I'd like you to consider the words of James when he wrote in 1:2,3 "Consider it all joy, my brethren when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." Trials come in all shapes and sizes...this is one that I went through just the other day and failed, well almost.

A few weeks ago I was involved in a weeklong "boot camp" training at my company. There was a dinner scheduled on Wednesday night, which I declined to attend for obvious reasons. When one of my classmates asked why I wasn't going and I confidently said, "Oh, I have a bible class." I've never had a problem telling people I go to church, because, in general, they also attend "church", and I even get into some good conversations with people about the bible.

The following week, that same classmate emailed me with a question: "I grew up Roman Catholic but don't go to church anymore, but I want my son to know the bible but not through CCD... what is your church like" After thinking about his question, I wrote back. I told him that our church reads the bible and does what it says, that we are as true to the 1st century Christians as you could get in the 21st century." I also went so far as to link him to our website. After a few minutes, he emailed back with interest and we set up a lunch hour to chat. I thought.... yeah for me.... I could invite him and his family to our gospel meeting coming up.

At lunch we talked about Catholic traditions, things that are and aren't in the bible, it was going well...till all of the sudden he said. "You sound passionate about your faith. I knew this girl, a "born again wacko" who tried to get me to believe that if l didn't get baptized and go to church regularly I was lost...."

BORN AGAIN WACKO.... What did that mean? Am I a wacko? I believe what she believes? Oh no at that moment I froze.... I don't want to be known as a wacko at work! Thinking fast I tried to dismiss it, saying she was not tactful in her approach to teaching the truth and tried to get back on subject about teaching his son about the bible. I made it seem that I was agreeing with him...she was a wacko and I would never say something like that....

As we finished up our conversation, I handed him the gospel meeting card and said. .."only if your are interested, I'm not trying to convert" again keeping the "wacko" word from entering his mind.

Later that day, I was reminded of a memory verse I had learned years ago, Romans 1:1 b where Paul said " I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God to give salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.".... Using a non-confrontational medium like email, wrote..."The truth is the bible does say that baptism and obedience are the basis for our salvation, and that you really should read the bible on the subject...it holds all your answers."

To his credit, he apologized for using wacko in a derogatory way...and that he said the girl was really nice and sincere. He did enjoy the conversation and considered popping in to our church some day...maybe...

Paul tells many of the Christians in Asia that they will suffer for Christ's sake...and during that time, he was talking about much more brutal persecution than being labeled a radical. We should be lights to the world, and good examples that help lead others to the truth. While we go out this week and try to invite people to our meeting, if being called wacko is all we get from our efforts...man are we lucky!

Are you a Born again wacko? If that means "a Christian trying to be true to God's word" then YES!

Paula