Jesus asked Judas, “Are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Luke 22:48

Do I do that?

dang.

Meet Wilma.  Wilma wants to meet you.  For just half your cable bill a month, this young lady can be a member of your family.  Can you change her life today? To sponsor her, click here, or the image below.

Personal and Family Information:
Wilma lives with her father and her mother. Her father is sometimes employed and her mother maintains the home. Wilma works at home cleaning. There are 6 children in the family.

Wilma is not presently attending school. Playing with dolls is her favorite activity. She also attends church activities regularly.

Please remember Wilma in your prayers. Your love and support will help her to receive the assistance she needs to grow and develop.

I was 12. I got home from school, and my mom and my dad were sitting in the dining room.

“We need to talk.”  I don’t know if anything good has ever come of that sentence.  My stomach sank.  I immediately start thinking about all the junk I’d done.  I went downstairs to my room and hid my smokes and any other evidence I may have had on me.

I came upstairs, and my parents took me out on the deck.  Shortly after, my brother and my sisters joined me.  I could tell by their face that they were as clueless as me.

“We went to the doctor today, and got some results back.”  My dad says calmly.  ”Your mom has Hepatitis C.”

I had no clue what that meant.  I didn’t really ask any questions, I just sat there, knowing there was more to be said.

“It’s a disease in the liver, and it doesn’t have a cure.  Your mom will die.”

“How long?” I asked… not really wanting to know.

“The doctors told me I have at most, 2 years.” Mom said.

…
..
.

Silence.

I felt something in me, that I didn’t know what to do.  It felt like tears were about to come out, and it felt like my heart was pumping blood faster than my body could take it.  I could feel my face getting tight, and I knew if I talked, my sisters would hear the wavering in my voice.  I held it all in… As long as I could.

In a burst I had never experienced (at this level) I stood up, grabbed the chair I was sitting in, and smashed it.  I grabbed the table that was near by, and flipped it.  I started kicking the balcony, and screaming.  Not words.  Just screams.

I quickly made my way off of the porch and into the woods.  I had a place specially set aside for moments like this.  I jumped into the creek, and into my hiding place.  I sat there for what  must have been hours.  Hearing your mom has 2 years to live isn’t something you expect.   I didn’t say a word, I just cried.

I eventually calmed down enough to go back inside.  So I did.  Everything seemed the same.  The only difference was, now I know my mom is dying.  I still didn’t do my homework.  I still played guitar.   I still asked what was for dinner.  We didn’t talk about it. I guess no one wanted to see me get that mad again. I don’t know.  It wasn’t talked about.

In fact, the only time it seemed to come up was in fights.  My mom and I’d be yelling, I’d say my piece, and she’d say, “Is THAT how you talk to someone who will be dead in a matter of years!?!?”

That was her control.  That was my kryptonite.

I knew things were going to have to be different, I just didn’t know how different……

[to be continued]

Jesus died.

12 disciples set out, with the fire of Jesus Christ in their hearts, with 100% belief that Jesus died for them, and shared the good news.

12.

that’s a box of donuts.

That is .0006% of Saddleback’s weekly attendance.

That is 17% the numbers of speakers at the Nine’s conference.

That is 3% the number of followers I have on Twitter. (The majority are Christian.)

Twelve.

These 12 people set out to do what Jesus told them to do.

Love.

Shine the light.

Spread the Gospel.

No fancy slides, no creative team, no lights, no fog.

Just the love of Christ in their heart.

What if we all REALLY had (and allowed) that kind of love in our hearts?

Imagine

There is a beautiful transparency to honest disciples who never wear a false face and do not pretend to be anything but who they are.
— Brennan Manning

A lot of times, I have a way to look at the crucifixion and think, I didn’t do it.

I didn’t nail Him to the cross.

…..

Thing is….

……

I did.