27 MAY 06: A J.C. MEETING
(BLOGGER'S NOTE: You may find this humorous, serious, or a little of both - but from time to time, we offer things to reflect upon as we keep the seventh-day Sabbath.)
As the Alabama Primary nears, this past week made one thing very clear - the state has some very interesting candidates. If Larry Darby and Roy Moore ran for the same office and met in a debate, they might have to stand at opposite ends - not of a stage, but of town.
Larry Darby is the atheist running for Attorney General. Roy Moore is the unapologetic Christian running for Governor. Yet strangely, both are not afraid to name the names "Jesus" and "Christ " Of course, Moore is a bit more likely to say them in positive tones....
Both Larry Darby and Roy Moore might say the name of Jesus loudly. But Moore would do it for emphasis, to make a point about morality. Darby would do it.... well, he might argue he does the same thing. He considers some reporters biased, and Alabama's Democratic Party morally challenged.
When wee exchanged e-mails with Larry Darby this past week [23 May], he ended one message with the shorthand "JFC." I've been around enough cursors to figure out what that abbreviation means - and by "cursors," I don't mean Internet chat rooms....
But think for a second about that abbreviation. It has a Jesus and a Christ - yet I seriously doubt atheist Larry Darby would say he believes Jesus IS the Christ. Given some of the other things he wrote, he'd probably shudder even more at the Bible's indication that Jesus was a Jew.
Putting those two names together really does matter. Lots of people believe Jesus existed, from Louis Farrakhan with the Nation of Islam to some present-day Jews. But the real issue is whether you believe Jesus is Christ - a word meaning "Messiah." It's a bit like believing Michael Vick can win the Atlanta Falcons a Super Bowl....
Where do YOU stand in this name game? Is "JFC" a throwaway line for you, said when you're upset or frustrated? Or have you changed that middle letter a bit - to declare this unusual sin-free person "Jesus the Faultless Christ?"
BURKARD'S BEST BETS: Music of ska/reggae pioneer Desmond Decker, who died Thursday.... "The Israelites" and "Honor Your Father" were "CCM" songs long before anyone came up with those initials....
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