Today I chose Barabbas.

Here Am I.
And as promised.

So this weekend was spiritually exceptional. It was perfect timing to get out and away from life for three days; three days to stop worrying about graduation and college. The thing is, I don't know if I would have gone had it not been for the invitation to help lead worship. But praise the Lord I did go.

David Hegg was a marvelous speaker. Pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Santa Clarita, CA, and a professor at the Master's college. This weekend he took us men through the topic "Better by Far: The Obedience Option": why we sin and what our faith should look like. It's impossible for me to lay out the messages of all four meetings. But there were two things that I really want to share with you. And I hope as fellow Christians, friends, or just humans, that you continue to read.

First, David gave us the image of Michelangelo's David.


The marble statue is one of his masterpieces. This marble masterpiece bears Michelangelo's chisel marks that prove its his. And we know for a fact, that he finds great pride and joy in it. Just like God does with us. We are God's work (Eph. 2:1-10) and He takes great pride in us. And because we are God's workmanship, we are to be walking in good works, and these good works, our chisel marks, are our righteousness and our obedience to God.

Secondly, which I thought was absolutely brilliant, was he painted us a small picture. A fork in the road. One road led to Barabbas, and the other road led to Jesus. Remember Barabbas? The criminal demanded to be set free by the people wanting to crucify Jesus. Barabass, a murderer. Jesus, a sinless man. Yet the people turned their back on Christ and chose Barabbas. Whose side are we on, who are we going to follow? Barabbas or Jesus. Everytime we sin, we say "I'll take Barabbas" and we turn our back on Jesus. Today I did that. Today I was ashamed. Today I pray for forgiveness. However, I will keep this thought in mind, I know for a fact, if today I was forced with the option to let a man walk who had murdered 5 people versus a man who did absolutely nothing (Pontius Pilate even said so about Christ!), I would NOT choose the murderer. So why would I do that spiritually? So I ask...

Why turn our back against a man who shed blood for us, and turn our faces towards a man who would shed our blood?

I came across a picture yesterday totally by accident, and it portrayed this idea so well.

Are we to fall off the cliff and follow failure. Follow Barabbas? Or are we to continue with our faith, following Jesus, to a brighter day, where we notice the blessings of not sinning.

The choice is yours. I want to love and follow Christ. So henceforth, I want to pursue righteousness to the best of my ability. Actively involved in reading the word. In time of prayer. In worship. Fleeing youthful lusts. Pursuing righteousness, faith, love and peace. And I'll do it with those who also call on the Lord with a pure heart.

God works wonderfully. And I hope you take these things into your heart.

On a lighter note. Brent, Casey, Eli and I have a new vocabulary for bathroom use.
Farting = Ke$ha (or brain fart, would be a brain Ke$ha)
Going #1 = Taio Cruz.
Going #2 = Jason DeRulo
More extreme #2 = Deluca Heights (it says this at the beginning of all DeRulo's songs)
I guess you wouldn't understand. But if you ever hear us using it, you'll know. Its a lighter way of telling someone your going to the bathroom. HA!

Well. I seem to write alot. And I love it. I hope you enjoy reading this also. But as I write, I remember to write not for selfish purposes, but I write for the Lord. Whoever is reading this, I want you to be encouraged and drawn closer to the Lord, however that is possible. I pray for you. And will continue to pray my words may touch you.

Signing out with Love,
Dan

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