The Foremost - Part 1

Ted Bundy was an unbelievable man. During the 1970s he went on a rampage murdering and raping over 30 women - though the actual figure is unknown. He was apparently a normal, non-ambitious male whose life was just under the radar, never really being noticed by anyone. Over a period of 10 years or so he raped and murdered a number of women, no one really ever knowing what "snapped" inside him. Just the thought of that type of desensitization boggles the mind.
I am forced to think, even as I read though his biographical information, how vile and awful a man he must have been. I cannot even begin to see myself getting anywhere near that insane. The more I think about his crimes the more I think of the distance between myself and him - he's a killer, I am a youth pastor. He was a rapist, I am a husband and father. The distance between him and I seems too far to traverse - but is it really?
In 1st Timothy 1:15&16 the apostle Paul calls himself, "the foremost" or worst of sinners. Really? The guy who wrote literally 75% of the New Testament is worse than me? hmmm.
What do you make of such a bold and stiff claim? Certainly I am better off than Bundy, or any other murderer or rapist out there, right?
Jot down your thoughts by clicking on the comment key and tell me what you think...part 2 to follow shortly - - -

Remnant

It was a Monday evening...those are special to me because it is my only day where I have no ministry commitments and I am alone with my family. We were dining at the finest pizza place in the central Illinois area - I am, of course, speaking of Monical's Pizza. Enjoying piece after piece and laughing with my wife at all the crazy things a three year old girl says.
Now, the following deserves a disclaimer - I love my daughter, I really do - but there are times I specifically wonder, if she is God's test for my understanding of love?
Here is what transpired: Jada, who never liked soda before that evening says she wants to taste mine. I concede, knowing that she will contort her face and call it, "spicy," stick out her tongue and go back to her lemonade. WRONG. She contorts her face as I thought, but when she sees my laughing reaction - as well as my wife's - she says in a very coy way, "yum, that soda is super good, its the goodest soda ever!" We all know what happens next - her greasy, sauce-filled hands are all over my drink and now I have new objects of avoidance inside my cup each time I go to get a sip...you know, floaties or Remnants if you will of her last bite (not drink, bite).
The next morning I awoke and was talking with God about the day and my thoughts. As I told Him how much I loved my family and thanked Him for the day off I was reminded of the drink. Very clearly He showed me, "Doug, you're the sauce-filled, floatie leaving, coy commenting child with Me and My Gospel. I entrust to you the message that alone can save - understanding that there are two was you can go about it: in your own power, or through the power of the Holy Spirit."
Really, the fact that people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ shows that God can work in spite of us. Today, consider how Great of a God we serve and how he has entrusted with such a great message - The Gospel. Then, take your sauce-filled hands and floatie leaving sips, and go share it with those in your relational sphere of influence.