Do I look like that???

Hopefully I don't look as crazy as the person speeding through the red light on third street the other week. Or maybe I do. As I walked to my vehicle, I saw the van approaching the intersection, I glanced up to see the light turn to red just as the van motor revved. The person clenched the steering wheel and then blew through the red light. BOOM! At first I chuckled as I considered the reasons this driver would give for running the stop light. Then I considered the times I have done likewise. What were my reasons? Are there ever valid reasons for endangering my life or the lives of others? In short, the answer is no.

What does it mean to be the image of Jesus to a hurting world and offer a disfigured image of something other than Jesus. Sort of sounds like a paradox. (oxy-moron)

This photo shows the magnificence of clouds, sun, and blue sky. It also shows the ominous possibilities that can flash out at any given moment.

The white puffy clouds swirl together with the dark heavy underbelly of a storm.

What do we look like as we journey through life? Are we a compelling image of grace and God's love? Or, are we a brooding storm waiting to erupt with vengeance and fury?

There is enough of the latter in our world today and I am concerned it will only get worse unless the Church comes to look more like Jesus than a gladiator. When lights are turning red it is a good idea to brake and wait for the green signal. It could be that moment when God needs us to see something important or to talk with another soul out on the street.

"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of

reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins

against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore

Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on

Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him

we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:18-21, NIV)

If we focus on beating the red light and storm on through life, we'll likely miss many opportunities to bring the love of Christ to another created woman or man. Trust me, we don't want to look like that....