What is a Christian? ~ Closing

Greetings Dear Reader,

As I said yesterday, we are all flawed.   We are all imperfect.  Those who choose to follow Christ are supposed to be daily working at combating those flaws.  We are supposed to also be seeking grace and love for all those around us.  The flaws in others are the opportunity to evidence that grace.

This does not mean that there should not be a balance between righteousness, justice, and holiness.  It does mean that we must lower our expectations when dealing with those who do not follow Christ or are currently rejecting his authority in life.  We should never expect those not following Christ to act like him.  We should expect that those who are not following well will do wrong. 

It is a narrow path.  I know that I miss steps and falter at times.  The most difficult part is that when I fail it hurts others.  I am determined to become better at shorting time I indulge my failures.  I am going to find ways to follow more closely. 

What is Christian is, is a broken flawed human who has chosen to follow Christ in hopes of being more loving and kind.  The follower journeys with Christ to lean and replicate grace, mercy, joy, patience, humility, and balance.  I feel like have journeyed so very far but also that I have so far to go.  Thank your company Dear Reader.

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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What is a Christian? ~ Flawed

Greetings Dear Reader,

This is one of those places where we become so myopic.  We see the flaws of others and think that ours may not be as bad.  We assign levels of degree to our sin so that we have people to judge. 

We are all flawed and we refuse to see that our flaws are part of the cognitive problem.  Our flaws are what cause us to not think properly of God and our neighbor.  They are what move us to think that the failings of others deserve judgment and ours deserve mercy and grace. 

I am flawed. I am a crooked stick with bumps and knots.  It is when I forget this that I begin to judge others and fail to love them.  It when others forget this that they blame and shame those around them to feel better about their own failures.   If we are going to think well, then we must realize that the only flaws we focus on is our own for the purpose of eradicating it. 

When we see the flaws in others or are impacted by them in a negative way, that is opportunity.  It is our opportunity to be loving, kind, and forgiving.  Sometimes it takes great effort or sacrifice to look past the flaws or others.  It is worth it. 

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 ͡°)

Contacts for Aramis Thorn:

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What is a Christian? ~ Wise

Greetings Dear Reader,

As I watch the changes in our culture I wonder if we understand any longer what wisdom is.  I will indulge first in defining the term.

Wisdom:  the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of experience, knowledge, and good judgment.

In short, wisdom is the prudent application of knowledge and understanding.  It is using our minds to make choices that reflect an understanding of the requirements of following Christ.  It steps outside of what is legal, accepted, or allowed to ask what is wise.

Those who claim to be Christians must show wisdom in what they do with what they have.  It is not wise to spend money on a grand church edifice when there are starving people in its shadow.  It is not prudent to ignore the social needs of a community to protect standards that do not find their roots in living out the Gospel.

We are to be wise as individuals as well.  We are not to be cutting and cruel with out wisdom.  We are to be gentle and kind in it. This does not mean that we sacrifice being wise to being gracious and merciful.  It does mean that we balance them in love. 

This item has an identifier that begs another balance.  If we exercise real wisdom, we will often be seen as foolish.  That is just the way it is.  That which seems foolish when it comes to following Christ will be wise.  The common wisdom of the world will be foolish to those who follow Christ.

I must apply my thoughts to learning wisdom if I am going to follow Christ well.  As the world moves further from its understanding of what this is, I will appear more foolish.  We should be known for our wisdom in balance with our love for others.

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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What is a Christian? ~ Fools

Greetings Dear Reader,

There are times when those who claim to follow Christ are fools.  They deny honest science.  They make up things to prove their faith that are unnecessary.  They pack more into what is required of Christ followers than is real.  What is real is hard enough.

These things that others represent that are false are foolish as they detract from the Gospel.  When we do things that detract it hurts us all.  It destroys any credit we might get for the good we do.

There are also things that appear to be foolish that are not if we are following Christ.  We forgive wrongs over and over again without belittling the guilty.  We give grace when it is undeserved.  We show mercy when we do not have to show it.  We put our faith in the future.  We have hope when things seem hopeless. 

