what if I...?

I recently finished reading the book "Just Courage" by Gary Haugen, founder of the International Justice Mission. If you aren't familiar with this organization...you should be. They truly are a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.  The members of this group fight systemic injustice, often at great risk to their own personal safety.

Gary asks a lot of tough questions in this book.  For instance, "would you rather be safe or be brave? You can't be both."

I finished reading this book a few months ago and have moved on to other readings, but there is a statement in the book that I can't get out of my mind.  No matter how I try, I can't drop it and move on.  It is haunting me.

Gary tells a story in the first chapter of the book about his days in law school.  He was doing laundry and reading John Stuart Mill's essay "On Liberty."  This essay was written in 1859.  According to Haugen, the essay author is attempting to explain how words lose their meaning. He states that the best example of this is Christians:


"Christians, he [Mill]observed, seem to have the amazing ability to say the most wonderful things without actually believing them."


Haugen then provides a list of examples:

• blessed are the poor and humble
• it's better to give than to receive
• judge not, lest you be judged
• love your neighbor as yourself

I have come up with a few of my own examples:

• God is able to do...
• greater is He who is in me...
• all things are possible with God
• His mercies are new every morning

The question that is haunting me is a simple one - how would I live my life differently if I actually believed such things? 

I am trying to implement those things as they come to mind.  For instance, prayer is emerging as an active part of my life again (though still not reaching previous levels). Kindness remains paramount to daily living (though not where it should be).  Where my actions are inconsistent with the above statements - I attempt to correct my steps (lots of corrective action still necessary). 

Do you have examples of wonderful Christian sayings that seem to have lost their meaning?

just Sheri, reminded (again) of the value of living our truth