This week while visiting my second home, Starbucks, I was presented with an example of our human desire to please others two days in a row from the same barista. As many of you may know, Starbucks just recently raised the prices of all of their products. Now for a lot of you I am a fairly boring coffee drinker when it comes to Starbucks and I will only order a tall or grande cup of black coffee nine out of ten times. (I'll admit to being addicted as well as a purist--the only real coffee is black coffee.)

Anyway, it happened that on both mornings, this particular barista began, in a very apologetic tone, letting me know that the prices had increased the previous week. It struck me as very odd since I had not said anything to indicate that I was upset with the price changes to begin with, not to mention the price hike was just four cents. The hike wasn't something to be concerned about. However, I could tell from the way that she approached me as a customer that she had probably been yelled at numerious times for the price increase and she was preparing herself for another confrontation. I politely told her that it really was not a big deal and thanked her for being up front.

After the same apology the following day, I started thinking. A lot of times we react in a similar fashion when it comes to our faith in Christ. I have done it and I have seen it happen a hundred times. Someone finds out that I am a Christian and my response is somewhat apologetic. I may not be saying "I'm Sorry, I'm a Christian" but the tone and inflection in my voice tells a different story. I come off sounding unsure and apologetic, posing my words almost as if they were questions as I feel out who I'm really addressing. Do you know what I am talking about?

I want to encourage you to stand strong in your faith. You don't have to know the Bible cover to cover, you don't need to be that person who spends 20 hours a week in prayer, but you need to stand strong for your faith in Christ.

We have to remember that Christ himself said in John 15:18-19, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."

Those are some strong words, but very encouraging. It says that Christ has chosen us. We are chosen of God. That is not just an "oh that's nice" statement--that's a "WHOA" statement. We have to realize that every person we pass in our day has been chosen by God. They are all, just like you and me, made in the image of God. All of us.

We have to stop looking at the world as a "us versus them" scenario. We have nothing to be apologetic about because we have the answer to the aching and the pain, the loneliness and depression. We know the maker of all things and there is no reason to be ashamed. Don't be worried about what people might be thinking. Odds are, they are like I was at Starbucks, confused as to why you seem apologetic. Just be real and let the love of Christ pour out of you onto everyone you meet. Remember, you have and know the answer that people are looking for, whether they want to admit it or not.

Final Thought: Memorize and let the words of Jesus in the book of Mark sink into your very soul this week. Mark 8:38 - "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." (NIV)