a "follow me" moment

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it." (Matt. 16:24-25)

Many of us are much more committed to following things other than Jesus. School is back in session and parents are following their children from activity to activity to activity to activity to activity, to...well you get the point. Lately we have followed the Olympics and millions of us are following the presidential race very closely. Football season is starting, baseball season is moving quickly toward the playoffs and we’re following our favorite teams. Some of us are just blindly following the crowd.

I watched the Olympics and celebrated the victories every night. From beginning to end I was mesmerized and impressed by the incredible, wonderful spectacle and performances. Did you see those opening ceremonies? I have never seen anything like it in my life. I was truly in awe of everything from the technology to the choreography to the sheer mass of humanity that it took to pull it off...and at the same time saddened and appalled by the incredible expenditure of financial and human resources. I couldn't help but wonder...with those resources: How many hungry could have been fed? How many thirsty could have been given water? How many lost could have been found? How many educations could have been funded?

This past week I watched the Democratic National Convention and became part of the largest audience in history to ever witness an acceptance speech. There was a moment after Obama's speech; 80,000 people stood (millions more joined them by TV) and they worshiped him. I will watch the Republican National Convention and witness many of the same things. I will see men and women who love their country, are devoted to their country, and would probably die for their country. I will see banners waved…flags flown…songs sung…confetti dropped…allegiances sworn.

And I will be asking myself, at the end, the same questions. When will we swear our allegiance to Christ like that? Will we ever, in mass, celebrate Jesus like that? When will we follow Christ in that way? When will the church become one and pour itself into doing what the Olympics and the politicians will never be able to do - as hard as they try - because it’s our job to change the world, we have been given that mission!

We Christians want salvation without sacrifice. We want to wear the cross on a chain around our neck or look at it hanging on the wall. But, we don't want to feel the weight of it on our backs as it digs into our shredded flesh and, as a result, our Christianity becomes weak and pathetic.

Deny self? Take up my cross? Lose my life in order to find my life? Hmmm......do we have any idea what any of that even means?

anniversary moment

Wanda and I have enjoyed watching the Olympics together over the last two weeks. We have cheered for our favorites, celebrated their victories, and been bummed out over their losses. There were times when we threw up our hands in disgust over the poor efforts of those who were "supposed to win" and didn't (okay, that was just me doing that). We have also celebrated the efforts of those who came to compete; those who sacrificed and gave it their all knowing they had no shot at the medal podium.

I think the most exciting thing for me was to see a world record fall, no matter the winner. It was best when it was a record that had stood for 15 or 20 years. You knew that it took a special athlete and a special performance to better a standard that had stood the test of time and had beaten all challengers...until now.

Tomorrow - August 26, 2008 - is the 8th anniversary of my marriage to my sweet little girl, Wanda. I know, I know, that's far from a world record but it's a new record for me! It's my all time personal best! Two other marriages (that produced the three best children ever) that couldn't go the distance. I can blame no one except myself and my previous spouses.

Eight wonderful years and I can thank and praise no one except Jesus. Thank you Jesus for sending me Wanda. Thank you Wanda for loving Jesus first and me second.

Jesus gets the gold...Wanda the silver...I don't care if I make the podium, I just want to give you both my best for another year.