Dragging Cats Backward Across the Carpet

A while back our team at work was discussing a difficult project- the details of which I cannot now remember. What I do remember is someone saying it would be like trying to 'drag a cat backward across the carpet'. That was a phrase I had never heard before but which made me smile and accurately described the task at hand. This phrase came to mind again as I thought about my disappointment in the direction our country is headed and how quiet Christians have become. Many faiths have de-clawed themselves, accepted the new morality and are enjoying the backwards ride across the carpet. A good portion of us with claws still intact act more like Garfield the cat, lazy, fat and happy, sleeping right where we are. Maybe 'cat'atonic and aloof best describe Christians today. But we know in our hearts that God has called us to something different than this don't we?I have a favorite verse that I think is the 'dragging cats backwards across the carpet' verse of the Bible. I like it because it comes with a promise of a sort. This verse follows more famous verses we always hear at funerals asking 'death where is thy victory and sting'. The answer follows that it has been swallowed up in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Then comes my verse, the last one of 1Corinthians 15. Verse 58 reads, " Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord."I like the call to be steadfast and immoveable. To me this means digging your claws into the carpet. It means you ain't dragging me back without a fight. It means letting the world know they have a tiger by the tail when they try to pull us backwards. It means doing something! This was the attitude I had as a police officer, a security guard and a school administrator tried to get me to leave a school sidewalk last week as I handed out Bibles. I only relented when it escalated towards a move or be arrested status.This summer I am asking you to dig your claws in with me right here at Atonement. To dig your heels in and say enough. I want your help with our biggest and best VBS ever. As I mentioned in an earlier article, I want you to redeem your time, to buy up personal leisure time and exchange it for time in serving Jesus, helping us share the Gospel message of Jesus' resurrection and gifts of faith, grace, hope and love.And here is where the promise part of verse 58 comes in- that nothing we do for the Lord will be in vain! God will use our efforts to grow His kingdom, build faith, and give hope. If we know we can't fail to impact our community, our world, why would we not support our VBS? Why would each of us not dig in and speak up? Irish philosopher Edmund Burke said, 'The only thing needed for evil to prosper is for good men to do nothing.' I refuse to 'do nothing' especially when I have been told my work will not be in vain!Here kitty-kitty is our call to be faithful. I'm looking for good cat-women and cat-men. I'm calling all cats- Tom cats and Salley cats (just to name a couple names), big cats, cool cats, and house cats, I need you all! Sharpen your claws on the Word and join me as we dig in to take a stand for Christ at our VBS. Together we will be steadfast and immovable, abounding in the work of the Lord! I pray the Holy Spirit will use us as the 'cat'alyst to draw boys and girls and their parents closer to Him! See you at Catonement this Sunday! Blest Regards,kp