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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Encountering an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue # 155 June 1, 2001 Canaries As we sat out on the porch at my parents farm two small yellow birds flew by. The locals call them canaries, simply because they are small yellow songbirds. Everyone knows that small yellow songbirds are canaries. In actuality, they were warblers of some form. I’m not sure which species because I didn’t get a good look and there are several species native to the area. There are probably twenty or more species of small yellow birds that live around here, but they are all “canaries”. That is they most way people tend to be. We get a name or label in mind for something and then apply it to everything else of the same type. We generalize and categorize. The label canary is okay, most people seem to like canaries and it is a relatively harmless name. Other words can have a whole lot of connotations. For example: if I said I saw a bunch of bikers on the highway yesterday what picture comes to mind? For some it will be a motorcycle gang, others a group of people out for a tour, still others perhaps a number of people on bicycles out training for a race. The images vary based on our experience. In the early days of the church, one thing that even the most ardent haters of Christianity spoke well of, was the way Christians cared for each other and others. You might have been killed for your faith, but to wear the badge of being Christian meant you showed your love. That is the sort of example that Christ called us to be; "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”                                                                   John 13:34-35 NIV When someone finds out you are a Christian, what pictures come to their mind? Loving and helpful? Narrow minded and judgmental? Hypocritical? Honest? It will depend on their experience with Christians. For some it will paint a pleasant picture and for others a painful, or negative image comes to mind. Are you modeling for the people you encounter the kind of Christianity Jesus called us to? What picture of “Christian” comes to mind after people have met you? Until next time, may the fact of you being a disciple of Christ leave a favorable impression on people because of your love for them. God bless. Kevin  ©  2001 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin All Rights Reserved