Joel Thomas, at http://www.buckheadchurch.com/messages, opens with the fact that, as Christians, most of us do not have a positive identity. Whenever, Joel meets someone new and they ask what he does, he says that it is always awkward because if he tells them he works for a church, he is automatically associated with negative images the Christians can carry in our times. In Biblical times, the word "Christian" referred to the followers of Christ, not programs or protests. Back then, "Christian" was a verb, not a noun, in a sense. These days, it seems to be a noun. Each of us is identified by: 1) What we do 2) Who we know 3) Who we are - IMPORTANT NOTE: Who we are is never the most URGENT. What we do and who we know is. But we never feel a sense of urgency to be more generous, for example. Unfortunately, we are usually measured by what we accomplish and who we know. When people usually ask what makes us successful, we say things like 1) Be excellent 2) Don't lose sight of your dreams 3) Never give up 4) Put people before projects 5) Think positively about yourself and others. Many times we confuse what we do and who we know with who we are. Failure to focus on who we are is where we usually go wrong. Reprioritize. Focus on who we are. Joel references a verse that has been highly controversial. It wasn't meant to be by Paul, who was just trying to describe who we are to be in this world. Romans 8:29-30 is a reminder to us that Jesus was God's example to us of who we should be. The verse is meant to be, in Joel's view, an offer to us from God to accept a way of life that is glorifying to him. If we authentically seek to live as Christ, everything else will follow. Jesus was hugely successful in accomplishing what he came to do because of WHO HE WAS. But God said there is more to be done. He says we have the potential to be what he wants us to be. At this point, Joel explains how he learned to juggle as he pulls out some juggling pins. He says that his college roommate was a juggler for the Florida State Univ. circus. His friend encouraged Joel to learn to juggle along with another friend. As the conversation progressed, Joel's other friend insisted on taking home 3 pins even though the experienced juggler said to take home only 1 pin. Joel, on the other hand, said he would take home the 1 pin as suggested. When the friends came back together, the friend with 3 pins couldn't juggle and yet, Joel, who had practiced with only one pin (until he had it down cold) was actually juggling within 5 minutes!! Joel's point is, "Focus on juggling one pin." Joel remembers having a list of character traits that he wanted in a future wife. But what he realized was that, if this is what he wanted, he had to learn to have that in his own life. What is God revealing to us about Jesus that he wants us to become? 1) Make a list of characteristics that you think God wants you to be. 2) Attach some verses from the Bible to each attribute 3) Take a personal inventory of who you are 4) On a regular basis, use your list to measure success. If you see yourself falling short, ask God to help you and to give you the desires to achieve. Joel closes by talking about a missionary friend of his who went to Kenya and some of the churches there. One of the things that really stood out about his visit was the fact that an entire family he met of a local church introduced themselves as "Hi my name is _____ and I am a follower of Christ." It had an amazing affect on his friend. They got it! They identified themselves with Christ first.

Romans 8:8-30