Barnabas Letters, part 6

Hello Barnabas ladies! I hope everyone had many moments of humming Christian music over the past couple of weeks. :)

This week's email comes to you courtesy of the children's movie Meet The Robinsons. It's kind of a running gag in my family that I hate kid's movies and have weird reactions to some classics (for example, I think Mary Poppins is the saddest movie I have ever seen--Nanny McPhee is a close second). Anyway, when I actually see one, and like it, it's kind of a big deal. :) Meet The Robinsons happens to be one of my favorites, and it's because of this scene.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNXr5Alytg4

Lewis (the blonde kid) is trying to make a peanut butter & jelly gun and he fails spectacularly. He is very apologetic, but the rest of the family is very encouraging (and appears to have fireworks on hand for just such an occasion!). Their theme is Keep Moving Forward--even when you make mistakes, learn what you can from your mistake and try again.

Isn't that kind of the theme of the Christian life, too? Being immersed doesn't mean we'll never sin again and live a life of perfect righteousness from that moment forward. We're going to fail, and sometimes we'll fail big time. We'll continually be struggling with our flesh, just like Paul in Romans 7:15-20.

 "15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it."

So what do we do when we make our mistakes, and figuratively coat everyone around us in our peanut butter and jelly slime? Does it mean it's time to chuck the Bible in the trash because Christianity clearly isn't for you? No, it means it's time to Keep Moving Forward.

"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." 2 Corinthians 7:10

 There is still hope for us all, as long as it is called today. Brush yourself off, look at your mistakes and see how you can do better next time, and keep moving forward.

In Christ alone--
Elena