Minnesota Transplant

I’m a transplant.  I didn't grow up in Minnesota and I confess, I was never gonna be a Vikings fan until I moved to the land of 10,000 lakes. I still get strange looks when I say “catty-corner” or suggest a game of “Duck Duck Goose” to my kids. I had no idea what Minnesota-Nice was until I got burned by a few “nice” people.  I was unaware that an able-bodied male in Minnesota should not physically defend himself--and win.  And it was never clearly explained to me: this ritual of eating rotten fish out of a barrel during certain festivals...there is still more to learn in my adopted state!

Similarly, I’m still learning how to fully be a radical follower of Jesus. Learning how to love people...ALL people...unconditionally. Becoming fluent in the language of joy that doesn’t quit just because things don’t go how I think they should. And patience, that may just be my downfall some days!

I will probably never be voted “The Next Mr. Rogers” or be invited to his Neighborhood, but I don’t think Jesus would be, either. The thing us Christians need to remember is God isn’t training us to just simply be NICE. He’s training us to be BOLD and live with PURPOSE! He’s coaching us to be supernaturally creative and find solutions for the world’s problems, not just mindlessly say “yes, sir” like some kiss-butt! The Bible is full of people who went against the grain, against all odds, against the traditions of the day in order to do something extraordinary that changed the world...That’s what Jesus would do, and that’s exactly what He DID when He made some religious folk mad enough to kill him.  And THAT’S the culture I’m becoming integrated with, not the plastic smiles and superficial answers to real-life dilemmas, but something real! I refuse to end up a foreigner when it comes to learning the ways of God--not that cheesy-wuss “jesus” who’s thrown into the media for a joke-- But the Jesus who was strong enough to be considered a criminal when all He did was LOVE! That’s where I want full citizenship!