Becoming a Member

It was not a hard decision to become a member, but this church does not make being a Christian easy for us.  We admired that because we both believe it is true. It should not be easy being a Christian.  We know that sin is everywhere and that we all are sinners, and live in a world of temptations.  When someone says 'what are your sins', I know I can think of a laundry list of sins that I commit on a daily basis.  Most of them are those habit forming things like exaggerating facts or gossiping or taking a friendship/relationship for granted.  I know I have so much to work on and I know whoever is reading this, no matter how much time has passed since this was written, if you are true to yourself, you too, have a laundry list. But that is okay, because there is a solution to sin, there is something we can do to help us overcome our challenges and our sins.  I know that praying every day is not enough and I do have to say that I have tried my damnedest to be the best person I can be my entire life, as well as help people where I can. But that doesn't mean that I get a free pass to heaven. I've always known there was more I can do to be a better Christian.  Joining a church is one of those.  Tithing is always been a question mark to me and a big sacrifice and Tony is having a hard time with this concept as well.  Although, I do feel that we don't have to go all in at first with tithing, that we can grow and give more as we learn and mature as Christians.  This church is everything we were both looking for and everything we've learned in a couple months has made us better Christians already and to want to do more for ourselves, but mainly for God.  I know I have not put God first in my life, probably ever.  I know that. But do I rely on him every day when I pray - you betcha. Is that fair to him for me to pick and choose when I want him or need him.  Absolutely not...to be a Christian is not picking and choosing. It is all or nothing.  We also realize that once you go all in...you must stay all in.  We talked and we are both ready to become members of this church because it is the next step to working on our relationship with God.  With becoming a member, we can serve, tithe, help the church grow, join a small group, and so much more.  The other thing is that we want our kids to have a good foundation for being a Christian and it will be our hope that they will willingly accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and want the life of Christ. It has taken me over 30 years to get to this point and we just keep saying...'What are we waiting for' and I do believe that the time is now.