When Christ followers act in these ways they are choosing cognitively to appear foolish for the sake of the Gospel.  We have weighed our options and chosen love and compassion over almost everything else.  We appear to be fools because when we are lied to, betrayed, and wronged we choose not to give retribution. 

We are not super human or above anyone else.  We bleed when we are pricked.  We laugh and we cry.  It is just that when we are wronged, we do not revenge.  When we have power, we do not abuse.  When we have abundance we share.  We think of others first. 

If you look for the good kind of fool you may find a real Christ follower.   They will not be perfect but they are worth knowing.  Watching them even in their failures can teach us how to be such a fool.

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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What is a Christian? ~ Trust

Greetings Dear Reader,

From a cognitive perspective, I think that this is one of the things we get wrong.  Humans connect trust to emotion when it is really connected to knowledge and understanding.  It is the cognitive partner of faith.

People will violate our trust.  We either stop trusting or we continue in the knowledge that it will be violated again.   We get wounded when those we love violate our trust.  We put things at risk including our heart when we extend trust to others.  It is one of the areas where I take the most damage when it is violated.

If I hope to follow Christ and be seen as a Christ follower, I must put into place a way to weather the wounds of violated trust.   The problem comes when I put my trust in the wrong place.  When I am wounded by humans violating my trust I can only continue to do right if my trust is in Christ.  Jesus will not violate my trust.

Even when those I love the most violate all the things they say are true and trustworthy I must use my trust in Christ to keep from doing wrong.  I must use the knowledge that he has all things in his hands to continue to love those involved.  This is what a Christian is.  They continue to love and strive to do right even when maligned and belittled by others. 

If I do not trust Christ to have all things in his hands then I will not endure the damage done to me by others who violate my trust.  Trust in Christ, used as the solid ground on which to stand in love is the place to be.  It is the only place that works.  Sometimes it is lonely there. 

It is, however, the place where I can find the strength to keep following, refrain from anger, continue to love, and refuse to avenge.  Trust in Christ is a place to focus the mind so that the emotions can be managed.

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 ͡°)

Contacts for Aramis Thorn:

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You Call Yourself A “Christian” ~ Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

My Daughter often will step on the back of my shoe.  This is a lifelong habit of hers.  She responds in fear when she does it because of the responses of others before she came to be with us.  She apologizes profusely, explaining that she did not mean to do it.  I have begun to thank her for it.  I explain to her that it is a good reminder of how we are supposed to follow Christ and that my wish is for both of us to remember this.

I am required to stand out as a follower of Jesus.  I am supposed to be odd, uncommon, and out of step with the rest of the world.  The reasons I am that way are what matters.  It is not because I judge, condemn, or rail against sin.  I am supposed to live a holy life but not a holier than anyone else life.  I am to remember that I am the least.  I am to constantly recall that what I have in Christ is a gift to be shared.

The word “Christian” should be a badge of honor.  Instead it communicates judgment and condemnation.  It pushes political buttons instead of social and spiritual ones.  Our banner is no longer a beacon of hope but a symbol of rejection.  I do not need the word “Christian” nearly as much as I need to be as close as possible to the Living Word, Jesus. 

I think that the word can be reformed and reclaimed but it will take a massive change in the hearts of so many.  I cannot judge others who claim to be Christian.  That too is not my place.  What is needed, however, is for everyone who claims to be a disciple of Jesus to set aside everything that detracts from the commands to love God and to love each other. 

I hope, as I said at the beginning of this series that you understand that I am thinking through things to enable me to follow Christ more closely.  My desire is to be the little kid who steps on the back of his sandal.  Whenever I form an opinion on anything my filter must be, “Is that how Jesus would show his love?”  There must be a balance of justice, holiness, righteousness, and good that aligns with God’s character but the foundation for all of it is love. 

So Dear Reader, hold all who claim to follow Christ to these standards.  Demand that we treat others as we would be treated.  Insist that we hold back judgment and condemnation in favor of kindness and compassion.  We can do this without compromising our standards of righteousness and justice.  Most of all, mandate that we live lives that reflect infinite love for God and others.  All you are doing is echoing what Jesus already requires of his followers.  We all need to be stepping on the back of his sandal. 

