Jesus...

so... i've been reading this book. blue like jazz. i like it. i think the thing i like most about it (aside from the fact that donald miller totally writes in my language) is the fact that i feel like he puts into words a lot of the things i think. but what has really been on my heart lately is how i reflect my relationship with Jesus in my life. i was cleaning out my closet last night and i found all these old prayer journals and devotionals that i had done 2 pages of before quitting and other stuff like that. and i found all this old stuff that i'd saved from camps and conferences and stuff, and it seemed like all of it had this in common: i need to be bold and share my faith with everyone, because if i don't do it now, later may be too late. and i do believe that it is important to share my faith, and i want to share God's love with other people because i love Him and i want other people to know Him. but i have never been one of those people who can just walk up to someone on the street and ask if they know the Lord. and i have never been able to turn any conversation into one about Christ. and i don't think i want to be that way. i love in BLJ when donald miller talks about how a lot of times Christians will market Jesus like He's some product. like if you just listen to all these positive things about Him and buy into it, your life will be wonderful. i just have such a hard time with that.
at Flatirons right now the series is called "stealing jesus." i haven't really gone at all this summer, but i've been watching online. i think this is probably my favorite series so far (that's right... it beats all the sex talk). scott has done the whole thing so far, and he's basically talked about how the world has turned Jesus into this fun little figure that probably makes some people happy. He's literally being marketed like some cheap celebrity with a funny beard. but people are ignoring who Jesus said He is. we've turned Him into just another great historical figure, when in reality He is THE Son of God. and the world has become so politically correct that even some Christians have started to buy into the thought that is just A way, and not THE Way.
so we have those Christians that are trying to cater to the world by offering Jesus as simply a better option, while leaving out the fact that He is the only option. and then there are those that are talking to people they don't even know telling them that Jesus is the Son of God and they are condemned to hell if they don't turn to Him now. i just feel like there has to be some balance! i know so many people that are just completely turned off by "Christians." it's so hard to show people that it's so much deeper than a little bobble head Jesus and a WWJD bracelet. i really think that the greatest way to share Christ with people is to simply live like Him. build relationships. don't condemn. love each other! that's what blue like jazz is all about. that's why i like it.
on another note: today i went to r.e.i. and hung out with bryan. i made him get some manpris and we sat by the platte and watched people. it was a fun day :)