Chimp Poop

Two weeks ago I had a super fun weekend with my mom and a few girlfriends at a Women's Retreat. It was very busy since I had a craft booth set up, but it was well worth the time! (Oh by the way, this has the potential of being a long post...just a warning.) I certainly don't want to forget some of the things that really hit home with me so I want to post them here for myself...and for anyone else who may need some good reminders.

Friday evening and Saturday morning I attended the retreat at the Airport Hilton. I was somewhat bummed out over the food--I discovered that I'm NOT a fan of apple chicken chutney! The music was bearable, and the guest speaker was phenomenal. I had the privilege of hearing her preach a few years ago so I had high expectations, and I certainly didn't leave disappointed. Susie's lat session was by far, my favorite, probably for 2 reasons: first, she had my attention from the get-go when she started speaking about my favorite part of the zoo--the chimpanzees! :) Secondly, she talked about one of the best things in the world--poop! :) lol Okay, okay, not so much...I guess when I really think about it, Chris is probably the only person I know who likes to talk about poop. ;)

So I found out that Susie and I have something in common...we both LOVE monkeys. :) Similar t Susie, I remember putting a pet monkey at the top of my Christmas list for SEVERAL consecutive years back when I was enamored by the cute, cuddly, charming chimps. I could totally picture myself playing in the backyard with him, shooting hoops, swinging, or sitting on the porch while school kids passed by. I would LOVE to go for walks with him, and have my very own "best friend" to take everywhere I went.

And then...you hear the horror stories. And we're reminded every time we go visit the zoo that these funny, entertaining creatures are NOT so nice to be around, nor are they too keen on company--they will defecate in their hands and intentionally throw the poop into the face of someone they do not like. Even worse, is Charla Nash, the Connecticut lady who appeared on Oprah after being mauled and shredded to pieces and left without a face, by a 200-pound chimp. YIKES.

It's in those instances when "your home has now become an extremely volatile environment, in which the forbidden thing you love wants nothing more than to kill you."

Susie went on to say that just like a cute chimp can kill, cute sin wil destroy us. Satan absolutely hates me, and he wants nothing more than to take me straight to Hell with him. Satan comes as a thief in the night, and before I even realize what I'm doing, I'll be asking myself, "How did I end up in this pile of chimp poop?!" It happens...one little dropping at a time. (Gross, yes, but sin is gross. It stinks. It should churn our stomachs, just like chimp poop!)

Susie gave us a battle plan for the chimp fight of our lives.

1. We must realize that it's okay to be different. We were not designed to "fit in" this world; it is not our home!
2. We have to dress for battle and literally wear the armor of God. We are in a WAR! We must pray and establish accountability. We cannot become desensitized to the stink of chimp poop! The dirty website...chimp poop! Flirting with the married man in the office at work...chimp poop! Lies...chimp poop! Gay marriage...it's chimp poop. Gossip...chimp poop. Negativity...chimp poop. Bitterness...chimp poop. Losing sight of the TRUTH--that there is a HELL to shun--simply wanting our congregations to "feel good"...it's all CHIMP POOP!!!
3. Finally, we must keep a clean cage. Search me, God, and know my heart.

Don't get chimp poop thrown in your face. Sin is chimp poop...

and it will kill you.

Needing a shower now,
Sarah