Jesus Friend of Sinners – Casting Crowns

Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away

We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing

Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see

The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me

Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded

A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners

Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers

Let our hearts be led by mercy

Help us reach with open hearts and open doors

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

Yeah

Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who's writing in the sand

Make the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands

Help us to remember we are all the least of thieves

Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees

No one knows what we're for only against when we judge the wounded

What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners

Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers

Let our hearts be led by mercy

Help us reach with open hearts and open doors

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast

For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came

Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast

But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

'Cause You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners

Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers

Let our hearts be led by mercy

Help us reach with open hearts and open doors

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours

And I was the lost 'cause and I was the outcast, Yeah

You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

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 ͡°)

You Call Yourself A “Christian” ~ Fishers of Men

Greetings Dear Reader,

We are transformed when we choose to follow Christ.  We learn how to love.  We understand the value of patience, kindness, and social justice.  We see that if we deny our own wants and seek what Christ wants that life is richer.

All this has a purpose.  We are supposed to draw others to follow as well.  When Jesus called his followers to join him he told them they would become “fishers of men.”  Our culture usually pictures fishing as hooks and lines.  What Jesus intends is that we create a net of love and kindness; grace and mercy, that draws others to follow as well. 

We are not to force people into the fold by manipulation, fear, judgement, or anger.  We are to set an example of the love and grace that Jesus wants every human to know.  It is my obligation to sacrifice anything in order to show the love of Christ to others.  I cannot put my own wants ahead of loving others as Christ loves us. 

I fail at this and have to reset my thinking.  I must keep vigilance over the things that I say and do so that I reflect the love of Christ in every possible moment.  It is in hopes that you see what Jesus has for us.  It is in the desire that you see those who profess to be Christian but do not follow Christ are not the example you should use.

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 ͡°)

You Call Yourself A “Christian” ~ Earning Nothing

Greetings Dear Reader,

My Grandfather used to tell this story:

A man was sitting on his porch on his block in the cool of the evening.  It was his habit to do this every evening.  Many of the older people in his neighborhood did the same. 

A young fellow dressed in a nice suit came down the block.  He turned up the mans walk and stepped up onto the porch, smiled at the sitting man, and handed him a one-hundred-dollar bill.  Without a word he turned and walked away.  The young man repeated this action every day for thirty days.  No matter what the older man said the young man did not speak or interact. 

On the thirty-first day the young man walked down the block and passed the older man’s house.  He went to the next house on the block where an older widow sat knitting and sipping sweet tea.  The young man proceeded up her walk, handed her a one-hundred-dollar bill, and went on his way.  The older man yelled after him, “Hey!  Why are you giving her my one hundred dollars?”

One of the challenges of doing the things we do to follow Christ is that we begin to think we are earning something from him.  We think that we deserve something from God or that he owes us something.  This is never to be our motivation.

We cannot earn God’s favor because we already have it.  We must not put ourselves in the place where we think God owes us favor or merit.  This is only an exercise in futility.  First, we already have God’s favor.  He loves us in ways we cannot imagine.  He never mitigates his love when we do wrong.  He never increases it because we do right.

I must follow Christ for the sake of loving him.  I cannot begin to think I have earned or am owed anything.  I must only and always move with Christ out of love for him.  Anything else is a compromise of what I am commanded to be.  If I do good to earn God’s favor I am exercising futility.  I am taking the name of Christ for my own purposes. 

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 ͡°)

You Call Yourself A “Christian” ~ The Benchmark

Greetings Dear Reader,

When we talk about technology or construction we know that there are standards by which we measure what is good work and what is not.  When we cook there are standards.  You do not want to add too much salt or not enough seasoning. There are benchmarks that measure quality on almost everything.

If we hope to follow Christ there is a benchmark that is the outward evidence of us doing it.  We are to love others in the same way and degree that Christ loves us.  We are supposed to be known for our love.    

We should be so good at this that we are held up as the standard of how to love people.  Instead we have so much infighting that we have hived off into many denominations.  Division squanders resources that could be used for the other things we are supposed to be about.  We divide over things that do not matter keeping us from working together on things that do.

