Dear Pastor Blue this ones for you.

Dear readers

Two days before Easter 2016 I lost my mentor of 26 wonderful years. 

While you may not think much about this left me explain;

I met Pastor Richard E. Blue on August 22 1988. He believed in reaching the lost for the Lord just as I did. While his styles and mine were different we got things done. But there is more, so much more.

e I always lost

You see dispite our age differences we were more than Pastor-student. We were who played tennis, putt-putt golf,  we would play a game of chess or so dispite I would lose a game or so. I would mow his yard, painted one of his home. What he taught me was trust, even whenever I might mess up, and Im prone to messing up now and then. He even treated me as a son and would even give me a fatherly hug from time time to time. On occasions we would break bread over a Thanksgiving dinner or go to Frankenmuth Michigan for a birthday chicken dinner.

I remember one time we were headed to Ashland Ohio to do a little evangelism work at a church. On the way he got tired and I was asked to drive his white Cadillac To that was a l trusting thing to do.

Pastor Blue and I started churches, preached in nursing homes, even went even to Wawa Canada to do the work of an evangelist. Taught various other churches about evangelism and how to go about it.

When he died I had to ask God what was on next on the agenda. And He replied, "Do what you've been taught." Well, dear reader, all I know is the following, I know Jesus who is the Christ who was crucified buried and rose the third day. And I know how to tell other about my risen Lord and Savor.

Pastor Blue, know this please: I wish you were here to love and hug your wife, children and grandchildren. I'd trade my place for you so you could do that all over again. Frankly, sir, I am Jealous of you

Today I heard the following song and all those feelings of the loss hit me all over again. And I could not hold back the tears.  I hope Pastor Blue you hear this from heaven just once.....

Freebies? For real!?

I freely admit I am Christian, and i'm cool by that.
I also admit that from time to time I need a little help. And if I can pay for it I will, but there is times I can not, thus I will go without. And there's time where someone will let me pay what I can afford perse.

Here's a few points to ponder about:

Is Christianity all about a free ride, perse?
The answer, believe it or not, is a Catch 22 ordeal. Allow me to explain:

#1.. There are those in the Christian community who are, in light of a better word or phrase, better off than others. Thus, if they request assistance I would expect them to give freely  as the Lord so leads. And I do not mean a mere dollar or two. I mean with something a bit more substantial, like ten or twenty dollars or more.

#2. On the other side of the spectrum there are those who are on a fixed income, disabled, and or homeless. Such individuals need assistance from time to time. Should such need help I would not expect payment but a dollar or two from them would go a long ways.

Should we, as Christians, turn people away that need help? It all comes down to the individual, their financial situation and so forth.

There is a difference between panhandling and paying for services rendered. If a Christian is offering a service by all means help the person out with a nice love offering perse.
However, if you have the opportunity to assist financially then by all means do so; do not make it look like your being selfish, God forbid!

There is a difference between a tithes and an offering in the Christian realm:

A. Tithes are what you give into God. Such funding goes to pay the Pastor, Assistant Pastor, utility bills, missionaries and so forth. (By the way the answer to the question is; no you don't have to pay your tithes to God. But why would you not do so? If you love God and believe in Him then you will.)

B. Offering is what you give outside of church needs. Example would be paying for someone's dinner at a restaurant. Helping to pay for services rendered at someone's house like computer work or fixing appliances or hand held device's and so forth.

Note:
If a Christian is homeless should they expect free rides perse?

It depends on each individual case and if he/she has a sponsor. If a person has a sponsor then I think the sponsorship ought to play a role.
Example: in auto racing, a driver will find that s/he can not afford various costs. Does the driver just chuck it in? No! They go out and find sponsors. A sponsor will say we will give you thousand of dollars if we can put our name on your car. Money received goes to pay the many bills that go into auto racing. That's why you see many stickers on race cars. Each sticker represents sponsorship.

Bottom line is as follows:

If the world knows how to help it's friends why would the Christian world not help its own too.

Many Christians are not out to make millions of dollars, like many may think, God forbid!

All many want is to be appreciated, with a little more than a handshake and or a thank you.

Even at Woodstock 69 people knew how to share and share alike. I would hope both sides have grown up since the days of "peace, love and rock and roll."

Peace......out! 
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