You're Elected!

So the presidential election is finally over. The country has made its choice. Whoever you wanted to win, it was a pretty remarkable night that Tuesday to see the first African American elected President of the United States. Did you watch President-Elect Obama give that speech to that crowd in Chicago that night?

This all made me think about choices we make. Things we choose to do, people we pick. A number of our Triniteen youth went to a dance this past weekend, and that made me think about my first school dance. I wasn’t going to go, but then my best friend Jeff kept saying “You gotta go, you gotta go! I'mmmmmm going!!” Finally, after two weeks of Jeff being on my case, I gave in. “Okay," I said, "I’ll go.” But who would I pick to ask? I had a crush on Susan and decided to ask her. It would be the first time I ever asked a girl out -- and I was terrified! After a couple false starts, I finally got up my nerve and asked her if she’d like to go. She was shocked I think that I asked her. “I’ll get back to you” she said – and I was hanging in limbo! But the next day she said yes! I was thrilled, but also pretty nervous. But Jeff was going to be there with his date, so it would be okay. Until the day before the dance. That’s when Jeff told me that because of something or other, he COULDN’T go after all!! I couldn’t believe it.

So what choices do you make? If you just went to the dance this weekend, what was it like for you to ask someone to go? Or, what was it like to be asked -- or not asked? Are you getting ready to try out for a team, a club, band or something and you’re hoping that you'll get picked? Ever been in a situation when you weren’t picked for something you really wanted to do?

This makes me think about John 15:16 when Jesus says “You did not choose me but I chose you.” That’s “election” – a doctrine of the church that says that before we made any move, God chooses us. God chooses YOU. God picks you, votes for you, wants you to be on God’s team. No matter what. So if you’re having a tough day, feeling as though no one wants you, remember that God is picking you, choosing you, every moment of every day.

How cool is that?

Peace!

Pat

WWJB

Okay, this is my first shot at blogging. Ever. I’m a little nervous about it. There are so many decisions to make. Like first, I have to decide WHO I’m blogging to. Fortunately that’s easy. I’m blogging to all the great youth at Trinity Presbyterian Church here in Topeka, Kansas. But wait, can’t anyone pull this up on their computer? So if you’re reading this now maybe you're one of our “Triniteens.” But then maybe you’re a college junior in Ann Arbor (Go Blue!) or a hang glider instructor in Monterrey, California or a dentist in Munich or somebody on vacation in Australia.

Well I can’t do anything about that, so I’m moving on.

My next question is WHAT do I blog about?? That’s the biggie. I could blog about what I was doing this morning at my house – but how many of you want to read about my fried egg and bacon sandwich with a shot of Miracle Whip (awesome!) or about how my daughter loves to do the maccarena while watching Disney Clubhouse. Maybe I should blog about the fantastic Can Film Festival lock-in where we dressed up like movie stars and collected a ton of canned goods for the Battered Women's Shelter. Or maybe I could blog about the great Christmas pageant that our youth group put on last night as well as the chili supper! (See our youth website for pics + news of upcoming events at www.trinitypresbyterian.net/youth ).

So there are a million topics I could choose.

But what I wonder today is if Jesus had a wireless computer that he could take with him on those boat rides on the Sea of Galilee, what would Jesus Blog? Couldn’t you imagine how he’d have to blog about how he picked those twelve disciples – and well, sometimes they’re a bit dense! Or what about the time he was having dinner and a woman walks right in and -- whoaa!! -- pours a jar of nard (seriously expensive oil) on his head. Or what about one of those routine days when he was healing a bunch of people and folks started jamming into the house – and then, some guys actually cut a hole in the ceiling so they could lower one of their buddies right in front of Jesus! Are you kidding me?!! Jesus would have tons of great material to blog about.

Unfortunately, Jesus didn’t have a laptop at the time. BUT, there were a few folks by the name of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John who did do some old fashioned blogging – and with the help of the Holy Spirit they gave us the gospels.

So keep checking this website for my future blogs -- AND let me hear back from you!! What's on your mind??

And remember that you can always catch a blog from Jesus by grabbing a Bible and reading some really Good News!

Peace!

Pat