Thursday, October 8, 2015

Would Jesus Take A Selfie??

Hey Friend,


I recently read an article in "The Washington Street Journal" by Robert Scherrer, a college professor.  I'll explain later just what this has to do with selfies, but read this snippet...it really had me laughing.


(begin quote)
College Visits:  When did looking for a college turn into a modern version of the 18th-century Grand Tour?  The first time I saw my college was when my parents dropped me off to start my freshman year.  Now a college search involves traipsing the width and breadth of the United States.  All this, when getting information is easier than ever.  My children can go online and learn the course requirements for any program at any university in a matter of minutes.  They can look up the content of every class offered, and check out which ones are scheduled late enough to let them sleep until noon.  So why the cross-country junkets?


The Answer:  the elusive idea of "fit." A prospective student is supposed to step onto the college quad, be struck on the forehead by a ray of light, feel a sense of divine inspiration, and say: "Yes I have found It.  This is the place I belong."  Do you want to know my definition of "fit"?  A good fit is a college that your parents can afford with a strong program in the field you want to study.  Plus a place to buy Cheetos at midnight.   (end quote)


Not long before I read this article, I was "blessed" enough to see a video-gone-viral of some college sorority girls at a baseball game...humor me and take a gander won't you?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLtrJCFNeX0


I must admit, I'm not big on selfies of myself.  It's either "ooohh"... bad hair day..."uh oh"...wrinkles like the grand canyon..."oh dear"....turkey gizzard neck..."my-oh-my" nose looks huge.  The only redeeming quality is that you can't see my tummy roll in most head-shot selfies lol.


But seriously, what do the snippet from the WSJ and the video have in common?


The emphasis on "I", "Me", and "Where does the center of my universe lie?"


What can my university do for me, instead of what value can I add to this university??  Big difference.


So, do I think Jesus would take a selfie???  After all, a cool gangsta pic with the lame man, now walking, would probably get a lot of "Likes" on Facebook...


But, No, I don't think Jesus would take a selfie and here's why....


Jesus does not need to draw attention to himself or build himself up.  After all He's part of the triune Godhead of the Universe.  He doesn't need anyone's likes or dislikes.  He really doesn't NEED anyone or anything at all.  He is the Alpha and the Omega.  He is the great I am!


What Jesus is truly about is others and in particular reaching out and touching others.


I counted at least 20 miracles in the Bible where Jesus stopped, reached out and touched or was touched, and in doing so...He healed. 


Jesus literally forgot about himself and was focused on the needs of others:  a man with leprosy, blind men in Capernaum, a woman who could not stand straight,  a sick boy, the dead son of a widow, a lame man, and others with diseases too many to name.


His hand followed His heart...and His heart was truly with others. 


Even in His miracles of healing, it wasn't just about healing that one person.  Jesus' miracles were symbolic...meant to enlighten all sinners who watched and who also needed saving.  See if you can see the symbolism in the account of the blind man just out side Bethsaida:


They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.  He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village.  When he had spit  on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?" 


He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around."  Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes.  Then his eyes were opened, his sight restored, and he saw everything clearly.  Jesus sent him home, saying, "Don't go into the village."  (Mark 8:22-26)


Here's Jesus opening the eyes of the blind...both literally and figuratively. 


Wouldn't this be the best moment for a selfie?  Everyone joyous, smiling, SEEING!!  But no, Jesus sends the man on his way and, furthermore, tells him not to go into the village.  In other words...don't cause a commotion or broadcast what Jesus had just done.


Jesus is, in essence, the "anti-selfie".  God, Jesus' Heavenly Father, is at the center of Jesus' universe, then comes others, then comes himself.


We are all selfish and vain creatures to a certain extent.  Left alone in a large empty room to think, we soon start thinking about our own problems and the thoughts turn inward. 


What if, for a moment, we thought about the people outside the room, on the other side of the door, on the other side of the globe? 


What if instead of focusing inward we turned our hearts outward and THEN let our hands follow in order to touch those who then we see.  Those who need us to do something?  What if?


What...


if?


Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me for being all about, and consumed with myself.  You created me first - to love You.  Then you said - love others.  Help me to rearrange my priorities to be aligned with Your heart.  Help me not only to see, but to be brave enough to reach out and touch...to extend a helping hand.  There are people walking around blind.  Give me courage to share the Good News that would open their veiled eyes.  Where there is disease, and death, and dying, let me shine light, and love, and hope. In short, help me to be more like Jesus.  It is in His precious name that I pray, Amen.


