**NEW FLASH** I'm Ugly!

Today... class, hmm what to say but "What the Fudge Cycles" are we "the christian" coming too.

I was presented different ways of how people interpreted Jesus' "Death and Resurrection" I never really thought about how many different ways there where of actually seeing this moment in time, but there are. Now with each different point of view, there also seems to be people standing right there in the way, protesting. So in a class of about 28 people, totally amped on Starbucks' coffee and fast food from Jack in the Crack, there seemed to be line that separated the group into many other different groups. It wasn't hard for this class to accept that Christ lived but to say He actually died and then came back to life again. That my friends.... was what broke the camels back in my class today. What go me and I found almost humorous...was the fact that just on Weds, we were talking about God bring back Lazarus and those other two people back from death. With those miracles, it didn't really make a difference or spark any kind of interest to really debate the facts. It happened... we all agree but the second Jesus, the Son of Man did this... That was a different story.

WHY? That's all I could think of during the debate.

So my teacher, who has a doctrine and I think loves these moments where we the pupils become more than just empty souls in a seat doing our time. He breaks us up into groups. My group... once again... interesting mix of life and beliefs. I got the high school jock, which I have to say is very beautiful specimen of manhood to look at. He is also my neighbor during class, so we already know about where we both stand on God and Jesus. Then I have Bob, again... Love Bob... He's just so funny. Then there are two other women, the over-churched Catholic, who converted to who knows what religion but she has seen the light. Now she feels this need to save every person under the sun, due to her own quota she has made herself. Or as one of my good friend Shawna would say, She only needs that one more soul and she gets that toaster oven. Now I know that is bad to say and I will get a lot of slack for saying that but really... This lady and me... We went toe to toe today. Today...for the first time ever in my life, I spoke up against another believer. I told her she was wrong. Typically this is not something I do because of my lack of knowledge of the bible, plus I also feel threatened and intimidated by other Christians. I always think... "Oh man, if they only know who I was" **BIG SIGH** So today... me standing up... it gave me a little bit of empowering moment. A little bit of a "wait" God can use me.

So what happened... this might be the question entering your head... Let me enlighten you on Christina's, "hey... I don't suck that bad" moment.

Here we are in the group given two questions, what do you think the resurrection is and is it still important today? Now when I first read this, I thought, "heck yeah!" The resurrection in my mind displays what it means to be a follower of Christ. You must die to the world but become one in Jesus. Now I may not saying, go out and kill yourself in God's name but the idea is this... Basically don't get so wrapped up in the world around you, meaning worldly treasures and gossip but instead keep your eye on the prize, which is Christ. I also believe the resurrection shows the world, that even though Jesus may have died on the cross, Jesus overcame death. In short, God overcame Satan. Satan's hold on us is death. Satan brought death to us when he persuaded Eve and Adam to eat from the tree. So Jesus came to reverse what Satan had done in the Garden of Eden. So to me... the resurrection needed to happen in order for us to have a chance at eternal life with God. Then lastly... I believe the resurrection proved that everything in Jesus' ministry was "The Truth." It was the last "Stamp of Approval" needed for anyone that was on the fence about who Jesus was.

So here we go into this debate, we all share and of course, Darin... Man I love this guy. He goes into one of his stories... Darin, he's only 25 but he reminds me of an old man reminiscing about his younger years. Now Darin gives his thoughts and raises up the question, do you think our world would be different had Jesus not come back? Would we even be in this class? Do you think Jesus would of even been remembered? WOW... I was dumbfounded because those thoughts never crossed my mind. I mean Jesus never coming back from the dead... this just didn't even seem likely in the way I was taught. Actually the more I sat there really just ingesting those thoughts, I realized that everyone of us in this classroom, in little old Spokane, could agree only agree on one thing. That thing... Jesus... We all believe Jesus lived. We all believe that He did miracles and as a group we all believe He was hung in Jerusalem but no matter what, we all had different thoughts about Jesus' resurrection. Darin basically was asking, Why is the resurrection important and why so many different beliefs and religions?

Now my thoughts about religion are different from many people's... I don't really think there is one true religion, actually I don't think there is really one! I know bold statement to say but really, when you think back to even the earlier days of Christ time... there were 5 groups of Jews. The Essen, the Pharisees, The Sadducee's, the Scribes and I can't remember the last one... Now with each group comes different religion/rules to live by. Now let's fast forward to today... The Sadducee's disappeared right after the Temple was destroyed 70AD. This group was so wrapped up in the temple and what it represented... that once the temple was destroyed. Peace OUT Sadducee's. Now the rest of the groups, I'm not a 100% if there all gone today but I can say one thing I know for sure... Their not doing things like the first century Jew was. Their outlook of the bible changed and with change comes different thoughts of religion. So religion to me, is like my brother shopping in a Super Mall... He goes into the mall with expectations. He has his list and knows exactly what he is in search for before even hitting the lock button on his key chain.

We as a society shop for religion like that. If you don't like the music at a Baptist church because it's too loud and rowdy... you'll find a church which suits your liking. So to me... religion is nothing more than someone's shopping list of things they want Jesus and/or the bible to represent in their life. I share this thought to my group and wow... The reaction I got from the over-church catholic was crazy! She looks at me and says, "Sorry to tell you this, but only through Jesus can you make it to Christ... so it really doesn't matter what's on your shopping list... if you don't believe in Jesus... You aren't going to Heaven." Now I agree with her and don't really rebuke her statement at all but when she started naming off the religions that were heading to Hell. That's when I spoke up. That's when Catholic girl and me... WE WENT TO WAR! Honestly, had it been up to her today and had she had the authority... I think I might of been crucified today. It was nuts... SO after hearing her tell me in more than just one or two scriptures, "how wrong I was in my way of thinking." I stopped her...

"It doesn't really matter what you think your Contribution to this world is or how you spread Jesus' story or what song you sing on Sunday, what makers more than all that... is if God can use you and right now... Your being very Ugly." I walked away before I could really get a rebuttal and honestly... I don't think I was being that pretty either. I am grateful for this moment today, it made me stop and think.... "When I am being UGLY... what good am I to God?" I'm not... so even in those moments where I let my temper take over and let my words over take my judgement... I really do need to find a moment to reflect and realize, I'm still God's and if there is something Ugly in my past, meaning a fight, a sin or anything... I need to make it right. I need to come forth and admit... "Hey, I was being Ugly here and I'm sorry!" Hmmm.... as I think about this more... the more I realize... there are a lot of ugly areas in my life that I need to address and a lot of moments where I need to let GOD take over. It's so nice to know, that where I lack "Beauty", God can come in and make it Right.

Interesting to think... this all started by just asking a question.