We are required to love each other.  It is the way in which the Father operates.  It is my obligation to love everyone.  The minute I look for exceptions to that requirement I have abandoned the spirit if not the letter of it.  I have forsake the command to love for some lesser position of my own devising.   

If I put my focus on loving others then I will be moved to take care of the other things that identify me as a Christ follower.  There is no good reason to refuse to love others.  It is the benchmark of the Christ follower.  It is the foundation of all that God commands.

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 ͡°)

You Call Yourself A “Christian” ~ Modern Widows and Orphans

Greetings Dear Reader,

It is clear that if we dare to call ourselves followers of Christ that we are to care for those in need.  Further we are to specifically care for widows and orphans.  The first century definition of this is a woman who has lost her husband and children who have lost their father.  Before you get on your “inclusion” or “gender” soap box, let me assure you that I am not limiting my modern understanding of the need to this definition.

For the purpose of your glimpse of my thinking here, Dear Reader, let us say that anyone who has lost a partner who is supposed to share in the child rearing has been widowed.  I may not always approve of the circumstance under which a need occurs but that does not mean that I am not obligated to care about the need.  Dwell on that for a moment.

As to orphans, I would submit that any child who has a parent, biological or otherwise, that has died or forsaken him or her, is an orphan.  The child has needs for support, guidance, and nurture that transcend the circumstances that brought him or her to this place. 

The people of Christ are supposed to care for these needs.  There is nowhere that allows us to regulate it to another entity.  If we hope to be seen as Christ followers we must attend to this need.  No excuse is a good one.  No dodging the responsibility is permitted.  So why then do we dare to call ourselves Christians when we do not attend to this? 

The standard should be that we care for single parents and children in need so well that we are the first thought when a need arises.  Christ followers should be the obvious choice when a child is hungry or a single parent cannot pay a bill, cannot afford medical care, or cannot buy food.

Instead we relegate this to the government who has proven over and over that they cannot do the job.  I am not slamming the government. I am saying they are not good at this.  We are the ones who are told to be the example in caring for “widows and orphans” in our culture.  We are not told we can ignore this if the lives of those in need do not measure up to our moral standards.  Humans are my business whether I wish it or not. 

I cannot say that I am following Christ if I leave those in need behind. 

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 ͡°)

You Call Yourself A “Christian” ~ True Religion

Greetings Dear Reader,

Often when people discover that I am a “man of faith” they will say that they are not “religious”.  It is usually the intent to dismiss a conversation that has turned to matters of faith.  I usually respond with the reminder that I am a man of faith and not religious either. 

I am wrong.  I am a religious person.  At least I strive to be according to the definition of religion set forth by Jesus brother, James: “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

If I seek to guard my words, aide the widows and orphans of our era, and keep my life set apart to Christ then I am practicing what would be considered true religion.  Words have meaning and it is not good for me to allow this word to be diverted from its true purpose.

If one says that they are not “religious” are they claiming to not guard their words, not care for the needs of widows and orphans of our day (we will talk further of this tomorrow), and be in agreement with all things secular?  I do not think so.  I do, however, believe that I must not let this word go the way of others that belong to faith and following. 

I must be religious but not in the way that word communicates to most people.  I must be a man of faith and following.  I must live the faith and religion that God the Father accepts.   If you tell me that you are not religious to divert me, I may ask you what you mean by that.  It matters.  I will not, however, be unkind about it. 

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 ͡°)

You Call Yourself A “Christian” ~ The Least of These

Greetings Dear Reader,

I hope I can get through this part without sounding judgmental or condemning.  That is not my intent.  Still this is one of those hard things that has many edges and little padding.  I need the lessons of the least reinforced daily.

When Jesus speaks to us about his approach to recognizing his followers he commented on actions taken to show love and kindness to others.  He speaks of those with whom he identifies.  His specifics were, “I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me into your home. I needed clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited me.”

Jesus makes it clear that when we do these things for those around us, no matter how “low” that persons seems to us, we do it TO Christ.  We must not grow weary of hearing this.  It is the core of the outward working of the Gospel.  It is how we show the love of Christ to others.  “The king will answer them, ‘I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you did for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did for me.’”

