Mainstream 2010 - Day 1, part two

Another enjoyable meal followed by a banquet of theology! No, I haven't got indigestion, but an appatite for more - of God that is, not food!

Coming to these type of conferences always challenges what you believe, why you believe it and the way you live it and this one is no different. Sometimes, we can get too comfortable in what we do, or can't be bothered to do anything different so we muddle along wondering why things never change. Although the Bible says that "Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever" it doesn't mean that He is the same old same old!

One thing I have learned through my Christian faith is that God does not stand still, and when you think about Him as Alpha and Omega, being the beginning and the end, there is something that is happening in between.

An encounter with God through the person of Jesus Christ does change something - usually you! You cannot escape His love, grace and compassion and that in itself drives you to respond. Now, just like the rich young man mentioned in Matthew 19: 16-30, we all have a choice as God does not interfere with our free will, and that choice is to accept Jesus for who he is and what that means for my life, or to walk away and leave Him and what He has to offer behind.

Let me turn from Bible-geek language and put it simply! Jesus is the son of God who lived life on this Earth in a mortal body - how else could God dwell amongst us, understand us and love us? He showed us the perfect way to live our lives and the Bible is full of guidance from His teachings. His time on Earth was not just a visit of 30 odd years, but He opened the way for each one of us to join Him.

Jesus was radical 2,000 years ago and is radical today because He challenges us in our modern day thinking not to think about ourselves and what we can get from life, but to think about others first! If each one of us responded in this way and put others first (and I mean strangers as well as family, friends and neighbours) this world would be a better place to live in.

If we looked at others the way that Jesus sees others, there would be less selfishness and more love and compassion.

Christians, it's about time we got out in our community and put into practice what we have been taught and stop worrying about our "street cred" and "reputation". Let's be radical and do what Jesus would do!