All in His image.

at the Bookstore. 28 April, 2009.

The first lady pours her heart out to me. She's old and the doctor gives her no hope. Another doctor seeks to make her life better. He's a good physician. She's read a lot and thought a lot. She's lived a good life. She wears a cross from a necklace. Not afraid to share what she believes. Even to her class. But that was back when she was a high school English teacher. The world is different now. She's scared for her grandkids. "You have no idea what life used to be like in the world I grew up in . . . and that's too bad." She doesn't like our new President. Thinks he's doing a log of damage to our country. She's not afraid to say what she believes. "he stands on foreign soil and tells people that America is not a Christian nation anymore." And there is hurt and frustration apparent in her eyes, in her voice, "Now, tell me, why is that man our President?!" But she just saw her doctor today and just needed someone to talk to about it-- and life. So she thanks me for listening, and I thank her for sharing. She's inspired me tonight-- in some different way-- by her tenacity towards doing what she believes to be right and making a difference. For God. She's a Godsend. Another thank you and "have a good night!"

The second lady is with her husband. He's leaving, but she comes back to the counter. Gotta have that Tommy Tenney Journal. "I have observed something about you: you are a good listener." Ironically, I'm speechless. She elaborates. I thank her and try to praise God's grace. "Good night."

And I am alone again. No one to listen to. Only thoughts. But there's a little boy out in the mall. And he's helping his dad push his baby sister in the stroller. And there's the lady with her husband. Somewhere. And somewhere there's a lady dying with her diabetes. Somewhere there is a boy growing up with his baby sister. And she just wants someone to talk to. He just wants to be a grown-up big brother. She just wants to live. And we're all so different. Somewhere out there are a lot of different people. All made in HIS image.

The Hated.

Am I ready to be hated?

It's a question I've had to ask myself a lot the past year or so. I keep asking it to myself, because I can't seem to get a straight answer out of me. Oh, I'm sure I'm ready to die, even to be tortured by people of another religion and culture who probably barely speak English and view me as this dangerous criminal against communism or Islam or some tribe's voodoo-- something dramatic like that. But am I ready to be hated by my friends at work?

Am I ready to be hated by those I love? "hated"-- in a way-- or just not understood, scoffed at, not supported, disrespected. Am I ready to stand firm when other well-meaning believers try to convince me I'm being unwise, "not a good steward," or just plain too radical? Am I willing to love that recklessly?

Am I ready to be hated?

I don't really have anything to add to Jesus' words; just not sure i'm ready . . .

Mat 5:10-12 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Luk 6:22-23 "Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.”

Mat 5:44 "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

Mat 10:16-25 "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. . . . Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved . . . A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.

Joh 15:17-20 “These things I command you, so that you will love one another. If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.”

Rom 12:14 “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.”

2Tim 3:12 “Those who try to live a godly life because they believe in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”