If I am not addressing the needs of others then I am not following Christ.  Worse, I do not grow in my knowledge of him and how to follow him.  He resides in the pain and needs of others.  He is the widow and orphan.  He is the sick, the homeless, and the prisoner whether we acknowledge it or not.  He is found in those we esteem as low in our society.

It is not only in church that we worship.  It in selfless acts for those in need.  It is in seeing through the disguises of low estate and bad circumstances that we find Christ.  I cannot be willing to pay five dollars for a cup of coffee when a food back can generate fifteen meals for the poor from that same five dollars.  The coffee is only wrong if in getting it we neglect the poor.  Christ wants us to enjoy good things but he also insists that to know him we must invest in the needs of others.

I am not pointing fingers but, instead, holding up a mirror.  If you feel that you need a mirror as well feel free to reflect on this:

Distressing Disguise – Michael Card

He is in the pain, He is in the need

He is in the poor, we are told to feed

Though He was rich, for us He became poor

How could He give so much, what was it for?

In His distressing disguise

He waits for us to surmise

That we rob our brothers by all that we own

And that's not the way He has shown

Every time a faithful servant serves a brother that's in need

What happens at that moment is a miracle indeed

As they look to one another in an instant it is clear

Only Jesus is visible for they've both disappeared

He is in the hand that reaches out to give

He is in the touch that causes men to live

So speak with your life now as well as your tongue

Shelter the homeless, take care of the young

In His distressing disguise

He hopes that we'll realize

That when we take care of the poorest of them

We've really done it to Him

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 ͡°)

You Call Yourself A “Christian” ~ Deny Yourself

Greetings Dear Reader,

I promised we would get back to the idea of denying oneself.  When Jesus tells me to take up my cross to follow him he first says that I must deny myself.  Before I go there I wish to be clear on something.  Following Christ is foremost a matter of faith.  It is for the sake of those who need to see the reality of the Gospel that his followers must live out certain things.  By doing these things we do not “earn” God’s favor.  We prove to others that we are serious about our faith.  Thank you for the comments Dear Reader.  As my Grandfather used to say, “You do what you believe. Everything else is talk.”

So then, what does it mean for me to deny myself?  It means that I do not put my wants and desires ahead of the needs of others.  You hear stories of people who do things that are a grand sacrifice in order to show their faith.   I would take nothing away from this.  It may be more important to the Gospel and following Christ that we deny ourselves in everyday things.

Placing the needs of others ahead of my own is difficult but is at the core of the daily struggle.  It is the stony path of the journey until you get used to it.  It means I do not grasp at what I desire but rather seek to see what others need as I go about my day.  When we discipline our lives to be this way it becomes easier to give the kind word, delay my agenda to help others, or give up something I do not need for someone who does need it.

The examples must be anecdotal but that requires me to risk sounding prideful.  I will offer this.  I was discussing grocery shopping with a friend yesterday.  She dislikes the organized chaos that is a grocery store.  I have determined that one of the great opportunities of a grocery store is creating relationships of kindness with the people who work there. 

After several years of wandering the isles of my chosen grocer the clerks know me.  The managers do as well.  I am able to listen to them relate stories about their lives and family.  I am able to be a comfort when there is loss.  I am able to show them love because I choose to put them above my grocery list and my timetable. 

Because of this I have been able to comfort the lady in the bakery who is waging a daily battle with cancer.  I have gotten to pray with the assistant manager when she lost her mother.  I have gotten to exchange stories of our sons and our love for them with the manager. 

The point is to create a pattern of caring for the needs and lives of others.  To deny my life and in doing so gain a better life than I can imagine is the goal.  I gain because I show love and kindness.  It is not out of pride but out of my desire to communicate the love of Christ that this rises.  

On top of doing the little things daily that are a denial of self, I must do them all with humility.  I cannot stoke my pride because I was kind or selfless.  I must simply be thankful for the opportunity to follow Christ more closely.  I must deny my own purposes and seek only to follow in thought, action, and example. 

