07 August 2016

How Can You Know Me – Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

Anyone who spends a moment or two with me or my writing will know that I strive to be a follower of Jesus Christ.  I do not any longer call myself a “Christian”: because I feel the term no longer communicates.  I am not ashamed of Christ but I am often ashamed of how those claiming to be Christians act.

So how can you know if we are genuine?  How can others recognize that I am sincere in my faith and following?   I usually write for my own benefit and hope that you glean something you can use Dear Reader.  Since there is need, I am hoping that I can give you some filters to recognize the followers from the fakers. 

This also serves to remind me what I must be in order to recognizable as a follower of Jesus.  I must live by standards that reflect who Christ is for everyone.  There are things that Christ followers are not and I must not be those things.  The journey requires that I leave some things behind.  Most of them are too burdensome to carry anyway.

I am going to walk through a few things that should serve as a filter for us all.  If you see someone claiming to be a follower of Jesus it is proper for you to measure him by this standard.  We are not perfect.  Doing some of the things I will ponder does not mean that we are not following but it may mean we have lost the path.

Claiming to follow Christ is volunteering to be measured by a standard.  It is my responsibility to submit to that even when it is difficult or undesirable.  It is in these things that we test and grow our faith.  It is in doing what is right even when it hurts that we find our healing.  Walk with me if you wish.  Ask questions and tell me your thoughts.  Your company on the journey is one of the most precious things I have Dear Reader.

Who Am I – Casting Crowns

Who am I, that the lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt?
Who am I, that the bright and morning star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart?

Not because of who I am
But because of what you've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who you are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still you hear me when I'm calling
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling
And you've told me who I am
I am yours

Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again?
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me?

Not because of who I am
But because of what you've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who you are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still you hear me when I'm calling
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling
And you've told me who I am
I am yours

Not because of who I am
But because of what you've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who you are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still you hear me when I'm calling
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling
And you've told me who I am
I am yours

I am yours
Whom shall I fear?
Whom shall I fear?
'Cause I am yours
I am yours

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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