“I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” John 17:23 ESV

The alarm clock rang at the regular time. I had gone to bed a my regular time. But I felt ANYTHING but regular! Yesterday was a HARD one. You know what that is like. When nothing seems to go your way. Life is like a ballgame sometimes. The rebound bounced to the other team, I was called for a ‘Technical Foul,’ and I wasn’t even near a ball! I had to push myself to get out of bed when all I wanted to do was pull the covers over my head and go back to sleep!

My beautiful wife has an answer for MY difficulties and the battles I face. She teaches preschoolers. “Just turn that frown upside-down,” she said. When I shot her a quizzical look, she went Def-con on me and said, ”when I get tired of negativity, I choose to not even think about it sometimes!” Did I mention one of her heroes is Mr. Rogers?

One of my church members lost his wife a month ago. Yesterday I had to go tell him that his son was just killed in a car accident! Then I went to the hospital where a long time member was ‘unresponsive’ and not expected to live. Then I had a memorial service to prepare for. Then I got a complaint from someone who didn’t like a point in my sermon on Sunday! Let’s just call it ‘slow death by life!’

I had indirectly mentioned a little of what was going on in my life in a general email. After hitting ‘send’ I shut down my computer and went to go do some manual labor at the church. Manual work, and listening to ‘Elvis Gospel Songs’ on my IPOD is a sign I’m feeling mighty low. Feeling better when I got home, I checked my emails to find a response from a friend I had met in Israel. He had taken the time to write words of encouragement to me. And then a suggestion!

Apparently the Words of the Day had sparked an interesting idea into his head. So along with His Jesus words of encouragement to me, he suggested writing about a ‘Selfie’ with me and Jesus. Being a brother from another mother, we are cut from the same cloth. So I went looking through my pictures… and dog gone it! There it was. Hmmmmm! Jesus taking a selfie with me standing right behind him. And in His own home town at the WAILING wall no less! Some things need no words and this is one.

I think I am going to choose to go represent Jesus to someone out there who may need Him. After all. That’s the Gospel!