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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: ARTIFICIAL (08/11/16)
Venice is one of the most beautiful unique places I have ever visited. The atmosphere is charged with excitement as one enters the mysterious streets that is the most amazing aqua coloured water. The buzz of tourists, gondolas and boat operators and makes it quite lively.

The buildings are beautiful full of artistic talent that still stands. Beautiful art in the galleries and churches. Coffee shops and boutiques. But what else is there I wondered after walking for most of the morning...what else is in Venice?

At midday it seemed that the piazza started filling with many people dressed in ball gowns, costumes and masks. Tourists, like myself, whipped out our cameras and started taking pictures. As I reflect on those pictures I see a strong message about how life can be like a parade. How easy it is to be artificial and give one image to the world, but the real person is hidden behind a mask. A mask of what we think the world wants to see.

Behind Venice is a history of sin and troubles. Studying more of the history shows that the numerous plagues the city faced was always treated with the building of a new church. Each time the people sinned living in the artifcal and superficial the more they suffered from plagues the more they built churches. Covering the problem by adding a little church here and there is never the answer to what the root of the problem is.

Jesus said, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16)

The ball gown, the mask, the people parading everyday for tourists is advertising for an exclusive masked ball that happens once a year. They call and invite the people to dine and celebrate wearing a mask.

My challenge is for Christians to show our true selves to the world, leaving the artificial forms of Christianity. We need to be inviting people to meet the King of Kings, the Saviour of the World, The Son of God. We need to keep pressing through the masks in our minds and let our light shine, leaving the false behind. Let us not cover our sins with church, but get to the root of the matter and deal with it so that we can remove masks that hide who we really are and we can bring glory to our Father in heaven.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
08/23/16
Wow what a powerful story. I'm literally in tears. The Holy Spirit encouraged you to write this for me, and then had me read it exactly when I needed it. Thank you for your obedience. You touched my heart.
Bonnie Bowden 
09/01/16
Congratulations, Lauren, on your 1st place finish in the Beginners category.

I have never been to Venice, but like the actors in the parade, many times Christians do hide their faith.
Lauren McCusker
09/01/16
I am so humbled right now, I cannot take any of the glory. This was inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Bea Edwards 
09/06/16
I agree with your challenge and pray that I have the courage to be more transparent.

Well written edification for us all and congratulations on your first place level win.

I have difficulty with grammar and verb agreement but I think there was a case where a 'was' might have been better as a 'were,' in the general area where you wrote about adding a church.