Jesus is the reason for the season, right?

I was at the good ole' sandwich makin' factory that I call work when I got tired of listening to the same 20 songs replay themselves on the radio.  I decided to change the station to something Christmas-y because it was 2 days before the big day.  A coworker and friend, who is an atheist, approached me and said he preferred not to listen to the Christmas radio station because some people (specifically himself) choose not to celebrate the holiday.  

I was surprised and immediately defensive to my beloved holiday, because who in their right mind wouldn't want to be a part of the "most wonderful time of the year" complete with presents, days off of school/work, and plenty of sweets to snack on?  That's when I realized that my atheist friend was more in tune with the reason for the season than I was.

WHOA. Talk about reality check.

As anti-commercial Christmas as I thought I was, I am still so much a part of it all.  Spending too much money on gifts, making all kinds of Christmas goodies, and watching hours upon hours watching every Christmas movie ever made—I’m realizing that the very commercial Christmas that I was against is exactly what I’m supporting. 

Moral of the story :

I need to back up my words with my actions.

And even so, I know for certain that Jesus would still choose to be born thousands of years ago knowing full well how His life on earth would end because He loves me AND YOU.  He loves me when I follow hard after Him, when I’m being the worst example of a Christ follower, and even when I celebrate a fat, old man in a red suit instead of Him. 

“For God so loved the world, He gave His only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”- John 3:16

What's in a Name?

So I suppose I'll begin my blogging journey by explaining the meaning behind the name that I’ve chosen for my blog, “Chasing After Life.”  After some reflection I’ve realized that I have spent a large chunk of my life searching… searching for acceptance, peace, love, meaningful relationships, etc.  It wasn’t until two years ago that I realized that Jesus was just what I had always been searching for.  It was about time…  After 16 years of attending church every Sunday, hearing every kid-friendly Bible story (an extremely high number of times, might I add) from a multitude of Sunday school teachers, and experiencing love from a blessed Christian family-- I FINALLY realized.  Disclaimer: This is not a bash on any of those previously mentioned things, I truly do believe that those people put in my life loved the Lord; however, it is a reality check.  On top of being loved by and loving the Lord, how many of us really show love? How many of us really understand how to be a Christian… how to be like Christ.

I know for a fact that I don’t have all of the answers.  I’m not even close.  What I do know is this— I don’t want to be a self-proclaimed Christian.  I want to be like the Christian’s in Acts.  I want to be filled with the Holy Spirit… ALWAYS.  Showing God’s powerful, healing love.  Acts 11:26 says, “and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.”

I wonder how that was initiated.  Did the disciples decide to give themselves a label?  I’m not entirely sure… but whenever I read this I think of the miracles the disciples were performing, the massive amounts of people they were bringing to Christ.  I have a feeling that it was those outsiders who established the name.  How great of an honor is that?  To be given the label of Christ-like. 

^^Pardon my ramble…

Anyway, I want to be the type of Christian that when other’s see me, they see Christ.  They say, “Your God will be my God.” (Ruth 1:16)  The only way I know to become that person is to whole-heartedly commit my life to Life. 

So for all of my days that is what I plan to do: Chase after Life.