Dear Friends

How are you doing today? This is a quick email to catch you up on the latest....and tell you about our church cat we have here.

Smoky is our church mascot in Mount Morgan and he never misses a meeting. He comes to prayer meetings, bible studies, church on Sunday and is just about always in my office through the week. Smoky actually lives next door but his owner (Tony) is not home very often and because Smoky is a very affectionate cat (which is apparently highly unusual) he wants company. Last year sometime some kind hearted person (don't blame me) started giving the cat milk and we have now started a bad habit. I'm at the point where I sometimes wonder whether the cat really likes us or only likes us because we give him milk.

Recently we had to cut back a bit on the milk because we were buying too much and it wasn't getting used, and of course the cat doesnt' get so much now as a result. It seems to me that the cat is not quite as friendly as before. So in some ways, the cat is a fair weather friend. He is only in it for himself and while the going is good you see him, but when circumstances change so does his attitude.

Many christians are like Smoky, they are "fair weather" friends to God or to their churches. While things are going smoothly they are happy keen and "committed." However when bad weather comes along or things are not so easy they are gone." Some people only attend church because of good music or because there are pretty girls or for other reasons like this, but when these things change, they go somewhere else.

Jesus was not like this however. Sometimes we don't treat God very well, we don't follow him wholeheartedly or listen or obey but even so he sticks with us through our troubles. Jesus is certainly a friend to us no matter what the circumstances are. He wants to teach us the same loyalty and faithfulness in our lives also. So let us learn a lesson from Smoky the cat and from Jesus and be loyal and faithful and committed in the church, home and places God has put us. We will be a blessing and make a huge difference. After all, its when everything is falling to pieces that our contribution will really make a difference.

My love and blessings
Cheers
David