How radical are you?

How radical are you?  Its a simply question right?  Would your friends think you are?  Do they think you are the life of the party?  Does everyone tend to always need to be by you at the dinner party?  I want to be radical and that is a goal of mine!

Ok, what gives, right?  I mean, I usually dont write about parties or how cool someone can be and this time is no exception!  I am talking about how radical are you about Christ?  Are you a follower or just a fan?

This past Sunday, our teacher was out of town so we had the college age teacher speak to our class.  I must tell you this before I go any further though ~ our Sunday school class I just recently "qualified" to be in the class (going by age).  Because Bryan is older then me...i was "graced" in!  Our classes have ages to them.   You can be older or younger but its simply a guideline especially if someone is new to the church and looking for a class that has people in there that is their same age or around their age.  So because I just had my 40th birthday in December ~ I now "qualify" for our class!  Ok, so saying all that, I will get back to our speaker.... Caleb Moore was our teacher for last Sunday.  When he got up there and said he was going to teach our class and he teaches the college class....my instant thought was ~ what could he possibly teach me.  I am close to 20 years older then him.  Man was that thoughts of "just try it Lord" or what because several times during the approximate 35 min., did I casual wipe away the tears that were building in my eyes.  Careful to wipe them before the tears streamed down my cheeks.  He talked about how God COMMANDS us to tell others about Him.  Its NOT an option, its NOT if we feel like it today or tomorrow....its a commandment to "just do it"!  He spoke about this book called Radical by David Platt.  Its about taking up our cross and really following Christ.  Its about leaving behind all these worldly possessions and just follow.

Think about it ~ what is more important...that new car, that new iphone or ipod or is telling the person next to you about the love of Jesus Christ?  The One that died on the cross and saved us from eternal hell.  The One, that only if we ask Him in our hearts, will GLADLY come in. The One who, if you or myself was the only person ~ He STILL would have took all that on the cross just to save you...me.  What an amazing gift.  What a gift that He could have simply told God ~ NO WAY am I going to die on the cross for them.  But He did it!  He did it because He loved us.  How much do we love Him?  How much are we willing to give up for Him.  So what if someone calls you a "Jesus freak" if you start to talk about His love and the salvation plan....that would be a compliment not an insult.   So you may have people turn their backs on you, make fun of you or possibly torment you.  Guess what ~ Jesus endured all that.  One week people were praising His name and a few days later they were the ones saying "Crucify Him".  Look at what He did for us.  Why is it so hard to do what He commands of us?  There is so many lost people out there...it is just heartbreaking.

As I started reading the book, it talks of people in Asia who risk their lives just to sneak into a building to pray or to have a little service.  Some people leave their families because the risk is too great.  Imagine that...being killed for praying or reading your Bible.  That is just incredible to me considering all the freedom we have living in the United States.  We can openly go to church on a Sunday and worship and praise our God.  We can do this without any danger coming to us or our families.  These people are Radical.  They are willing to give up their lives to follow Christ - to seek Him out.

After just finishing up Christmas, I admit...my kids received alot!  But I have a new thinking.  This is just stuff...thats it.   Its all material things ~ that honestly, its all wants.  Its not important.  What is important is reaching out to the lost souls.  The Bible states we dont know the day or hour that Christ is coming back.  Dont you want to be prepared?  Dont you want to be with Him forever in eternity?
I know this probably isnt what you were expecting when you started reading this today.  I know this doesnt really have anything to do with HLH ~ with Emily...maybe.  I am trying to teach her now about how unimportant material things are.  Yes, if you just read my post from last night you will see how she is saving up for American Girl dolls and its fine ~ but its not what is REALLY important in life.  What is important is that I know my little girl has Jesus in her heart.  I long for the day when Benjamin asks Jesus in his heart as well.  I love the fact that Emily will tell her friends at school about Jesus and I love that Benjamin will just break out in song at the store.  The fear of telling others about Jesus when your a child seems so simple ~ so easy.  But as adults it seems to become harder - not as easy.  Maybe we are more worried about how our peers are going to see us, tease us or treat us.  How will our boss feel about us when he finds out "we are one of them".

Give it all for Him.  Become radical for Christ.  I have to thank Caleb for his teaching our class this past Sunday.  He taught me something, yes....someone that is close to 20 years younger then I, that I will never forget.  He has given me a different look on life...a look that is so important and the need of reaching the unsaved is so great.  I want to be that radical person for Christ.    Will you?  How radical are you?