Watch your walk... it may change someone's life.

I'm sure most of you have seen at leas the previews of The Blind Side  a movie about a white Christian from Tennessee--the Tuohys--who invite a homeless black youth--Michael Oher--into their home and then later adopt him.  Sandra Bullock plays the part of Leigh Anne Tuohy.  Running around Thanksgiving of 2009, the movie had excellent reviews and was, as is the case in most football movies, quite inspiring.

I was surfing the web a while back and came across an article at One News Now in which Ms. Bullock--Mrs. Jesse James for you purists - ;-)--was discussing her discovery of real Christians.  She said that meeting Mrs. Tuohy, who attends Grace Evangelical Church in Memphis, TN, showed her that there really are some Christians who "walk the walk."

Bullock says thanks to the Tuohys, who attend Grace Evangelical Church in Memphis, she now has "faith in those who say they represent a faith." Getting to know Leigh Anne Tuohy, says the actress, showed her that religious faith can be authentic. "She was so open and honest and forthright," Bullock shares, "and I said, wow, I finally met someone who practices but doesn't preach."

Tuohy isn't like some hypocritical church-goers she's known, adds Bullock. "The beauty of Leigh Anne was one of my biggest questions was how people use their faith and their religion as a banner," she says. "And then they don't do the right thing, but they go 'I'm a good Christian and I go to church and this is the way you should live your life.'"
Bullock admits she was wary of Christians before she met the Tuohys. "Whereas...before I was like, do not give me a lecture on how to live my life when I know I'm a pretty decent human being," says the actress. "I might not go to church everyday, but I know I do the right thing or try to. You're going to church and you're still sleeping around on your wife...how are you better than I am? So I finally met people who walk the walk."

After reading her words my heart broke.  How many times had other Christians witnessed, proselytized, accused, and looked down on Sandra over the years and then while she watched them, contradict everything they were pushing--claiming "well, at least I'm forgiven!"
How many times have I done the same? or, at least, thought it?  I mean, c o m e  o n!  She's married to a guy with tattoos!  Doesn't that make her an even worse sinner?  I'll bet she even gets drunk now and then.... harrumph!

But that's not how God sees her...
He sees her as precious. 
He sees her as one He has known from the beginning of time. 
He sees her as one for whom he has a plan. 
He knows her heart.

Yet, all it takes is one person, who walks before she talks to make the difference.  I am going to take a minute to applaud Mrs. Tuohy.  Thank you for being an example.  I know I don't have to remind your husband Sean just how terrific you are.  And let me also thank Mr. Sean Tuohy for being a great husband in supporting his wife.  You can always tell a good husband by demeanor of his wife.

No, Sandra Bullock, I am not better than you.  No Christian on the planet is better than you.  We are all equal in God's eyes.  We all have the same opportunity to give ourselves to Christ, or not.  But that is your choice.



So, does that mean that we stop telling people about Jesus?  No!  But it does bear to mention... if you are, then remember this:

People are watching you.
People are watching US!
We had BETTER be different!
To them, it's not enough to know you're saved - there has to be a change.  And, if you are saying one thing and later, demonstrating that you haven't really changed, well then...
...wouldn't you say you're hurting the cause, not helping... truthfully?
Watch your walk... it may change someone's life.

A footnote:
Michael Oher became an All-American selection for Ole Miss and a first-round NFL draft pick. He now plays for the Baltimore Ravens.

Leigh Anne Tuohy says she hopes The Blind Side inspires more people to help others. "You don't have to go out and bring a child into your home -- that's not what's required," says Tuohy. "But you can do something -- everybody is capable of doing something. So whatever your something is, do it well. Make a difference."

Shout out to UrbanChristianNews.com for archiving the original article. 

God bless you today...
BBTO

From the 'I Needed This Today" department...

I love J.Lee.Grady.  As a self-mentored person, it's imperative that I follow and learn from great men and women of God.  It doesn't mean you have to be rabid fan - it means that you recognize the gift from Holy Spirit that they are reflecting to you and heed their words.

Maybe self-mentored isn't really the proper word for it - since I do go to church and submit to my pastor, but I know that God puts people in my path (physically and digitally) who can speak to me and guide me.
Today, it's my friend (whom I have never met personally but it was easy to know his giver's heart) J.Lee Grady who is speaking into my life and yours.
And for that I am grateful to my Lord.


BBTO

The Ten Commandments of Social Networking...

