Step 11

[jimf]

As I read todays forum, I am reminded of an old Burt Reynolds movie. I dont remember the name of the movie, but in it he was diagnosed with some sort of fatal cancer or disease. Knowing he was going to die a painful death, he decided to take his own life. He went to the beach and decided to keep swimming out until he eventually was so far out he would peacefully drown. After he had swam a long ways out he could hear a friend of his (Dom Delouise) shouting to him from the beach. The doctors were wrong, they misdiagnosed you. Looking at how far he had swam out, he began to panic. He cried out to God that if he would allow him to safely reach the beach, he would serve him the rest of his life. As he got a little closer and began to think that he "could" make it to shore, he changed his vow. He changed it from serving God, to he would start attending church. (It's been a long time since I saw the movie, but this is the best I remember) And then as he got even closer and he realized that he "would" make it, he changed his vow again, and said that he would give some money to charity or something like that. Finally when he reached the beach and realized that he "did" make it , he told God thanks and just walked away. He treated God like some sort of an errand boy, come only when I need you. There are so many who come to the Christianity Oasis site because of trials or problems in their lives (just like me). You see so many decisions to trust and follow God and how He led them to this site. And then they disappear. It breaks my heart. We pray for them, but it is and always will be their decision to make Christ the Lord of their life. LORD, DO WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO TO KEEP ME FAITHFUL! I am judging no one, I know the failures in my own life. Matt 8:36,37 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

[itsjanet]

Thanks for the reminder to keep running the race! The Work is not done yet.