Talk is cheap

Saturday morning I was having breakfast at the counter of my #1 breakfast place. This time of year Saturday mornings are slammed at local restaurants with vacationers on their way home grabbing one last meal before hitting the road. I was alone and there was one seat at the counter; so I gladly took it.

At the seats to my right were a mom and her teenage son, having some "mother-son time" as she put it. But she added, "The conversation was all her". What mom of a teenage boy doesn't relate to that?

I had a poster about our July 4 Block Party, which invites the commmunity to use our church parking lot for the fireworks show across the sound. Along with free parking we had free hot dogs, inflatable games for the kids, slushees and live music. She saw the poster and asked about it.

They were, she said, scheduled to leave for home on Sunday morning, but might just stay for the fireworks. "Which church is this?", she asked. "Nags Head Church, right next to Jockey's Ridge." "What kind of church is it?", and I told her our affiliation. "That's what we are, too. Maybe we'll come to church in the morning."

They didn't show - at least I didn't see them - but that's not a big deal. They were on vacation and headed home. I really didn't expect to see them.

But before church on Sundays I often get breakfast there. My waitress asked me, "Do you remember that woman who sat beside you yesterday? She wanted to pay with an American Express card, which posed a problem since we don't honor American Express and said she'd be back later with cash."

Bet you know what she said next.

I said that if I saw her at church (which I seriously doubted) I would remind her to stop by the restaurant. (These people are my friends). "How much was her tab?" It was over $35. For breakfast?!

"Well, she had a couple of mixed drinks, too."

Anybody can say, "I'm a Christ-follower". But following Christ is not about saying the words. Jesus warned that many would look at Him on judgment day and say, "Lord, Lord", but His response will be, "I don't know you."

Faith is more accurately expressed in our actions, which include integrity and honest character; not in empty words meant to try and impress somebody.

I wasn't impressed. Nor was I surprised that she said she belonged to a similar flavored church as mine, because talk is cheap.