live out Christianity in a way that lets people know it’s not just a bunch of stupid rules

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:
I don’t believe that God exists. Why do you say that? asked the customer. Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn’t exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can’t imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things. The customer thought for a moment, but didn’t respond because he didn’t want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber:
You know what? Barbers do not exist. How can you say that? asked the surprised barber. I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you! No! the customer exclaimed. Barbers don’t exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside. Ah, but barbers DO exist! That’s what happens when people do not come to me. Exactly! affirmed the customer. That’s the point! God, too, DOES exist! That’s what happens when people do not go to Him and don’t look to Him for help. That’s why there’s so much pain and suffering in the world…

wants us to believe in Him, but where we go wrong is, not living our life for Him. It’s not ok to just talk the talk – you must always TRY to walk the walk…otherwise you are turning people off to Christianity! They are watching you! Actions speak louder than words! No, no one is perfect…we all screw up…this is why Jesus died…to take away our sins…we can be forgiven…but that doesn’t mean you don’t try super hard all the time to live the way Jesus would. Let’s work on showing the world what real love is.

Saw Dinesh D’souza last night. Amazing thinker. He debates against the most well known atheists, using arguments covering theology, history, philosophy, and science, to give you faith in a loving God. If you get a chance to see him on TV, in person, or read his book, do so! www.dineshdsouza.com

There’s a line in the movie “Magnolia” that I love. There’s this drug addict, Claudia, who likes this inept police officer, Jim, and before they decide to date each other they agree to tell one another everything they hate about themselves. Claudia says “I’ll tell you everything, and you tell me everything, and maybe we can get through all the piss and crap and lies that kill other people.” There’s something to be said about getting all the stuff that would cause problems in a relationship out of the way before you get in too deep. That’s exactly what I see that Jesus did by dying for my sins. He just wanted to know me so much, that He did what had to be done to get rid of the only thing standing between me and Him. It’s a tough position for Him to be in. Think of a judge who has to try a case involving his own daughter as the guilty party. He has to be fair and serve justice, but he also loves his daughter and doesn’t want the daughter to endure punishment. So the judge agrees to serve the time for the daughter. That’s what God did for me. He proved Himself to be just, by still dishing out the punishment for offence, but also merciful, by serving the time for me.

I think we make this thing a lot more complicated than it should be. What I know is that Jesus came and died for my sins because they were the one thing standing in the way of me having a relationship with God. I think it’s worth more people seeing that it’s just that simple—no denominations, no fire and brimstone, no Hail Marys—just a lot of getting to know the God that thought I was so unique that the world He created wouldn’t be right without me in it.