Sit back, take your mind off all the assignments that are due this week, and work out this puzzle with me. Think about all the people you know. Divide them into two categories: those you trust and those you don't.

Now think about those you don't trust. Can you name someone who acts one way when they are around important people and a completely different way around people who "don't matter?" Here's an example: Miss Y is polite around her teachers and her friends' parents. As soon as the adults are gone, she becomes MISSEE, the wild child. She can be rude, snotty, vulgar, or petty.

Now let's switch gears.

Think about the way you act in church or in youth group. Compare how you act in those circumstances with the way you act when you're at a sleepover or just hanging out with your friends.

"Oh," you say, "I'm not as bad as Miss Y / MISSEE!"

Maybe not, but I'm not asking you to compare your best with Miss Y's best or your worst with MISSEE's worst. I'm asking you to see if you have a similar split personal style.

I'm going to make a big assumption that the way you act in church is not that fake-holier-than-thou show for public consumption. I assume that you want to learn about God and worship Him - that you act the way you do from your heart.

What happens, then, that as soon as you leave a church setting, you forget about God and act like your friends that never go to church? The answer: you've become "only a hearer of the Word" and not a "doer of the Word." This language comes from James 1:22. A little later in James chapter one, the apostle makes this statement: "Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived" (verse 26 from THE MESSAGE).

If my assumption is true that you want to learn about God and worship Him, this news flash is probably making you a little sad. If you are sad, then you are headed in the right direction so that you will NOT be self-deceived in the future.

The next step is to turn into a "doer of the Word." Try these ideas:

• Remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint. Don't try to change all your bad habits at once.
• Check your heart to be sure that you're not doing outward things without repenting of the inward sins.
• Ask God to show you where to start in changing your ways.
• Read your Bible so that He can tell you what He wants you to do, then obey Him.
• Ask your Mom or another adult who knows God well about a good place to start.
• Keep a "Doers Record" of your progress.
• Thank God for every change He works in your heart and in your actions.

Then you'll be a living witness to the life-changing power of God and NOT a wild child.

Lynnda Ell has been an active Christian for over 50 years She has three adult daughters and five grandchildren. She has had careers in accounting, direct sales, electrical engineering and writing. She lives and worships in New Orleans, LA. Check out Lynnda's blog.