Thx for the shirt Bella!

Wow, did you know that if you are ever LOOKING to be treated like a freak, you should wear a t-shirt that says, "I Love Jesus"?

For Mother's Day my husband took my kids shopping to buy me something.  Sweet 5 year old Bella decided on a gorgeous pink t-shirt with the words, "I love Jesus" across the front.

I LOVED it and was so excited to wear it!  Can I just tell you that over and over my mind has been boggled by the reactions to this shirt?!  I would not believe it if someone had told me this would be the case! 

You may think I'm talking about non-believers, but honestly I'm talking equally about Believers in Jesus Christ as well as non-believers.  Here are my conclusions (assumptions? I must admit) 

non-believers look at you like, "Uh oh, run", "Bless her heart" (which is often the NICE way both Christians and non Christians say, "idiot" ha!) ....these really don't bother me so much.  Anyone that knows me well, knows that being around non-believers does not intimidate me at all....in fact I prefer their company to the religious!  

But the Christians even freak out!  Now THIS cracks me up!  Like, "Why must she wear it so bold?" or they act like they didn't even see it.  

I gladly admit that over the past year or so, (pre t-shirt) I have become a sold-out believer that the Jesus in you should be WAY more evident by how you ACT than what you say or wear...but I never dreamed a shirt that boasts about the One who has changed EVERYTHING about my life would bring such controversy!   The last time I wore the shirt, I said to myself, "I think they'd all be more comfortable with me wearing a shirt that said, "I love Barney!"

One last note, while I'm in this mode, ha....

Tonight I was pretty blown away an encounter.  

I am a border-line, no I'll admit it....addict to fountain drinks.  While this is pretty much frustrating me for health reasons, it has had a very unexpected perk!  The guy, Sean, at the closest convenience store and I have become great friends.  Every time I walk in, he shouts, "AHhhhh my favorite customer!"  (yeah, I know he probably says this to everyone but it's cool with me :)  

Sean is from Pakistan and is a devout Muslim.  He is about the nicest guy you'll ever meet.  So positive, outgoing and educated.  About a month ago, he asked me what I believed (no, I wasn't wearing my shirt ;) ha.  I told him that Jesus Christ had absolutely turned my hopeless life into something I could never have accomplished on my own.  That now I had something that no circumstance or person could ever take away from me....real JOY and peace.  And you know what?  That didn't change his treatment towards me whatsoever.  I love it.  

So over the past year or so, (pre-tshirt) I have come to some pretty strong conclusions about my faith.  I believe that Jesus modeled something for us that the Western church has almost completely forgotten.  R-E-L-A-T-I-O-N-S-H-I-P!!!

From my own experience being raised in church...now I know this will offend many but I must be honest about MY experience....church has been way more about GATHERING information and strategy to get people to OUR church.  

May I be so bold as to say, "How dare we?"  

This is not what MY Jesus modeled!  He didn't sit at the temple and demand that people change their ways and then come to where He was!  He went to them IN LOVE.  He showed extreme compassion!  He sat, spent time and ate with those that the 'religious' would NEVER entertain.  In fact, the only ones He was harsh with WERE the religious scholars who thought themselves holier than others and loaded them down with unattainable standards!

Back to my story about Sean tho....sorry about that Dennis Miller rant.....i lost myself!  

So tonight, after months of hanging out with Sean, introducing him to my kids, etc I went to get a drink and took him a couple home-made brownies.  His eyes lit up, "You MADE these?!"  Yep, don't let that scare you! ha!  

While I'm talking to him this man walks in and pretty matter of factly asks Sean, "Where are you from?"  Sean replied Pakistan.  The man asked, "What language do you speak?"  Sean rattled off several (man, I'm jealous!) but not including Spanish.  

Then the man turns to me and says, "Well, I know that YOU know Him (doning the shirt) and here you go."  And flips Sean and I both a silver coin and walked out.  I was like, "Huh?  What was that?!"  

I looked down at the coin and I kid you not the coin was a message about Jesus in SPANISH!

I'm doing a lot better about not judging people, but come on!  Righteous anger is ok huh? lol.

People, we as Believers must get a grip.  Until we value the PERSON and a RELATIONSHIP with them more than resting our head on the pillow= certain that we 'checked' off the 'Christians witness box'....we are fooling ourselves!  

Whew, jumping off the box....sorry about that, well maybe not.  I'm really passionate about LIVING His love.  

People don't care what you KNOW till they know you CARE.