Real Life by Peggi Tustan

Welcome to Real Life . Sometimes the hardest one to forgive is ourselves. “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4-5, emphasis mine) . Wait. That’s all he told us to do, simple instructions. And, I’m about to mess that up too. I used to be a leader among the apostles. I promised Jesus I’d follow him anywhere, even die for him. [1] But, when he needed me most—when everyone else deserted him—I denied I even knew him. Will he trust me to lead again after that? Well, I’m not the kind of guy to sit around and wait to find out. I need to do something. I once made a decent living as a fisherman. I can do that again. “I’m going fishing,” I told the other disciples. “We’ll go, too.” Six of them joined me. I was a bit surprised, but glad for their company on the road home to Galilee. We set out in my boat, fished all ...

Fighters from ISIS march in Raqqa, Syria (Associate Press file photo) Welcome to Real Life . Who am I following? Who am I leading? Iraq and Syria, lacking stable leadership, have been overrun by ISIS. Lawlessness reigns. It took a horrific act—the beheading of two journalists and an aid worker—for the world to take action to stop the Islamic State. “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.” Judges 17:6 and 21:25 Also in the Middle East, some 3000 years ago, during the time of the judges, the nation of Israel was degenerating into a state of lawlessness. Israel had no king. For, God himself was to be their king. [1] However, theocracy can’t work if God’s people walk away from him and his laws and create their own rules. As with ISIS, it took a horrific act to rally the nation of Israel to action. Judges 18 The tribe of Dan abandons their appointed inheritance. They attack the peaceful, unsuspecting people of Laish, burn the city, and settle there. ...