I do and will fail.  I still have moments where my pride and desires overrule my intents.  It is the process of me decreasing and Christ increasing that is the point of the journey.  It is, after all a journey not an event.  What do you think?

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 ͡°)

You Call Yourself A “Christian” ~ On Crosses

Greetings Dear Reader,

First the reminder that I am not telling anyone else what to do or be.  I am processing this so that I remember what I must be if I call myself a Christ follower.  My Grandfather spent time as a circuit preacher after he retired.  He would go to four different churches in a month.  They were all small. 

One of the things he used to say was, “In Jerusalem in the first century, when you saw a man carrying a cross, you said, ‘There goes a dead man.’”    Luke reports Jesus as saying, “He said to all of them, ‘Those who want to come with me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses every day, and follow me.’”

We will get to the “denying of self” part tomorrow.  Those who wish to follow Christ must be the walking dead.  Let that sink in for a moment.  I must be willing to at least metaphorically if not possibly physically carry a cross with Christ.  The idea is that of all the injustice accepted, pride not grasped, power set aside, and humility embodied for the Son of God to be willing to die. 

That is what I must be willing to emulate as much as a human can if I am to follow Christ.  I am going to end each post on this with the same king of thought.  If you see me or any Christ follower who is not willing to “take up his cross” then he is not willing to follow.   Hold us accountable just as we are supposed to hold each other accountable.

I must be this in every moment.  I must do so with humility and love.  I must not fail to follow in the hardest things if I hope to truly follow in anything.  I am not there, but that is why I process all of this.  What do you think Dear Reader?

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.”

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You Call Yourself A “Christian” ~ Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

Some years ago, I stopped calling myself a “Christian”.  I still follow Christ and believe the same things.  I still wish for others to see Christ in my life.  I still believe that he is all that he claimed to be as both God and man.  I no longer feel that this word, “Christian”, communicates what I wish it to communicate.

This begs the question in my mind of what it means to call oneself a “Christian”.  The word was first used of those who follow Christ in the city of Antioch.  It has had a good run as words go.  The problem is that it is used of many who do not believe or more importantly do not live as Christ requires his followers to live. 

Before I go further let me also be clear that I am not the standard for what a Christ follower should be like.  I fail.  I falter.  I fall.  I am still working it all out to the best of my ability.  I do not, however, have to be the best to know what better looks like.  I need not be perfect to seek to perfect my following.

I must, from time-to-time work through what it means to follow Christ.  I do not mean the particulars or peculiarities of this denomination or that sect that calls itself “Christian”.  What I do mean is the requirements to say that I am honestly following Christ.  What are the standards that should, or better must define anyone who claims to follow Christ? 

I would surely value your companionship as I allow these thoughts to dance through my mind and out my fingers.  Your company, Dear Reader makes me more committed to get it right.

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 ͡°)

The Barefoot Princess and Her Boys

Greetings Dear Reader,

I am not going to call out my friend by name.  I do want to use her choice as an example of the great good that can be done when someone puts love and faith ahead of ambition and plans.  I have known this person for twenty years.  Her choices did not surprise me.

Some time ago her family needed help.  Two young boys needed a safe and stable home.  The reasons do not matter as much as the response.  This intelligent single adult with a career path clearly marked for her set all that aside to take in these boys.  She has used her savings, limited her work options, and lost a relationship to assure that these young men are safe and loved.

As I consider the difficulties with which I struggle they fade when I think of the daily challenges she faces.  She has the education and skills to be the perfect nurturer for these boys.  Further she has the faith and courage to take it on and see it through. 

We all have these moments when we get to do something great for the lives of others.  I want to ask you all to look into your hearts and find a way to follow her example.  To rightly love others, we must be willing to risk great things.  We must put our agenda, our plans second to genuine need. 

Her nickname is Barefoot Princess because of her aversion to shoes and her life being spent as an example of a Daughter of the King.  I must learn from her example and risk everything to show love to others.  I must not put my plans in any situation ahead of love and kindness.  If I let the Father determine the agenda things will unfold as they should. Thank you, Barefoot Princess, for your love, grace, and wisdom.  It is an example to anyone willing to learn.

