I really like Randy!

Last week Randy claimed that more of us should have Billyitus. Well, I don't have any ituses. I reckon I'm in pretty good health (except for that ear infection that almost drowned me... oh, and a deviated septum I can no longer ignore. But I don't even have sinusitis!)

If I've grown at all since becoming a Christian it is largely due to the examples of people I see here. I look around and watch the things people do, and then I do them too. This congregation stands for the truth and dedication to the Lord makes me better. Being with all the saints is always the highlight of my week. Twenty years ago I would have made fun of that statement but I've grown up since then. The hard work of the saints here really does produce fruits. Randy is right that we all often un-be knowingly encourage each other. Isn't that God's purpose for the church? We are a strange people - sojourning. We need to assemble and be together.

If I encourage someone, anyone, it's because I have in turn been encouraged, but really all I am doing is copying what I see. It's hard to fizzle out when other Christians push me and want to see me do good! This motivates me to keep trying, which is not the case with the world. I marvel at the biblical structure of the church. Mo and Wally encouraged me gently to lead prayers, and while I was nervous at first I partially got over that. I led songs on the singing night until I felt I was "good enough" to lead singing on Wednesday nights. Although I sing with fullness of heart, I still wanted to get better and I'm thankful for everyone who helped me get better. The baby steps go on and on. I'm still very nervous when I speak but if this congregation wasn't loving I would have stopped taking baby steps a long time ago and just given up.

Every Christian's goal should be to be more like Jesus, but as I said I watch people and I learn. I see Jesus in many of you! So of course it's natural to want to have some benitus, accomazzitus, and hayesitus. How can we not want some kurtitus? Krausitus, brockelitus, dugasitus, leachitus, and such have good and faithful serviceitus, as Randy mentioned. We may not always see it or openly appreciate it, but God sees us all and gives us credit where it's due. I think I already have some ericitus and I can't shake it, sadly there seems to be no cure.

The thing is, I believe we all are doing the best we can here and if you're not then maybe you can catch one of these ituses. Also like Randy said before, we are a family here and being a family we are bound to hurt each other at times even if we don't mean to. If our goal is truly to be more like Jesus and if we don't lose heart then God will finish the work he began in all our lives.

But still, in the end, who couldn't use a little Randy Bulletinbiotics?

Billy