One more week to watch this over and over …
I saw a bumper sticker that said “I love my wife”. I honestly laughed and wondered if the guy’s wife put it on his truck. I have also seen Real Men Love Jesus and Honk if You Love Jesus bumper stickers. I have seen countless John 3:16 posters while watching NFL football on TV.
I am not opposed to any of these things. I have a couple of catchy Christian t-shirts myself and I just bought Chelsea a great one at last weekend’s soccer tournament. Each time I see something like that, I wonder if that bumper sticker, t-shirt, poster or license plate is that person’s only statement of faith. I think if we are wearing our hearts on our sleeves (or cars, or book bags or t-shirts) then we better be walking the walk. We also need to be prepared to back up our “statements of faith” with the life we lead. For me, it’s not about saying I love Jesus to everyone I meet; it’s about doing my best to act like I love Jesus. I think actions speak louder than words. I also think if I’m living it, there won’t be much left to say. The bottom line is, it’s not about “me” anyway.
OK – here is where I am really going with this. I’m a little frustrated because someone told me to “do it because I love Jesus”. Well duh, that is why I do the things I do. The good things, anyway. For me (and I’m writing this), sharing my faith is more that wearing a t-shirt or a WWJD wristband. Once you get to know me, you find a sinner saved by grace who was baptized 25 years ago and remains a sinner saved by grace. I do not go around shaking hands, telling people Jesus loves them, hauling them to the nearest body of water for dunking and then moving on. People do not come to know Jesus this way any more than the do when you tell them to F.R.O.G. Go out into the world and live it. Spend the time building the relationships. The people you build relationships with will know you love Jesus and you won’t even have to mention it … or wear it or honk …
… if you are in Jr High where Chelsea goes to school. “Redneck day” kicks off jr high homecoming week today. So, I guess you might be a redneck if you start homecoming “week” on a Thursday ?! Redneck day will be followed by cartoon character day, twin day and spirit day. Obviously, homecoming “week” continues next Monday and Tuesday. No homecoming week would be complete without a dance – except one at a Christian school. So, this weekend there will be a Homecoming Luau. Did I mention that exams start Monday? And the “homecoming game” is Tuesday night?
Other homecoming issues would be three girls who want to be Chelsea’s twin on twin day. She can’t have three twins. I suggested they break into pairs – trying to be the peacemaker Mom – ha! That started a riot! The other three did not want to dress up like each other. That left Chelsea with the job of choosing which one would be her twin. She settled it the best she could. One will dress up with her on twin day, one will be Thing 1 on cartoon day and she will be Thing 2. The third girl is still left out but says she doesn’t care because she doesn’t want to dress like anyone except Chelsea. Maybe Chelsea and girl 3 can wear matching blue shirts on spirit day.
Ah, homecoming week with 12 year old girls … It makes me glad to wear uniforms on a regular basis (sorry Christi).
I’m still here. I’m still reading other people’s blogs everyday, I just have not taken the time to write my own. Jr High is finally feeling like a routine. Soccer is finally feeling like a routine. I have dishes in my sink and that seems to be routine these days too!
I had an interesting weekend. I saw this guy and found out he is a proud soccer Dad now. I’m so happy for him. He also mentioned that I did not blog a lot anymore. Thought I would pester him with a few links today. Now, on to what I want to say …
This has been rattling around in my brain for a couple of days. Chelsea, Scotty and I “prepared” communion on Saturday night. Chelsea loves to do this! I could take it or leave it, but since I said I would do it I fulfilled my commitment to do it. How is serving by preparing communion any different than serving it? Are the people passing the trays serving me? Am I serving them by filling the trays? Are the people standing in the front (or the back) leading me in something? Or are they just facilitating the passing of the tray the same way Chelsea does when I hand it to her to hand it to the next person?
I am quite sure I would never make an issue of this because I respect people that it does make a difference to, but in all honesty, it just doesn’t make a difference to me. After all, it’s not about who passes the tray; it’s about the reason why we participate in communion in the first place.
