In Your Face.. The Footsteps Of A Warrior

     Having a conversation the other day with someone, I made the statement that I'm glad I wasn't opinionated. The room busted out laughing. Guess maybe I have become "that guy." But I consider that a badge of honor. It wasn't long ago that I was just the nice guy that didn't want to "rock The boat." Recently I was given a book to read called"The Barbarian Way." If you have read any of the other posts, you have become aware of the major influence in my life known as the "psychotic counselor." But as you are starting to see that guy was anything but that. He knew how to get into my head and heart when I wouldn't let anyone else anywhere close. Well he gave me that book to read. That book was just another stepping stone on the path to finding my purpose in life.
     There is a pastor / rapper that I met years ago that exemplified being, "In Your Face", taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the places that the church wouldn"t go. He lived, "The Barbarian Way." As I have said before, society has developed Christ into this limp wristed wimp, that just wanted peace and everyone to be happy. They act like the man never strolled into the temple and kicked over tables, or like he never called the Religous leaders a bunch of vipers. Just my opinion, and since I have the guts to have an opinion, not much has changed. Now, don't get me wrong, there are alot of mighty men of God that I have met that lead growing congregations in the pursuit of reaching the lost for Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, they are the exception, not the rule. That is why I fell in love with this ballsy, in your face, pastor / rapper from the streets of Birmingham. Wearing t-shirts like, "God Last Name Ain't Damn", or "Satan Sucks", he is definately not afraid to step on someones toes in that single pursuit we all should be chasing with all we have, and thats reaching a lost, hurting and dying world. Giving those that have no hope, a glimpse into what Christ has done in our lives. But, once we are rescued, we chose to go into our safe and warm homes. Oh, I know there are men, women and children sleeping under a bridge tonight, but someone else will reach out to them. Or, and this is what really pisses me off, " Well, they made the decisions that got them there." Who do you think you are? But for the grace of God, there go I.
     Now, you may say, Oh Lord here he goes again with these unorthadox examples, but get over it. I was watching a special on Johnny Cash, when he performed at Folsom Prison. As screwed up as he was at points in his life, that man showed the love of Christ through his actions more than most of the people sitting in church on Sunday morning. He knew, but for the grace of God, that he could or should be one of those men in that prison and his heart ached for them. Thats the heart we should have.
     We live a blessed life. I know that I have been given so much more grace than I could ever deserve or repay, but try to repay it I will. My steps are not in the path of some weak man that just, "wanted us all to get along." No, my steps are following a mighty warrior. A true barbarian. He was rejected by us but never let up. He was mocked, beaten and ultimately killed and knew all along that is where his path was leading. But yet, he persevered. His tenacity and the heart of a mighty warrior pushed his to his utimate goal. He knew the cost of failure and refused to give up. In the end, he sacrificed all, and he did it for love. That kind of love takes a real man to live. That kind of love takes the heart of a warrior to pursue and never lose focus.
     So tonight when you drive by those homeless people under that bridge, or that bum in that alley. Tonight when you see that man, drunk or high, because the pain is so great in his life and thats the only way he knows how to deal with it, just remember, they are at that point in their lives because we are not sharing what was given to us. They are there because we refuse to follow in the steps of the ultimate Warrior. No, we are the limp wristed ones. We are the weak. We are the reason, because we have the answer the world is seeking, but are too big of cowards to step out of our comfort zone.     
     Want to change the world you live in? Want to introduce someone hurting to your savior? You have to take him to them!!! Step up!