Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Time Flies - 2009

My it has been ages since I updated this! Almost forgot how!

Lots have happened since my last blog and God is still in control! The trips to Africa fell through, but we did hold the concert to raise funds for the Malawi orphanage and sent the funds to them.

I did get to go to Kosovo and serve as a camp counselor to a group of 9 year old kids in the summer of 2008. What a treat! They were adorable and we had lots of fun. Especially, with the skits. We did a daily running skit about trying to get to the Olympics. I got to be the villian...hee hee hee..... They wanted me to come back this year (2009) but my daughter got married the same week and I couldn't miss out on walking her down the aisle!!!

My son is getting married this weekend and I was honored by being asked to be his best man! This seems to be the year for marriages as I am getting married TOO! In December, to a lovely lady named Cheryl. She is a school teacher. She taught at a Christian school for many years and is now helping at risk 4 year olds.

I am amazed at how much we tend to judge other people. I didn't really notice it until it happened to me. I guess that is how most of us notice it. We spend our lives in our cars, homes and churches looking at others as outsiders. I don't really think that is what Jesus had in mind for us. I have traveled around the world and been in church services in many different denominations. Many are similar with just the trappings that MAN adds on to differentiate them apart in many instances. Don't get me wrong. I don't believe that we should be one big ecumenical block, but I DO believe that God's church is made up of many people of many different faiths (or religous names) with the requirement of believing the Bible and trusting in Jesus. I see our attitudes moving closer to those of the pharasees than what Jesus taught us. How sad. What defines a Christian to you? Being born in America? Being a Catholic, or a Baptist, or a Methodist... maybe because our parents were? I don't think so. I have found more faithful Christians in the mud huts of Haiti than some of our fellow "Christians" here. I had one 'pastor' from a very large church tell me ...."We don't support other churches or their programs and they don't support ours..." That is a lie that satan would love to use to separate us from fellowshipping together. Here is a clue.... IT IS NOT YOUR CHURCH! It is GOD's Church! We are just caretakers of the things here on earth and we will have to ANSWER for our actions some day.

I remember the Bible story of Jesus talking to the prostitute at the well and how the apostles were shocked that He would do such a thing. Basically, Jesus told them that he came to save the sinners not the saved....

I have been trying to get full time engineering work since i lost my home in 2007. That has not worked. I have found a few odd jobs but nothing substantial. I used to be active in the church dramas and even as far back as high school. So, I signed up with a talent agency and have been honored to be in about 6 movies and 1 play so far this year. When I go, I try to talk to those around me and with the hard, discouraging times we are in, I try to use the "Never Give Up" bookmarks as an encouragement and a conversation starter. When I went to NYC with the church group, we used them on the subway and handed them out to "Meals on Wheels" customers when we delivered their food. My mom had Alzheimer's disease for about 15 years and I know how elderly people have a hard time remembering things. My thoughts were the food would soon be gone, but every time they found the bookmark with the funky tree, they would remember that someone cared about them... especially Jesus!

So when I go to the sets of the movies, I hand them out. When I go to the grocery store and see someone who seems like they could use a lift, I hand them out. Sometimes it comes to mind when I am not even thinking along those lines and usually it just what they needed at that minute. I have been criticized for doing it, but that is my gift to them. I have received many stories of how it helped them out. Some write to me later, some I never hear from again. I hand them out... it is God's job to use the words to touch their hearts.

Well, the planning for my upcoming wedding in December is coming along nicely. I even have a job as an extra in the movie RED DAWN next week. Who knows what opportunities will fall in my lap then. Those who would condem me for being in movies, go re-read the story about Jesus at the well.

Pray for those who are hurting, sick, without jobs, and with cancer, or illnesses. God tells us to pray for one another. If you have read the poem and it has touched you, write to me and tell me about it... Sometimes it helps to just put it in words.

Love, Steve

Poem: www.stevenlefever.com

Email: stevenlefever@stevenlefever.com

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