Church = Hypocrites?

I read in a Mansfield newspaper recently about a church sign in Mansfield (a short drive away from where we are) that went something like this:

This church is not full of hypocrites,

There's room for more.

I'm not sure about you but in a way, that hit the nail somewhat. It made a statement, but it also showed the church could laugh at itself. In effect, the world is full of hypocrites, isn't that true? There are also hypocrites in church. We are all hypocrites at some point in our lives. Some people may live their lives as hypocrites while others are unintentional hypocrites. Are there times when I know I'm being a hypocrite?

What the statement said to me, as a believer, was "are you a hypocrite? is it time to confess and change". I know only Christ Jesus can make that change in me cos I am not able, I am weak, and sometimes, I don't want to change enough cos I don't want to do the hard yards.

Bringing Millie home!

One of the milestones for us, after returning from Singapore, was picking our puppy, Millie, home. It was a bit traumatic for me last weekend when we had to confirm which puppy, out of a litter of 8, that we want. As we had enquired about puppies since April last year, we were on the top of the list and had the first pick out of the 8 puppies.

The very first time when we first saw the litter of puppies, which was a few days after we were back home after our trip to Singapore in January, I fell in love with a red-collared puppy because she slept and stayed still while I carried her in my arms while the rest of the puppies just wanted to get down. So, when I saw the same puppy again last weekend, I carried her in my arms and had my eyes set on her and she was same as usual, kept still while I hugged her.

However, Phill had his eyes set on another puppy. She was very friendly to Phill and then went and sat in the sun herself. The puppy breeder's son told us that this puppy particularly like being on her own and laying in the sun. Compared to the other puppies who had to huddle together, she was happy being on her own.

Anyway, even though Phill was very besotted with this puppy, he said that we will get the red collared puppy that we were so besotted with.

However, the whole trip home (3 hours drive), I was troubled and did not have any peace at all. Phill went and had a nap and I tried to close my eyes to sleep but I couldn't. So, I sms-d my brother, Gary, and rang him to talk to him and bawled my eyes out. I was so torn. I wanted the puppy that I chose but Phill always gives in to me and I wanted to give in to him this time. And Gary advised that I pray about it and then ring the breeder and if the puppy that Phill wanted was still available, that would be my answer. So that's what I did. I prayed and rang the breeder, Carol, and she said, the puppy Phill wanted and the puppy we chose were the last 2 puppies left. There was only one family due to see their puppy (they didn't have a choice being the last on the list) and would be seeing the puppy Phill wanted. While talking to Carol, couldn't help myself and broke down. She was very kind and understood how I felt. And she asked me three times when I said we would have the puppy Phill wanted (which meant the family that was due to arrive will have my red-collared puppy). Then she said that she noticed how the puppy Phill liked was the first puppy that went up to him and 'introduced' herself to him. She was very friendly to Phill and was the one that picked him out. I was sure I made the right choice then as I believed very strongly in having the puppy pick you.

Photos of Millie when we picked her up today.