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 ͡°)

Be The Reason… - Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

We are always an example of something.  We move back and forth between being examples of good and bad things.  We choose the patter of our example.  We become either reasons for belief or cautionary tales.   

It is my obligation to be the reason that people believe in good things.  I must do so by example.  I must do so by living out love, kindness, and faith.  I must become an example of these things no matter how I feel or what my circumstance.

It truly is possible to choose to do right no matter the situation.  It is not easy and it is not simple.  It is my duty to be the reason that others have hope.  Only in this can I be sure that I am following; if I live out the Gospel in every endeavor.

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 ͡°)

Be The Reason… - Someone has Faith

Greetings Dear Reader,

I said all that to say this…   We who follow Christ need to be the reason that people find faith.  We need to live lives that put hands and feet on the Gospel.  We need to be a living example of faith. 

The difficulty is that I cannot take out my faith and show it to someone.  I have be an example of love, compassion, kindness, goodness that can be seen as a glimmer of who Christ is.  Too long we have inundated the world with things that detract from the Gospel. 

When we fail to deal in the things people need to believe in by being the reason to believe in them we hinder others from seeing Christ.   Faith comes from seeing the things that faith yields.  Faith comes from living out the Gospel and earning the right to be heard.

I do not want anyone to put his or her faith in me.  I do want to be a reason that someone puts his or her faith in Christ.  Someone did this for me and it saved my life.  I must do the same.  I must be an example and give people a reason to believe.

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 ͡°)

Be The Reason… - Someone Believes in Kindness

Greetings Dear Reader,

People need friends even if they do not realize they need them.  It is easy to be solitary when one chooses to be so.  It is difficult when one does not.   It is easy to hard.  It is easy to be indifferent to others. 

It is hard to be kind.  It takes constantly thinking of the needs of others.  It requires insistent intentional putting ourselves in the place of others.  We need to see and understand how others feel and think.  It is remembering the needs of others and even if we can do nothing having compassion.

Kindness changes things.  It can cool tense situation.  It can ease the burdens of others.  It can open doors to friendship.  Kindness fueled by love is the paving material into the lives of others.  It also provides an exit ramp to a solitary selfish existence.

It is easy to guard our hearts and not share them.  It remains easy until we take the risk of doing so.  We will get hurt.  We will be damaged.  It is, however, always worth it.   When the kindness pays off in someone believing that there is genuine kindness in the world it all becomes worth it.

Easy to be Hard – Three Dog Night

How can people be so heartless

How can people be so cruel

Easy to be hard

Easy to be cold

How can people have no feelings

How can they ignore their friends

Easy to be proud

Easy to say no

Especially people who care about strangers

Who care about evil and social injustice

Do you only care about being proud

How about I need a friend, I need a friend

How can people be so heartless

You know I'm hung up on you

Easy to be proud

Easy to say no

Especially people who care about strangers

Who care about evil and social injustice

Do you only care about being proud

How about I need a friend, I need a friend

How can people be so heartless

How can people be so cruel

Easy to be proud, easy to say no

Easy to be gone, easy to say no

Come on, easy to get read

Easy to say no

But too easy to be cold

Easy to say no

But too easy to say no

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 ͡°)

Be The Reason… - Believes in Love

Greetings Dear Reader,

The engine that drives hope and good is love.  The power to crush the barriers of pain and suffering is love.  The path to all things worth finding is love.

I am not talking about romance.  What I am pondering is the power of selfless unconditional love for those we encounter daily.  It is where we can find the strength to combat all the besieges the work of getting back to good.

This establishment of reason is very simple.  Moment by moment my motive needs to be to be the reason that others believe that love is possible.  People need to see it in everything I do.  They need to feel loved, respected, and valued. 

This means that selfishness and anger must go.  It means that genericity must be a part of who I am.  It also means that I cannot substitute anything less than love for love.  I must not replace love with things or people.  I must always seek to act in a loving way with all my endeavors. 

It is in loving others that makes progress down the path of following Christ.  If I work at being the reason that someone believes in love then perhaps I can help them believe in other good things as well.

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 ͡°)