part of Mosaic.  Apparently she knew first hand (no pun intended).  Wow, what an embarrassment. You need toilet paper! Not good.  So, what do I do?  I send Joel on a mission... a mission to track down a roll, real fast.  Well, he wasn't able to find a roll, but he did, with Mechelle's help, find a stack of napkins.  Oh, well.  Sorry, ladies.  I guess we're not a perfect church.  No matter how hard we try, we're not.  And, that's okay.  It just keeps reminding me that we're not, but He is.  I overlook a detail.  He doesn't.  I forget things.  He doesn't (except my sins that He's forgiven). I'm not perfect.  He is.  I'm glad God cares about the details and He never forgets one.  "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Matthew 6:26.   There is no detail in my life that He doesn't care about.  Nothing that is insignificant.  6 billion people in the world and He knows how many hairs I have on my head. Wow, what a God!  I have a great God!  

Psalm 150

 ¹ Praise the LORD.  
       Praise God in his sanctuary; 
       praise him in his mighty heavens.

 ² Praise him for his acts of power; 
       praise him for his surpassing greatness.

 ³ Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, 
       praise him with the harp and lyre,

 ⁴ praise him with tambourine and dancing, 
       praise him with the strings and flute,

 ⁵ praise him with the clash of cymbals, 
       praise him with resounding cymbals.

 ⁶ Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. 
       Praise the LORD.

Duane

All Invited

It's finally here!  October 3rd!  Mosaic's Grand Opening! A year and a half ago Mosaic started out as a small group of people in my house.  It since has grown out of my living room (thank the Lord... love to have you at my house, but not all at once!)  Tomorrow's a big day.  Lot's of details to get done, but it will happen, Lord willing.  We are praying for good weather for our cookout at The Stable Restaurant across the street from us, who will be providing burgers, and all the fixin's for everyone who attends.  The free food starts at 5pm, then at 6pm, Mandorla will be playing a mini-concert in our service.  KidMo will be if full swing for the kids at 6pm also.  After the service we will have desserts for everyone to enjoy.  So, if you're in the neighborhood, stop by and celebrate with us or check us out.  Love to see you.

Duane