Backpacking Through Joshua: Week 5

So...we pick up our journey in Joshua, chapter 5, or as I like to call it, "This Won't Hurt a Bit." I'm sorry, but can you even fathom the number of guys with sore pee-pees?  And no Neosporine.

But I digress.

Ahem. 

I know guys are supposed to be the visual ones, but this is leaving a mark on my brain, fo sho.

Okay...questions to put out there:

• Have you ever met someone that you could tell was a Christian by first impression? Do you think you are easily recognizable as a Christian? Why or why not?
• Modern Christianity tends to value ‘blending in’ more than standing out– agree or disagree? Why or why not?

There is a gentleman at my daughter's school who I have always felt was a Believer.  In nosing, probing,  asking around, I have found that he is, indeed a Christian.  Gentle man is the apt description for him.  He's kind, and as Kim mentioned in her post about Angela, he too has a "sparkle" in his eye.  It's as if he's backlit by the Holy Spirit.  And I feel so blessed to be able to send her to school with that protection, if you will, from the enemy.  I know he is bound by the school to handle things the way the school would handle them, with a mighty liberal view, but he's also bound by a higher calling.  If she had a problem with someone at school, I know without hesitation my daughter could, and likely would go to him for counsel.

Do I think I'm easily recognizable as a Christian?  Next question, please.  Ugh.  I will say I hope that I am recognizable as a follower of Jesus, rather than the almost bastardized version of the word "Christian" that we see depicted in the media of the world today.  My hope is that folks see someone who worships whole-heartedly, realizes she's broken, forgiven, and loved, despite being no better or worse than anyone else.  I hope I appear open and encouraging.  I hope I appear authentic and hopeful, and by His grace (only), merciful and gracious.  I know I have too many opinions (which I share freely), and make the same mistakes over and over.  But here's the bottom line:  I know God loves me.  Abundantly and with abandon.  I know He is glorified when I love Him abundantly and with abandon.  I hope people in my life see evidence of this in the way I worship, the way I love, and in the way I live.   And to make sure they do...I have to love on my Husband daily.  In prayer/worship/reading His Word.  In attitude.  In behavior.  For, when I lose that lovin' feeling with God...I'm afraid I lose it with others.  He is my portion, poured out so that I would reflect Him to Himself and others.

I actually disagree that Modern Christianity values blending in over standing out.  I'm having a tough time with the semantics of "Modern Christianity" as a cultural religion versus a statement of faith.  So I'm going with it as a statement of faith.  We know that we will stand out--sometimes painfully so--if we are to be true ambassadors of Christ.  We won't value the things of this world because we know there is so much more in the next.  We'll be making decisions re: career, family, and friends which come from a godly perspective, rather than a worldly perspective.  I think if we are blending in too much, we must ask ourselves whether/why we're too comfortable, and whether we're truly prepared to lay down our lives for our Maker.  It doesn't have to be a big, sweeping behavior which shows our faith in Jesus. But I believe we will eventually stand out.  For me, it's a series of little decisions and little peaks and valleys:  I pray for my kids as I drop them off for school.  I read my Bible.  I talk to my daughter about how much God loves her and that His plan is to provide her with the best husband for her to gift herself to.  And that she's worth the decision to wait to have sex until marriage.  I forget to read my Bible.  I ask for forgiveness.  I snark/snipe at my son.  And ask for his and His forgiveness.  I buy one less latte and give that amount of change to my daughter's Children of the Nations fund.  I cuss.  I cut someone off in traffic.  I ask for forgiveness. I worship.  I pray.  I plug away, trying to remember to do so in His strength.  Not in mine.  I fail.  But He saves.