Pastor's Corner
A message from Pastor Andy Ross...

Past Devotionals

Slouching, Or Standing Up?! - November 11, 2005

Read Genesis 18 and Genesis 19.

Dear friends,

I worked hard at having a "cool," slouching posture as a teenager. I wanted badly to fit in, and I thought if I slouched and slumped, I would look confident, relaxed and well, cool.

Now I'm paying for it! Now I understand how dumb it is to slouch - how it wreaks havoc on your spine, it compresses your organs and digestive track, and internal stuff like that. Now I know that you even feel better when you stand up straight, tall and confident, as if you have a purpose that is clear and confident.

Robert Bork wrote a book entitled Slouching Toward Gomorrah. I'm thinking that's a pretty safe title since the people of Gomorrah are no longer around to complain about being singled out. You can read of their story and sudden demise in Genesis 18 and Genesis 19.

But you know what? I bet there were people back then who took pride in Gomorrah. Folks volunteered to serve on the Gomorrah Chamber of Commerce. Folks who were pleasant and politically correct in saying, "Yes, well I know some worship Astarte, and think temple prostitution is fine." Or those who would idly chat about how the Dagon god which encourages child sacrifice, and say, "If that's their opinion, what can we do?"

What is our distinctive, biblical, and loving witness in a culture that likes to slouch?

Try standing up straight today. It will please your mother. And your own spine - and just maybe this world we're in together.

God's blessings to you this day!

Andy Ross
Pastor