Who better to invite over for a therapy session on the Lord’s Day than my good friend CS from Got Fruit? He isn’t one to brag about this, but he is one of just a handful of persons of colors (other than my own) that I consider a “blood brother”. More importantly, he is someone I count as a brother in Christ.
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Pistol Pete: Have you always been black? Have you ever want to be a
different minority, like - Asian, Indian, or Homosexual?
CS: No, not my entire life, sometimes a lighter shade of brown, though in this day it seems the term “African American” is supposed to be less offensive to “my people”, or at least more palatable to my PC Caucasoid brethren. I’ve never been to Africa, in fact most of my ancestors hail from Ireland.
CS: As for ever wanting to be a different minority the answer is no. Firstly, I am content with whom God has and is making me out to be. Secondly, I consider it to be a privilege to be in the greatest minority to ever walk this earth, that being a child of God.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
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PP: Where did you get your blog name “Got Fruit?” What does it mean to you?
CS: The blog’s name came to me as a revelation from God after reading Galations 5, specifically verses 19-20 & 22-24. The blog and it’s namesake are a daily reminder to myself, to ask, “Are you allowing Jesus to be the master of your life?, Is the Holy Spirit of God being manifest in your daily walk with Christ?”.
Between you and me, it’s also a subliminal message for visitors as well, but don’t tell them.
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PP: How do you balance humor and Biblical reflection? Why is this important?
CS: By keeping God first in all that’s posted at Got Fruit(?), and constantly weighing what’s posted against the question: “Is this bringing glory to the Father?”. It’s rarely on purpose, that I inject humor into posts, however, there appears to be a comedy of past errors in my life that God sees fit to re-purpose for the sake of giving testimony, edification or to illustrate the posts topics. Besides, I think God has a sense of humor.
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PP: What can you tell us about what was happening in your life when you rededicated your life to Christ?
CS: If memory serves me correctly, I was in my 3rd year of belonging to the Clan of Divorcees and in a one sided relationship that I hadn’t admitted to myself, had run it’s course. Between the disappointment of the relationship, mass consumption of MGDs, personal reflection and last but certainly not least of the Holy Spirit painting
a picture of how I came to my fallen state, I accepted God’s gift of grace over a continued state of wallowing in anger, unforgiveness, and drunken stupors in my boxers with a bag of Cheetos by my side.
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PP: What (if anything) could the Church have done better to keep you connected to Christ?
CS: I don’t blame the “church” in any for my fall, my decision to turn from God a conscious one out of anger, defiance and resentment. Like a child, I had a temper tantrum, nice couch by the way. The key to staying connected to Christ is that it has to be understood that you are in a relationship with Him. Spiritual maturation through prayer, fellowship and study are components of the relationship; that I believe are integral in drawing closer to God.
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PP: You write “I’m not religious, just Christian.” What would you say is the difference?
CS: From my observations, religion appears to be man’s attempt to have a relationship with God based on man’s terms, whereas Christianity is man accepting God for who He is and playing by His terms, see the Holy Bible for conditions.
PP: As a father, what is your least favorite bodily fluid to clean up?
CS: Clean up? I’m a bachelor, what I can’t shove under the couch cushions I throw a towel over and pretend it isn’t there.
PP: At what age (if you have one in mind) will you allow your daughter to go on solo dates? And, why this age?
CS: Oh about age 65 or 90… I should be dead by then.
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PP: Apart from Henry Blackaby, what Christian author/s have most influenced you?
CS: The 40 or so dead white guys (or so we’re often inclined to think) that collaborated via God’s inspiration on the Bible.
PP: What do you most/least like about your church?
CS: The thing that is most impressive on my heart about my church is that it truly feels like a family, a home where people do love God and each other, in spite of ourselves sometimes.
“To have the right priorities a man’s focus must not be on the head, but on the heart; not on himself, but on God; not on time, but on eternity.” -Roy Lessin
How come there isn’t a link to Got Fruit?????
The Pistol fires bacK: Over sight on my part. I think I’ve corrected it.
Thanks so much for letting us know more about our fruity friend!!
The Pistol fires back: Yeah, CS, is certainly fruity, in more ways than one.
I’ve enjoyed these interviews. Certainly a change from the navel gazing we usually do on our blogs.
The Pistol fires back: Yes, it’s nice to look beyond our navels a bit.
Pistol Pete,
Welcome back and thank you again for the invite to Necessary Therapy, a welcomed change from my routine.
Things have still been a bit busy around here but we haven’t forgot about you at Got Fruit(?)… I’ve checked with Accounting & my Health Care Provider; all have assured me that the check is in the mail.
Grace and peace.
The Pistol fires back: You are a good man, Charlie Brown.