What Does it Mean 2 Follow Jesus?

no, i'm not posing that question really.

well, maybe i am, but mostly i was just thinking about that concept and what i thought jesus meant when he told peter ... don't worry about what john is or isn't doing, you follow me.

actually, it was the title to the song that my daughter and two of her church friends sang in this past sunday's service at st. paul's in the desert. its a sweet song about helping your sister, sharing with your friends and feeding the hungry.

and, i suppose it was fate, destiny or god's will that the song did not get sung on the intended sunday -- that being the first sunday of lent. because in that service jesus was awfully salty in his admonishment in the scene just following the ascension -- you know, the one where, after god speaks and says, "listen to my son," the very first thing jesus "says" is he blasts everyone out for not being able to just "do it." unabashedly impatient that they still need him to yet again show them how its done. its interesting to me that he loses his patience with their lack of self-empowerment and their 'omg, you're so awesome' attitudes.

and that was the only real issue i had to point out to my daughter in that song -- it said that "to follow jesus" she could "sing his praises in both word and song." not after that scene in the bible!

so, why do we do it? "worship jesus" that is? he definitely never said or asked anyone to do that. so, why do we feel like we need to do it? perhaps it is because we worship something we think is soooo much more powerful than ourselves, so we can excuse ourselves from our inability to "just do it" ... much like those he was frustrated with back in the day. and, just like then, i suspect that jesus is likely just as impatient with our modern self-effacing, "jesus" worshipping wannabes. after all, when's the last time, you performed a miracle just because you could?

i'm just saying, its something to think about.

peace & harmony,
elaine
'freedom must be exercised to stay in shape!'