Then I went into the city and dropped my guitar off to get serviced. When I bought it there was a package where I could get it serviced once this year. So, I am guitarless for the next week. Then I went and got my oil in my car changed, and then went across the street and got my cell phone looked at. The screen on the outside stopped working. So, they are sending it off to get looked at and gave me a loaner. I definitely like my phone a lot better than this loaned one! At least I had the presence of mind to get my contacts transferred before they took it from me! Funny is, I had been texting my brother for a while before that, and I handed my phone to the young gal, and I guess while she was looking at it he had texted me the following message, "I love you!" haha, so she had been smiling at me lots the whole time and kind of shifted a bit then. When I looked at it to turn off all my alarms I checked the messages and saw that one from him... I explained it to her and she laughed and said, "Close loving family eh!"
Then I went to Parables bookstore and bought several CDs (some that I had wanted for a while... the new Kevin Max CD "Blood" and some cheap ones that brought back memories Paul Wright and Bleach) and two tickets to the Shane and Shane concert (I want to see them more than the headliners, Starfield).
And now my other brother, Byron is going to stay over night tonight on his round about way to visit friends.
I should probably go back to the house and see if he is there yet, but here is the next part of my talk about value:
A question that I think needs to be asked is Where is our value found?
Let me get a little vulnerable with you guys.
I grew up in an amazing, loving Christian family. But, looking back, I can see that my value was not based on Christ, and I still struggle with this.
One example is how I would often base it on things like trying to get the best marks. If I didn’t get 100% on a math exam I would be so mad at myself.
Or if I struck out in baseball or missed a breakaway in hockey or a serve in volleyball I would rip myself apart. My play would just plummet and my belief in my own value would be awful. My basis for doing stuff was often to prove others wrong and to show them that I was good at something!
Or, as many of you know, I have been single for 25 years. There have been times where I wondered if there was something wrong with me. Like if I am not good looking enough, or muscular enough, or if my personality just bugs people! I think I put my value in people liking me and I was often not myself. I would try to be the jokester, the storyteller and try to be friends with everyone, but as I moved around I noticed that I haven’t had very many strong friendships that endured. It bothers me that I do not have many people who I have kept in contact with.
But, a few years ago I went to AIA National Training Camp and they spoke about the value we have in Christ. It hit me so hard! This concept is something that I knew, but hadn’t hit my heart until this point and it has freed me up in so many ways… I definitely still struggle with my value and with confidence in who I am, but I am constantly reminded of where my value truly lies.
I want to encourage you all that you are invaluable! There is nothing on this earth that is as valuable as you! Think about that, there is no amount of money, or gold, or silver or diamonds that can be used to purchase you or determine your value! You were bought at the highest price possible, with Christ’s blood! Let that sink in. Nothing that you do can make you more valuable, because you are the most valuable thing on this earth! And nothing you do can make you decrease in value, because Christ has paid for you, and in His eyes nothing can decrease His love for you, you are still His beloved and nothing can take away your value. He paid for you with His blood! That is the ultimate price.
To put this into context. Think of the most famous musician in the World, for instance Bono from U2. He is no more valuable than a person like me who is plucking away at the guitar and am happy if I can tune it properly! Or the greatest athlete who, in the championship game of his or her respective sport almost single handedly wins the championship. Or even a person who does all the right things in church and in the community, the person who looks like the perfect Christian. He or she has not gained in value by their performance.
Or from the other perspective, say you have an audition with a dance or music team, and you just bomb it, or you have an opportunity to win the big game for your team and blow it, or you finally get the nerve to talk to that hansom guy or beautiful woman and you get shut down hardcore! Or even the sins that we have committed, no matter how bad they are, Christ has paid for them. Your value has not been decreased, because it cannot be decreased! You are still the most valuable thing on this earth.
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