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A Morning View By the Wood Stove

Do you hear yourself?
Are you trying to prove you have all the answers?
Is everyone else really wrong? 
Why is doing it your way the only way?
Why are you postured in the corner ready to fight?
Do you see and hear only that with which you agree? 
Do you know the story, the whole story? 

I am very confident that many reading the above will immediately become defensive. Some may not read on and even some may never read again. Read it again. I took no side. I simply stated that we are so very  defensive and ready to fight and defend. 

We are so divided. Honestly it really does not matter the topic. It seems like we have become so selfishly motivated that we miss an opportunity. We miss an opportunity to Be Jesus to a hurting world. Do I have standards? Absolutely! Am I concerned about our current culture? There is no doubt. Do I agree with some things and disagree with others? Yes I do. Are there certain personal standards and beliefs I have that are going to be difficult if not impossible for you to change? I pretty certain there are. Do I believe I a "right" absolutely, but am I willing to be wrong, especially for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Most definitely, I am. 

Using Jesus as a standard to model how I live, I believe he would have strong standards. I believe he would also have deep love, compassion and grace. He did not love anything more than the Gospel of who he is, not a football team, not a restaurant, not music, not personal wealth, not a political stance, not a leader, organization or a country. I believe when he talked with the woman at the well, beyond what is recorded, he would listen to her, engage her and help her in love. He met the physical needs of those who were ill before sharing the gospel of how they needed to change. He did not check photo identification before healing them. He did not check out who was in the crowd to see who "deserved" food or had a job when the five thousand and more were fed. He celebrated the one leper of the ten who came back to thank him and did not focus on those who did not. Jesus looked Pilate in the eyes and did not fight battle or defend, he simply said I am who you say I am. Jesus loved everyone, Jesus cared for everyone, Jesus shared grace with everyone, even while on the cross. Jesus had a place of love for those who rejected him as well. He would have loved the equally if they had chose to be open, developed relationship, listened to him and sought God's grace. Friends, even before his last breath,  “Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.” - Luke 23:34 NLT

Friends, I do not proclaim to be an end times scholar. But I know that during the end times there will be great revival. I know that God will rise "Above the Ashes" we are living in. I know God is sovereign and will overcome the evil of the world around us. So I will choose to strive to live like, love like forgive like and share the goodness of grace and forgiveness like Jesus. 

What I am saying now may not bring peace and joy to you. If you say you are a sold out Christian willing to take up your cross, surrender everything and follow Jesus, and are not living like OR changing to live like Jesus Christ I wonder if you really are a Christian? 

I have recently searched deep into my soul. I am ashamed to say that although I was slowly growing in my faith walk striving to Be Jesus, I was doing a very poor job of it. I had to challenge my covenant commitment to Jesus and surrender. There is a famous phrase used by many that says, "Love the sinner and hate the sin." My modification of this phrase is, "Love the sinner, hate your own sin and find a way to change you before attacking them." 

Peace,
PB

So before taking a stance on an issue, take a stance on how well you represent Jesus to all. 



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