Fierce Christian Living is simple, but powerfully compelling when combined with being intentional.  For instance, Tim Tebow just didn’t accidentally end up with John 3:16 on his eye black during the BCS championship in 2009 between the Florida Gators and the Oklahoma Sooners.  That one intentional act, apparently led to John 3:16 being the hottest Google search that night, peaking around 7PM[i], with reportedly over 94 million hits. 

Since joining the NFL, Tim Tebow wouldn’t be allowed to display any verse on his eye black based on NFL rules.  So, does he let it go at that?  No.  He was led to display a verse on his wrist band during NFL games where most quarterbacks would store game plays.

Many oppose and debate the controversial nature of mixing sports with religion.  Secular society or the ACLU might proclaim, “How dare he shove his religion in my face!”, but how is it any different than Tiger Woods wearing a Nike swoop on his shirt?  Well, other than Tiger Woods getting paid to wear it, and Tim Tebow doing it for free, nothing.  Tim Tebow chooses to endorse Jesus.

But, let us put aside all thoughts on freedom of religion for this FIECE Christian Living topic.  This is about the often simple, yet powerful way we live our lives that may compel others to just take a look or a second look at this faith walk in Christianity.  Jesus is the way, the light, the hope, the truth. (John 4:16, John 8:12, Matthew 12:21 NLT).  And as Jesus left this earth, we then became His visible representation on earth of the way, the light, the hope, the truth.  This is as Paul describes in his letter to the Ephesians that we all have a “special responsibility of extending his grace.”

With that in mind, it was such a clear message to me the other day that FIERCE Christian Living was all about the simple things I “do” to demonstrate God’s grace.  How I live demonstrates and resembles the way of Jesus and my faith.  My home and my face provide a light in the darkness.  My acts of comfort or friendship provide hope.  And with the help of the Holy Spirit I trust that they all add up to display the truth of who Jesus is, and who I am in Christ.

Now for the average Christian, having a known impact on 94 million people isn’t probably going to happen.  But, we also have as much impact around us when we are as intentional in living out our faith with a bold simplicity as Tim Tebow. 

For me here is how God drove this message to my heart.  After our move to Denver, my ministry drastically changed.  The change was like going from a big fish in a little pond to being a little fish in a big pond.  When you are a big fish in a little pond, you tend to see the ripple effect of your movement in the pond.  However, when you are the little fish in the big pond, your movement seems to have no impact or effect on the pond.  I was frustrated and felt my ministry platform had been ripped from under me.  Why would God work with me and through me to build a strong foundation, to even have a platform in my little pond, to then have it ripped out from under me?  I can see the bigger picture now of how my ministry work in the little pond was complete, but it took me a while.  God didn’t need me there anymore.  The seeds had been planted.  Time to sow another field- a very BIG field.

I felt like I was in an identity crisis like a fish flailing out of the water, gasping for water through my gills and only getting air.  Who was I without my platform, my ministry work that God and I had built together?  I remember speaking with Mr. Pat Williams, Sr. Vice President and co-founder of the Orlando Magic on the phone, and he asked me, “Who is Renee Crosby?” in which I responded, “That’s a loaded question.  Funny you should ask, because I feel like since moving to Denver I’m in a sort of identity crisis.”  Then I explained to him my feeling like I had my ministry platform ripped from under me, and didn’t know what my ministry platform was in Denver.  I told Mr. Williams, “I was patiently waiting for God to show me the way.”

So, fast forward a few months, I hear a knock at the door.  It’s a neighbor returning a pan from the chicken and dumplings I sent over months before.  I had forgotten about the meal I provided to this new neighbor when they found out their two year old daughter had leukemia.  But, here she was having a moment to breathe from under the treatment schedule to return the pan with a thank you note.  As she came in to chat for a few moments, I hadn’t seen this one coming.  She said, “I have been having a bit of a faith crisis since dealing with the leukemia of my daughter, and thought if I am having a faith crisis, where can I go, and I thought, well your house of course.”

I felt like Redd Fox playing Fred Sanford on Sanford and Son, grasping my chest, gasping for air, proclaiming, “It’s the BIG ONE Elizabeth, I’m coming to join you!”  While at the same time I think I heard music playing and angels singing and in my mind as I danced my goofy momma get-your-jiggy-with-it dance, “Halleluiah, oh yeah, a-ha, God rocks!”  My ministry platform had revealed itself.  My ministry platform had to be built before I could stand on it.  My ministry was built on the simple intentional workings of my faith.  My ministry was about simplicity.  My ministry was about the way of my living.  My ministry was about me being a subtle light in the darkness.  My ministry was just about being kind.  My ministry was about making an effort to connect.  My ministry was about being intentional in listening to the Holy Spirit to put my faith out there and risk being rejected or labeled a Jesus freak (although I personally think that is a good thing).  My ministry was about giving comfort in a meal when hugs don’t heal (hey that rhymes).

Within a total of four interactions and maybe a sum of 10 minutes of interaction in months, and here she was on my door stop with a faith crisis.  You see, the first time I met this woman, simple introduction, family, kids, new neighbor info exchange, only a few minutes.  The next time was the uncomfortable knock on her door to share a flyer with info on a Faith Club meeting at my house.  There, I put it out there- I was a Jesus freak, a few seconds interaction- done.  Next interaction on the street, minutes of discussion on finding out her daughter had leukemia.  The last interaction before her arriving at my door with a faith crisis was the brief delivery of the meal.

I was taken aback.  I was completely humbled and honored that she present her faith crisis to me.  Scary- you bet!  I had moments of “freaking out in my mind” to the serious nature of her statement.  The enemy was already feeding the fear that I wouldn’t have the answers she was looking for.  He whispered lies of doubt and hesitation, “You aren’t ready for this.  The culture you are in now is all about Buddhism, new age, and Wiccan as the fastest growing faiths in the west.  You can’t combat what I have established.”

As my heart turned towards the face of God, He said, “Be still.  I am with you.  You don’t have to have all the answers, just continue to show her the way, be the light.  That is your ministry.”  God had clearly spoken that it is in my simple but intentional faith walk that is showing her the way and the hope of Jesus.  Simple, yes, but FIERCE Christian Living at its best.

Soon, her and I are going to embark on a personal study together exploring how other religions compare to Christianity. 

So, dear friends, FIERCE Christian Living is simple, but powerfully compelling when combined with being intentional!  Be God’s Grace!  I leave you with Ephesians 3:1-3 about God’s mysterious plan being revealed through your grace, kindness and love to others, “ When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles . . . assuming, by the way (Jesus), that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles. As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me.”

[i] http://www.google.com/trends/hottrends?q=*&sa=X&date=2009-1-8