No question. No silence.

Have you ever seen or experienced something that you just have to tell people about?

For me, one of those things is Mutton Bustin'. Mutton Bustin', as seen at my hometown's fair, is a sport where toddlers ride sheep...in rodeo-style glory. It's pretty hilarious, fun to watch and a little bit unbelievable all at the same time. Since it started at our local fair, it's the talk of the town...well, that and the chocolate-covered bacon they're serving (no, I'm not kidding!).

It's pretty amazing what people can't stop talking about, isn't it? Celebrities, the latest and greatest infomercial products (like the Shamwow and the Snuggie), sports, vacations, you name it. But in the list of topics that people just have to talk about, how often is God in the mix?

In our culture, it's actually taboo to talk about politics and religion (well, if it's Christianity, anyway--talking about most other religions seems to be more socially acceptable).

That's in stark contrast to the approach of the apostles in today's reading. They couldn't stop talking about Jesus and the miracles they witnessed...even after they were arrested and basically placed on trial in front of influential religious and political leaders. I love what Peter and John said to those leaders here:

"Whether it's right in God's eyes to listen to you

rather than to God,

you decide.

As for us, there's no question—

we can't keep quiet

about what we've seen and heard."

I LOVE their confidence, conviction and boldness.

I'm not one to necessarily advocate that Christians just start yelling on street corners or in their offices about God. In most cases, I don't think that's appropriate or what these apostles were actually doing. The leaders had told them not to use Jesus' name or talk to anyone about God--and this was simply their response back.

What have you seen and heard? And what's your response to it? Are you content to keep it to yourself? Or are you bursting to tell someone?

Mutton Bustin', Guess how much I love you?, and the Good Shepherd

Today: John 9-10

Mutton Bustin' is a strange phenomenon that I actually enjoy watching...at least once a year. For anyone who hasn't seen it, I'll explain. Mutton Bustin' is an event where little kids, ages 2-6, ride and grasp on to a sheep for dear life. It's kind of like a mini rodeo where they are challenged to stay on for 6 seconds. (Don't worry, moms, the kids are well supervised and loaded down with a helmet and padding.) It's pretty hilarious, actually. :)

I thought about Mutton Bustin' today as I read this passage...really. There's a section where Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd...which makes all of His followers like sheep. Sheep are interesting little creatures. From what I observed at Mutton Bustin', they definitely have personalities all their own--some are lazy and subdued, others leap really high, some will follow the herd, while others tend to wander off on their own. They can be stubborn, bad listeners, dirty and smelly.

But here's the weird thing, a good shepherd LOVES them.

Here are a few of the things Jesus said about being the Good Shepherd:

I am the Good Shepherd.

The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself,

sacrifices himself if necessary.

A hired man is not a real shepherd.

The sheep mean nothing to him.

He sees a wolf come and runs for it,

leaving the sheep to be ravaged

and scattered by the wolf.

He's only in it for the money.

The sheep don't matter to him.
I am the Good Shepherd.

I know my own sheep

and my own sheep know me.

In the same way,

the Father knows me

and I know the Father.

I put the sheep before myself,

sacrificing myself if necessary.

I thought it was interesting that Jesus emphasized His sacrificial love for His "sheep" twice. I don't know if there's some kind of theological significance to that. Perhaps some scholars could see it something in line with the idea of redemption--that God created mankind, sin separated us from Him--but He loved us enough to die for our sins and made it possible for us to once again have a direct relationship with Him. In a way, redemption means that we are His twice.

Or perhaps it was just something simpler--a big expression of His love for people--like the way parents read "Guess How Much I Love You?" to their kids over and over again.

I don't know...I just know that whatever the scenario, God loves His sheep/kids like crazy. And that's pretty incredible.

Tomorrow: John 11-12