I have been treated like garbage by the people I have known and loved since I was a kid all the way to now… The same people who loved and embraced me from Northridge to Heidelberg, to close relatives and pleasant acquaintances, have lied, slandered, and disowned me.
There is one scripture in the Bible that addresses this, and sadly I was naïve enough to think that I was special and exempt from the following:
Matthew 13:57 - And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.”
I thought, NOPE! I love my family, friends, and close acquaintances, and they love me back! The bonds we made at Joseph Family Reunions, Northridge Local Schools, Heidelberg University, and many others met on my adventures coast to coast, I thought were genuine and sound, and then “KABALAM,” I answered yes to a call given to me in the late summer of 2010, that would forever change my life…
As a result, a HIGH percentage of people that once loved and embraced me have run my name through the mud… I have been called, “Heretic”, “Jim Jones”, “David Koresh,” “Racist,” “Terrorist,” “Liar,” “Abuser,” “Thief,” “Swindler,” “Alcoholic,” “False Prophet,” and a ton of other choice terms by the peeps that used to chant my name and tell me they love me.
I know if you have read this far, it may sound as if this is a sob story, but NO! Not even close…
This is a great thing! Why? It shows that I am on the right path! The fact that that scripture applies to me, proves it, especially when I get frequent emails, letters, and encouraging confirmations like this:
I Found My People!
I had the coolest experience tonight.. I just wrapped up a showing outside of Deptford, PA, and for no reason, I turned into the Deptwood Walmart/Bowlero driveway to finish up a few texts/emails. Mind you, I never go in there bc it is always packed with cars and people. I noticed (how can you miss it) a tour bus. As I was thinking of taking a few pics, some people came out. I approached them and chatted for a few minutes. Brian has a very refreshing, and very different approach to “Christianity”. It may not be for everyone, but after speaking with him, I realized that his heart was in the right place, and he was very earnest during our brief meet-up.
I told them that my son Jacob was going on a mission trip in a few hours to Guatemala for a week. They all wanted to pray with me for his well-being and that his work there is blessed. They are super cool people, and they were very happy to meet me and take the time to pray with me!
Thank You again Jesus for these divine appointments that we “Happen Upon”
Great Meeting you, Brian, Joe, and Melissa. You made my day!
FYI. This was particularly cool for me, as I was 10 when I was introduced to KISS with “Kiss Alive”and haven’t looked back)
And this was a comment that someone left on his post:
Oh my gosh, this is so cool. I cannot believe that they were in South Jersey. I went to Ohio to specifically go to the Heavy Metal Church. I love Pastor Brian. My brother-in-law turned me onto him. He listens to their weekly sermons every week; as you said, they are so refreshing. this is so cool, I’m so jealous. I wasn’t there.
THAT is the reward and harvest of this CRAZY call on my life! I have TONS of letters just like these, and will no longer be sad from the losses...
God showed me just now that those "losses" were not losses at all... Losing fakes, flakes, and snakes is a GAIN!
I woke up this morning and hit the desk at 5:30 am because I couldn’t go back to sleep, and now I see why… This was what God revealed to me while my wife, grandbabies, and our puppies were asleep.
NO REGRETS WHAT-SO-EVER!
GAME ON!
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