Be blessed...



Ps. Next week I will be attending the Allume Conference for Christian writers and bloggers so I will not be posting.  I pray that I will return renewed and rekindled with ways to share His love.  I invite you, in the meantime, to peruse the Archives...


Update on Redeemer Christian School:  PRAISE!  I spent a lot of time this week working on matching 30 orphaned and destitute children at the school with their sponsors who have committed to sponsoring them for this year.  What JOY!  We still have so many needs:  tables and chairs (so the children don't have to sit on carpets on the hard ground all day), printer, projector, textbooks, 2 laptops for 30 children to share, notebooks, art supplies, etc.  ***Contributions toward the $400 filing fee for 501c3 status***


Our ultimate dream is to have our own building...we believe in miracles!


If you can help out in any way...no gift is too small...would you visit us at the "MISSIONS" tab and consider reaching out and touching?







29 comments:

  1. Wow, does our society need to read this. Selfies are everywhere. Even my toddlers want to take pictures of themselves and look at it. Smartphones have created such a problem! I love that you flat out said the truth. We don't need to draw attention to ourselves. We can live faithfully and serve Jesus without doing so. Because Jesus did it this way and He is our ultimate example. Loved this post!

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    1. Anastasia,
      You said it...we are so fortunate that Jesus set an example for us...now our challenge is to follow His example. Admittedly, it can be difficult when the world is self-absorbed. So glad you stopped by...
      Blessings to you and your toddlers,
      Bev,

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  2. Yes, Bev, one of my prayers in recent years has been that God would kick me out of the center of my universe. Truly, we read Philippians about Jesus' self-giving love, and then instead of emptying ourselves, we spend our days making excuses and getting fuller and fuller of ourselves . . . which leads to a different emptiness, right?
    Trusting that you are recovering and feeling stronger and more energetic each day.

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    1. Michele,
      I pray the exact same prayer. How ironic that when we stuff ourselves full of worldly praise, we truly end up empty?!! I'm doing better every day...slowly but surely. God is stretching my patience muscles lol. Thanks for asking!!
      Love and blessings,
      Bev

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  3. I love this: "Jesus literally forgot about himself and was focused on the needs of others" Wow - what if we could do more of that!

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    1. Kathryn,
      I think we all would do better if we took more of our cues from how Jesus lived His life...thanks for your encouragement today!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  4. And this, Bev ... a much needed take away for all us bloggers --> 'Jesus does not need to draw attention to himself or build himself up.'

    Fabulous counsel. Absolutely.

    Thanks ...

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    1. Linda,
      I do, often, have to re-evaluate my motives as a blogger. I want my "life arrow" to be pointing to Jesus and not to myself. I so value and appreciate your opinions...thank you!
      Be blessed,
      Bev

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  5. I completely agree, Bev! Jesus was far too focused on others for selfies to even cross His mind. I saw that video of the girls at the baseball game before. Sadly, it's really so representative of young girls today. I'm looking forward to Allume this week! I guess I need to start packing :). We are leaving early tomorrow.

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    1. Candace,
      Yes, the video is a sad statement on our society. I was supposed to be going to the Allume conference, but have a beloved senior gal Zoe that I may have to put to sleep shortly...feeling so torn...
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  6. Hi Bev. I was eager to read the conclusion of this matter!

    We should be mindful whose glory we are advertising ours or Christ's?

    Blessings to you Bev

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    1. Ifeoma,
      What a good way of putting it..."whose glory are we advertising ours or Christ's?" I will think on this question. Thank you!!
      Blessings to you friend,
      Bev

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  7. I liked this post- very thought-provoking. Such a contrast between the self-centred culture of society and Jesus' example of humility and putting others first.

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    1. Carly,
      So glad you stopped by...yes, indeed, what a contrast. That's what really struck me and why I wrote this.
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  8. Good thoughts, Bev. I must say "Amen!" to the whole college visit thing. It's crazy what some are doing to find the perfect fit for their children. I enjoy taking selfies to capture memories with others and even to minister to the younger generation's hearts (even though I'm no good at taking them). It's a blessing to follow you at Suzie's today!

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  9. Good thoughts, Bev. I must say "Amen!" to the whole college visit thing. It's crazy what some are doing to find the perfect fit for their children. I enjoy taking selfies to capture memories with others and even to minister to the younger generation's hearts (even though I'm no good at taking them). It's a blessing to follow you at Suzie's today!

