Dear friends-
"How do we get there if we do not know we need to get there?" I was asked that question a number of years ago by a man at my table as we talked about the need for allowing Jesus into our lives. I lead him to the Lord later that day.
This morning I awoke thinking today had something "hanging" over it. My wife brought my laptop in and unlike what I normally do which is check the state of the world, I checked my bank account. Needless to say, when I saw the overdrawn condition of my account, a sick feeling began to overtake me. One of the problems was that it did not say where the money was "gone to." And here I was with 2 plus hours before the bank opened to deal with it. My initial thought were that I had an annual bill or something I had neglected to account for. The unfortunate part was that it was nearly $500 that had "disappeared." After doing all the running around I had to do and visiting with friends it was time to get to the business of banking. As I talked to the bank, it was clear that someone had stolen my name. (Again...5 years ago this had happened to me.) They had utilized a smaller amount(Most like to "verify" the account) and the second they hit for a very large sum. Well, at least I knew it had not been an oversight. So, I went down to the bank. They tried to tell me that it was "not processed" and to call back tomorrow. As I went out to the car, I called my identity theft protection company and they went into gear. Flagging my credit files, etc., all with in five minutes. At this point there is not much I can do with the bank until tomorrow.
I consider myself fortunate for many reasons, the least of all that unlike the last time, I do not have to "chase down" information, etc. (The average person spends 600 hours and loses over $3,000 with identity theft. My
protector will take care of all that.) But what about the person who does not have protection for their identity? What do they do? Or the person who does not have knowledge of how to resolve this type of issue. Only last week 2 major companies in Vermont announced the theft of identities, one a grocery store and the other a ski area. If I had not gone through all this, I would not know. I was fortunate that a sheriff in Los Angeles walked me through this. And that was my beginning in the Identity Theft Risk Management field.
Paul said "and how shall they hear without a preacher?" Just as the man asked me at my table years ago, there is a group of people who have not heard. Where would we be without Christ? I am not sure we think about that before we come to Him. Most people either deny the existence of God, or believe in God, thinking that is the free pass, or chase after something that does not bring life. God is our protector. Our advocate. And there is a people waiting to hear about Him. To see His existence portrayed not only by the life of believers, but by the very presence of Him.
My losing money and going through "pain" is nothing compared to the life without Him. Just like that LA sheriff, I want to be the person who introduces people to Him.
Blessings,
Lee
Lee Johndrow
Publisher
The New England Flame
88 WCFR Drive
Springfield, VT 05156
www.NewEnglandFlame.com
