How are you living out your faith?

Today Mike Haley, the head of the department for “gender issues” at Focus, came to speak to our class about homosexuality. I have heard Mike speak twice already at Liberty, and though I enjoyed listening to him with his charisma and humor, I knew he would probably be telling the “same old story.” Interestingly enough, Mike had me gripped by his story all over again. He told of how he had been abused by a man from the time he was 11 until he was 18. He talked of growing up in a Christian home and always feeling “different.” He talked about his dad’s high expectations that his only son become a world-class athlete and a “manly man.” All these issues culminated in Mike spending 12 years of his life in the homosexual community. Now look at him. A successful Christian man with a God-used ministry, happily married with two sons. God certainly gave this man’s life a 180 degree turn. But how did he do it? Through a man named Jeff Conrad. Jeff sought Mike out. He loved him when Mike would sneer at this “God” Jeff worshipped. Mike would skip town and move. Jeff would find his address and write him saying that God loves Him and there is a way out. Eventually Mike began to grasp who this Jesus was that Jeff worshipped and spoke of. It wasn’t the same Jesus that Fred Phelps says “hates fags.” It was a Jesus who bled and died and sacrificed his life so that Mike could experience true FREEDOM. I wonder if Jeff had any idea that Mike would eventually be delivered and guide thousands of other homosexuals into freedom as well. All Jeff did was pursue and invest in one person. And look at all the fruit that has sprung forth. Who knows what could be accomplished for the kingdom by slowing down and taking the time to invest in one soul.

This has caused me to reevaluate my goals for my life. Over and over again our professor Sheryl Dewitt has told us stories of people whose lives were transformed by coming and sitting in her office talking through issues with her. I’ve believed for quite some time that all that matters in life are God and people. The greatest commandment is love God and love people. Maybe there’s something more there…

It's easy to forget that there's more to the Christian life than simply being "good." Christianity is not a life of rules and behavior. It is a life filled with the knowledge that earth is only temporary, and we must invest in the things that matter.