Jesus in Shovels

This past week, a woman from Bethseda, Maryland claimed to have spotted an image of Christ on a garden shovel.  The story goes on to describe the occasion on which Andrea Jones discovered what resembled Christ's face in the shovel.

I will not claim the image does not resemble a face (whether it is Christ's or not is a completely different issue).  What I do find concerning is the pure excitement over a mere image.  Do not misunderstand.  I do not believe a images of people are wrong or anything of the like.  Instead, I am worried that we as Christians may be distracted by an event like this.

Consumed with either curiosity or fervor, we may actually miss Christ right beside us.  Matthew 25:35 tells us:  "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me." By focusing so greatly on finding Christ in a shovel, we miss Christ in our fellow man.  The poor, the sick, the hurting.  For "40'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'"   


Let us not focus on the Christ in shovels and miss Christ when he's right beside us.


Blessings

Parents

CNN opinion contributor LZ Granderson recently published an article titled, "Parents, Don't Dress Your Girls Like Tramps."  In his piece, Mr. Granderson addresses the growing population of very young girls who dress to emulate pop culture icons like Beyonce, Lady GaGa, Miley Cyrus, etc.  While many parents are quick to blame retailers, yet Granderson wants to draw attention to another party who he believes are more responsible, parents.  He describes himself as "a concerned parent worried about little girls."  Fantastic, but are Christian Parents as concerned for their children's behavior and reputation?  You may immediately think of a child whose parents you would like to give a talking to, but examine yourself first.  How do you measure up against Granderson, a secular CNN reporter who understands his relationship with his son requires him to be a father, not a friend?  


The Bible takes parenting very seriously.  Deuteronomy 6:2-3 states:

These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 

In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve rejected their heavenly Father and ate of the fruit.  By keeping our children close to us, by walking with them, and teaching them, that same catastrophe may be avoided.  Three verses after Deuteronomy 6:3 we are again told:  "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children."  We must nurture the truth in our children from an early age, giving them reasons for our instruction, because nothing exasperates a young child more than "I told you so."  In Ephesians 6:4 we are commanded, "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord"


Most importantly we are to lead by example.  When we are humble and obedient before our Heavenly Father, they will see that.  Parents, like Mr. Granderson argues, we are our child's parents, not their friends.  As Christians it is important to remember our role and responsibilities as a parent to set the foundational role model for children to follow.






     Granderson, LZ. "Parents, Don't Dress Your Girls Like Tramps." CNN Opinion, April 19, 2011

First Post

Greetings everyone, this is my first post, and as such I will provide a little background of myself.  I am a young man, a college student currently.  I have been a christian for many years, and have been baptized in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit.  I have served my local church in several capacities, mostly dealing with children and youth.  My great passion is the Church, and how to keep her focused and pure.  In the modern age the church has suffered a great many attacks, it is our responsibility to defend her with faith, hope, and love.  There is a great balance between the Truth and Grace, and many internal problems regard this issue.  It is my hope God might use this site to provide answers and guidance to some of those problems.


Peace and Joy.