...and they say that the Bible isn't relevant in this technologically advanced society....
It's all in how you apply the data!

BBTO

What's it mean to be Salt of the earth...

Salt
We all know about salt.  You put it on french fries, potato chips, pretty much anything your mother-in-law cooks (joke), and foods that just don't make your tongue dance.
Why? 'Cause it tastes good.  Well, technically, that's the result of using salt, but it doesn't answer the question of why adding salt makes things taste good.

Salt is a flavor enhancer. Those of you that bake know that, recipes for sweets often have a bit of salt added. It's there to make the sugar and other ingredients taste better.  This is where the "Salt" part of this blog comes from.
As a Christian, the Word tells me (Matthew 5: 13-16) that I am "...the salt of the earth."  It's a description of who I am - or should be.  If this is true, then I should learn something about it.

Salt enhances flavors. In this way, my life should enhance the life of others.  How I think, speak, act, and interact should be run through this filter of: "Am I actually making this other person's life 'taste' better to them, or am I actually making it worse.
Worse? How could that be?  Ever put too much salt on something? Bleh!

There is such a thing as too much "salt." Being a bit too overbearing in your relationships can sour things.
I see people who lord their Christianity over others with the result of souring their taste for Christ as a result.
Your lifestyle, your demeanor, your reaction to adversity, and etc. all reflect on whether you are enhancing the flavor of others' lives or whether you are too salty and they reject you.

I was trained to confront everyone with the message of Jesus Christ and "spread the Gospel" to all, but the tactics I was trained to used gave ME a bad taste in MY mouth. I couldn't stomach banging on a stranger's door, asking him if he know where he would go if he died tonight, and telling him he was destined for hell if he wasn't saved. Bad Taste.

Does the phrase "Jehovah's Witnesses" come to mind? Heck, they were tame compared to what I was doing.
Was I enhancing these people's lives, or did they shut the door on me - solidifying their belief that Christians were pathetic and highly annoying losers?

I've spent a few years tossing this issue in my head on and off again.  I understand now that I was being too salty.  Instead of enhancing and watering seedlings of hope and faith, I was flooding them.

Now, I still believe that one should tell others about Jesus, but I've changed my personal message.
It's no longer - "HERE'S WHAT JESUS CAN DO FOR YOU IF ONLY YOU'D JUST BELIEVE!!!!!"
My message is now - "Here's what Jesus did for me, even though I don't deserve it!"

When you become part of the Salt and Light Brigade, you aren't pushing the Gospel down people's throats, you're living life with them - sharing your failures and successes.
It's so much fun!

What's it mean to be the "light of the world?

Why Light?
What's light got to do with how you treat people?
Well, along with being called to be the salt of the earth, we are also called to be the "light of the world" - Matt. 5:14.  In this sense, light is a metaphor for exposing things that are familiar with darkness.

There are many dynamics to the workplace environment.  Being the 'light of your workplace world" requires you to refrain from certain activity:
Refusing to partake in gossip.
Refusing to be a willing partner in complaining.
Treating others with honor - no matter their job title.
Working to promote your employer, not just yourself.
Being a servant, when it's not required.
Maintaining a positive attitude.
Listening.
Pushing yourself to be more efficient.
These are just a few examples off the top of my head.

Did you notice that being light has nothing to do with telling people they are wrong in doing those things?  Exactly! Light exposes darkness. Being the "light of the world" exposes people's wrongdoing, not through confrontation, but through example. It's not your job to run around and yelling at everyone - telling them they shouldn't be doing those things. Your job is to smile, be a positive example, and, when others notice that you have a grip on things that they desire, THEN you can tell them why you are the way you are.

Your life is the witness.  God is the one who opens the doors for you.

Work on yourself. As you grow, others will see that growth and curiosity will do the rest.  This works.  It's happening in my own office.  Today!
And am I excited to see where this leads!

BBTO

We've Moved...

For the improved Branded By The One, check out www.brandedbytheone.com!
Thanks!

BBTO

Making the life of another taste better...

I am a fan of lifehack blogs.
It's easy to see the need.
So much of life is being taught to our children through video games and television instead of quality parental time, that they are growing up without the handed-down wisdom, experience, and tradition that living life together establishes.
What do I have to contribute?
Time will tell.
In some instances, I may never know.
At the end of the day, if anything in this blog makes the life of another taste a bit better, then it will have been a good work.
Making the life of another taste better...
Therein lies my personal mission statement.