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    1. Hi Julie,
      So good to have you here...Yes, I got a good chuckle out of the professor's comments and what we do for our kids these days. I like taking selfies too, to capture memories...I guess, personally, I feel like I could have done better not letting my kids think that they are the center of the universe (that life is not one big selfie). Our age of entitlement has gotten out of hand. Thanks for sharing here...glad to be linked up next to you...
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  10. Love the way you took a cute, modern-day topic and made a relevant lesson out of it, Bev. I'm not into the selfie trend, and thankfully, since I have boys, it hasn't really been much of a factor in my home. Love how Jesus sets the example of selflessness. How He's the "anti-selfie," how He's always obedient to the Father, Servant to the world that He created. Love Him. Thanks for sharing, Bev. ((blessings))

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    1. Brenda,
      I must admit, I had fun with this post...it is a little tongue in cheek. You're right, boys aren't nearly as consumed with selfies as are girls. Sharing your love for Jesus and the selfless way He lived His life on earth and measures out grace to His followers. Thanks for your encouragement!!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  11. Interesting commentary here, Bev. I love that quote on university searches. I couldn't agree more? When did university search become such an all-encompasing thing involving the whole family? (I mean of course we should be involved, but my parents left me pretty much on my own to apply, and they never dreamed of taking me to visit places.) My entire last year was largely involved in helping my son with college stuff!

    And thanks for the encouragement to focus on OTHERS not on our SELFIES. :-)

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    1. Betsy,
      My experience was much like yours...I guess that was back in the "olden days" lol. I suppose there is good and bad in being involved with our children's university searches, but there was something to be said for our generation who had to do a lot of things on our own. Don't I sound like an old curmudgeon lol. Truly others first and ourselves last...I'd agree!! Always love your insights!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  12. Having teens in the house, there is always a constant balance I try to impose when it comes to social media. My girl, thankfully does not like to post herself on social media. My boys could care less. And me, oh no, I don't like drawing that kind of attention to myself. I miss the days when life was so much more simpler. We went outside and actually had conversation with our friends. Now we walk through malls, while looking at our cell phones, ignoring the world around us. Oh Jesus help!

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    1. Barbie,
      The episode that "took the cake" with cell phones...was a family out to eat at a fairly expensive restaurant and no one was talking to each other. They were ALL (including grandma) each on their individual cell phones. Unreal!! I miss the good ole days of communication through talking face to face. I'm with You!!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  13. What if we thought outside of ourselves and looked at others in their time of need? What if we died to self and pointed to God in our actions rather than looking at what we did with pride? Your questions teach us to look away from us and directly toward God. Not as easy task in this messed up self-centered world. Many summers ago I was helping at a week long summer of service for middle schoolers and high schoolers at my church. The theme was "I am third". God is first, others second and we are third. It is a great way of thinking. Loved these words today.

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    1. Mary,
      The "I am third" motto is a great one to live by. Or, JOY Jesus first, Others second and Yourself last. Wouldn't our world be a wonderful place if we all lived by that...
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

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  14. Such an inspiring post! I paused at many places as I read, but these words really grabbed my attention:"What Jesus is truly about is others and in particular reaching out and touching others." Isn't that just what we, as Jesus' followers, should be doing too? In a culture obsessed with itself these thoughts seem alien, yet when we do step outside of ourselves and think about the welfare of others first and foremost we find it actually brings us deeper joy as an unexpected by-product. Blessed to be your neighbour at #coffeeforyourheart, and pleased to meet you, Bev. :)

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    1. Joy,
      The more I read...the more I see how many times Jesus literally touched people. You are so right when you say if we think about the welfare of others first, it actually brings us deeper joy as a by-product. Well said...so glad to be linked up next to you...and WELCOME!!
      Blessings to you this day,
      Bev

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  15. Hi sweet Bev,
    Wondering how your weekend went since you had to miss Allume? Hope all is well and you're feeling surrounded by encouragement! xo I've been keeping you in my prayers!

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    1. Valerie,
      Thank you for asking...but I don't want to begin with my troubles. Let me just sum it up this way...one aged dog who is one day on death's doorstep and the next digging deep and rallying. The other dog has major back problems and was at the vets again today. Husband out of town and my emotions on a roller-coaster...need strength, patience, and wisdom...Thanks so much for your prayers sweet friend!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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