JC Bunkhouse

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Good Neighbors

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Let’s talk more about neighbors. With all that’s going on in this world, it would seem that we ought to be helpin’ one another out a whole lot more than we do.

I guess neighbors are too busy these days to be neighborly. I can be guilty of this at times. Very few folks just visit across the fence anymore. I found out that some of my city cousins don’t even know the names of their next-door neighbors. And it’s not like me...my next door neighbor lives a couple miles away. City neighbors could spit on their house if the wind was right.

I can tell you that I really have enjoyed the times when I had the opportunity to stop in the middle of the road and just visit with a neighbor. Or the good feelin’ I get when somebody has a cow out and I get to put her in. But tell them so they can know to fix the hole in the fence.

We are all so busy, husband and wife leavin’ the farm every day and havin’ to work a job in town just to make ends meet. And if you have kids in school, it multiplies. There is very little time for family and even less for friends or neighbors. I know how some of us like to get away from the crowds at times, but we also have the need to get out and visit with others. Some go to the coffee shop or at the cafe for dinner. Jesus tells us to go share His good news here, there, and way over yonder.

Rural folk need friends. Yep, there are times when we just need somebody who we can know we can trust and hold things confidential and not become a public broadcaster of what we tell ‘em. We need somebody who is truly thinking of our wellbeing instead of how big of news what we share might be to others. It’s often difficult at best to find somebody we can trust like that.

Will Rogers once said that he never met a man he didn’t like. I reckon I enjoy having a conversation with someone on a plane or down at the store, and even in the middle of the road. But it doesn’t mean I need to tell them my life troubles. Just be there and be a friend.

We can sometimes get somebody’s life story without even asking for it. Way too much information.

And then there are times when the preacher walks into the coffee shop. You can suddenly hear a pin drop. I could of swore they were all talking right before I walked in. It makes me wonder if they were talking about me or was it that they didn’t think I would want to hear their latest gossip?

As Christians, we are to reach out to a lost world. And we need to be strong in our faith and allow Jesus to direct our trail. And we are to encourage others who are of the faith and bring ‘em along. And we need to help our neighbors. The one’s we don’t know, like the neighbors that have a different background or talk different than we do.

Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

It’s important for friends to get together, learn, and build one another up according to God’s word. But there are a lot of folks who don’t seem to think that’s necessary anymore.

Iron sharpens iron... A blacksmith will take a piece of molten hot iron and bang it with a hammer as it lies on an anvil and mold it for a useful purpose.

If we allow ourselves to be on fire for the Lord, then He will use others to mold us. I can remember some awesome men of God who molded me. Iron sharpens iron. Have you allowed yourself to be tempered so as to be put to good use for His purpose?

So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people... (Gal. 6:10 nasb)

Y’all love your neighbors!

Choose Jesus, choose life and let your light shine! And find a Bible believin’ church where you “fit in” and know, grow, and follow Christ! Tell others! See y’all at church and keep PRAYIN’ for HIS HARVEST! And pray for rain!