"Who do you say that I am?"

...As Jesus and the disciples looked around at the plethora of Roman gods memorialized all around them, Jesus posed a question: "Who do the people say that I am?" He followed up with a more pointed version, "Who do YOU say that I am?"

As we approach Christmas day, this confrontation seems apropos once again. We are approaching the day to celebrate the birth of a special baby boy in the midst of a plethora of new gods clamoring for our attention: the seasonal gods of shopping and gift giving, cooking and eating, holiday parties, work bonuses, TV specials, decorations, and travel plans.

In thinking about this question, I must say that I can FEEL it. Somehow, it goes beyond my intellect and resonates deep in my soul. "Who do I say that he is?"

Perhaps you, too, can take a few quiet moments to ponder the question. "Who do you say that I am?" Before offering your answer, keep in mind the context in which Jesus asked it - 1) not to novices, but to his own disciples; 2) in the midst of the gods; 3) just before saying "He who would follow must take up his own cross. If you hang on to your life, you will lose it. If you give up you life for me, you'll find it."

So, who is Jesus? How does your life answer that question? How does soul answer the question?

"Who do you say that I am?" -Jesus Christ

Negligent Faith

Faith. It is the most important thing, right? Here's the thing , though. Most of us would never handle our jobs wit the same degree of negligence that we handle our faith. We would never handle our finances with same hap hazardous approach we use for our faith. Our spouses and children would classify us as "neglectful."

How is it that matters of faith, then, get pushed off onto the back burner. Why doesn't prayer ever really get done? Why are "daily" devotions the relegated to mystical super-Christians?

Maybe what we need a faith-based retirement (or death) planners...

"Yeah, um, when I die, I want to be ______________ prepared. I'm hoping for a crown of glory in heaven that is of __________ quality. What do I need to begin doing now to get there?"

Let's make some plans. Let's become the people we were born to be.

Perspective

As I sit here writing, a friend of mine is in China evading the authorities. No joke.

He went over to serve some Christians operating an orphanage. Those same Chinese Christians have now been arrested. One committed suicide to avoid the pending torture by the Chinese government.

I know this based on a few phone calls my friend has been able to make in hiding. He is hoping to be able to come home in a few days - that is unless the authorities are waiting to take him in at the airport. (You see, in the fleeing part, all of his stuff was left behind, including some things that would provide the government with identification.) No one will know until later this week.

I, on the other hand, spent the day hanging and finishing drywall. I also got riled up about something insignificant and complained to a few people.

What a contrast. Petty squabbling surrounding a church building project verses people risking (and giving) their lives for the sake of the gospel - the good news that Jesus Christ forgives, saves and gives hope.

Perspective... This (somewhat) famous picture is called "Pale Blue Dot". Between those two white bars is earth - the pale blue dot. This picture is not taken from that far away. Just the edge of our neighborhood somewhere about Pluto's orbit.

Funny how things change from far away. Most of the things I worry about don't seem to matter: the price of gas, the church building project, school, taking the trash out in the morning...

There are still some things that matter, though...

To Be or Not To Be...an Ostrich

I spent the past week at graduate school with a bunch of very smart and talented people. People smarter than me. People more talented than me.

Just a few minutes ago I was at church preaching. I felt like I had something to say worth saying. I felt like what I had to say would matter. I'm not sure that I said it in a manner that it did.

Here's the point - Life is a humbling experience. There are people smarter than you out there. There are people more talented than you out there. Sometimes all we can do is our best, even when it's not THE best.

Embrace humility. The rest of us will like you much more for having done it. We know that you're not the best and we like you anyway. Own up to the truth. Be a man.

Or, you can become an ostrich. Stick your head in the sand and deny the humiliation. In the real world, you'll look a little ridiculous, but you'll be in good company. People choose the delusion of superiority over the reality of humility all the time.