Diving In

My kids have officially lost their minds. Today the high temperature in Bakersfield was 83°, just warm enough for my children to justify their first dip in the pool for the Summer 2007 season. The water was freezing and my daughter screamed like someone was trying to drown her for a good portion of the time she was in the pool. Really; at 16, she should be past this screaming thing, shouldn't she? I told them they were both crazy, but they just laughed at me and kept on swimming.

They lasted a bone-numbing five minutes before they declared themselves Grand Conquers of the Pool and ran for a hot shower. Nutbags. Both of them.

Then again, exactly what is so crazy about pursuing your passion even when others might ridicule you? I'm reminded of how crazy so many people considered Paul as he spread the message of salvation all over the known world. Some people verbally chided him, some people physically bullied him and some even tried to kill him. Yet, for the sake of the passion of sharing the Gospel, placed in his heart by God during their encounter on that road to Damascus, Paul risked it all. He was willing to be suffer any indignity for the sake of Christ.

We have been given the same gift of Salvation that was given to Paul. Look at his passion. He is a shining example of how we should live out our salvation while we are on this planet. Imagine yourself as a beacon of light in this dark world. Imagine sharing Christ the way Paul did. Will you be ridiculed? Will some think you have lost your mind? Might someone call you a "nutbag," or worse? Most definitely. But it is worth it for the sake of Christ and His saving Grace, don't you think?

I love what Paul wrote in Philippians 1:12-14 . He was imprisoned because of his passionate witness for Christ and here's what he had to say about the whole thing. "I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including all the soldiers in the palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, many of the Christians here have gained confidence and become more bold in telling others about Christ." NLT

When I ridiculed my kids, they acknowledged the truth that the water was very cold and they understood that I thought they were bananas for doing what they were doing, but they were so caught up in the pure pleasure of the experience, they refused to quit. Paul, in Philippians 1, also acknowledges that he is in a difficult circumstance, but refuses to stop enjoying the journey because the pleasure of knowing God was more important to him than anything the world could use to try to keep him from pursuing his passion: To glorify God.

If we encounter persecution and react as Paul did, with joy, we will not only be living a great testimony of Salvation, we will be encouraging other Christians to do the same.

I don't want to live my life any other way!