"let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near" 

So a kid in Florida named Chase lived this verse out and answered the question we should ask...how can we encourage one another do do this...to radically live out our faith so as to encourage others to do it? Simple, do it. Folks say that talk is cheap and the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I was living that out myself but a young kid who came to my workshop in North Carolina last week didn't and encouraged me to do the same.

For the full story go to my other blog  and read it but the short version is this..he ended up taking care of a neighbors house who had fallen into a tough spot..but they did it in the dark, while their parents and the owner was away, a completely free act of will to a neighbor as we read in the parable of Luke.

So there is an elderly person across the street from me who last year had half of her house rebuilt because vines over the years had covered it and destroyed it. She keeps to herself so no one really knows her. The work was extensive and the job was beautiful and the neighbor was thankful that the work was done because they were afraid of the air conditioner falling out of the window and into the driveway.

But last fall the vines began to come back...and we all just watched and commented on it, waiting for the envitable covering of the house again. So this morning as I walked out my front door to get my trash can from the curb I realized how stupid my actions had been and the Holy Spirit asked me to do some weeding. So I walked across the street and up the neighbors driveway, behind the bushes and began to pull up the vines. There were a lot and they were wrapped around the windows and stuck on the screens so I thought it best to knock on her door so as to not frighten her.

I rang the bell and told her I was her neighbor across the street (we've met before) and told her I had noticed the weeds growing again and asked if she minded if I pulled them off for her. "No, oh thank you for coming over!" she said.

And as I walked across the street with my huge bundle of vines in tow to toss out another neighbor saw he as called out "stealing vines again?!"..."no" I replied, just helping out someone"

so are you pulling weeds to make your yard look good, or to advance the kingdom of God? Join Chase and I as we follow Christ...here's the resolution that Jonathan Edwards made...he would have pulled the vines too...how about you?

1.     Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God's glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad's of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.