AS IN SILENT IMPRESSION…

This will begin with a confession: I am going back on my word.  That doesn’t  bode well, I know, but in this case I think it is good.  🙂  Last week in this post I raved about a book by my friend, Artie Davis.  I also stated that I was going to begin working my way through it on a daily basis beginning March 1.  Aaaaah, I lied fibbed changed my mind.  After reading the responses I had begun to think about changing my start date.  Then I read a devotion Saturday morning from Tony Dungy’s book The One Year Uncommon Life.  Here is the gist of it:

Tim Tebow has received about every award a football player can get in college (and he names them).  His father, Bob, tells the story that at the end of one season, he was helping Tim pack up his belongings in the locker room when Tim asked him to carry a box to the car. When he peeked inside the box it was full of trophies, plaques, and certificates, most of which his dad never knew he had won.  His parents are amazed at how many people will come up to them expressing their thanks for a phone call, note, or visit they or someone they knew received from Tim. All without fanfare.  Visits to the hospitals that would often take hours…all without fanfare or publicity.  (How about that for so-called faith healers hucksters?)  When working on a book, Tim excused himself to make a phone call that lasted 10 minutes.  The author found out the next day back in Florida Tim’s phone call was to someone battling cancer.  But it didn’t come from Tim’s mouth; it was from the person himself.  A friend of a friend has asked him to call.

Say what you will about Tim’s football ability in the pros (frankly I think he needs a chance), but you cannot say a word about the impression he makes on people…all without fanfare and publicity.

Artie’s book, Craveable, is subtitled The Irresistible Jesus In Me.  I want that.  I don’t want a flashy, showy faith that draws headlines. I don’t want the bright lights of the media or accolades to rain down.   Artie used a bumper sticker in the introduction: “Lord, please save me from Your followers.”   Yep, gotta go along with that.  And I be one of them.  As I see it, God is not interested, nor is He impressed by our flash.  He is not impressed by our “dance moves.”  He wants our hearts.  He wants our consistency.  He wants us to be craveable.  So my journey begins Monday, February 18th.  I’ll keep you posted along the way.  Join me if you want.

Any thoughts you want to express?  Have any thoughts about “publicity hounds”, especially those who call themselves Christians?