You and I may never agree. In fact, if we do not agree, it simply reminds me of the uniqueness God has placed inside of each of us. Sure I would like you to agree with me, but it is not necessarily the basis of our friendship, fellowship or familyship.

And yet daily each of has the ability to incur the wrath of someone who disagrees.

Today is Black, Plaid or Flannel Friday depending on your shopping style if you shop at all. If you don’t that is your choice. If you do, that is your choice as well.

As I read the news or blogs, there is a side to everything. Everyone has a side. You can lose a job, a position or a relationship over a 140 character tweet or a failed Facebook post. Everybody seems to be up in arms about something. Anything. The trending (Catchy word, huh.)shows everyone has an opinion and is willing to die for it.

Lately as we approached the trinity of holidays, it escalated. It began to inundate my news feeds. Here they came. Headlines began to appear. Too much Christmas too soon; Not enough of Jesus; Commercialism ; Black Friday or Flannel Friday. (Are they going to have a “fluorescent Friday”? I might be in on that.) On and on.

I get it. But it will never be what we are against that will change us but what we are for.

Folks, I was the anti-Christ before I got saved. I hated God, Jesus and His people. I ran retail and bemoaned the fact they made us close in the mall on Christmas and Thanksgiving. I get it!

But as I watch debates, fractions and schisms, I see Jesus had a better way. He encouraged us to think about it. I get you may not agree with me or another, but Jesus asked us to remove the beam before our attempt at removing the speck. Folks, I long ago expected the world to act much the way I did before coming to Christ. As a matter of fact, for them to not, would be the surprise.

We want people to live value systems that are not even in their world just to please us. I would love that, but until they see the change in us or see the Jesus who paid for them, died as them, it is pretty unlikely. Have you not noticed just in the church, that is a struggle as well?

It is not about hypocrisy but about reality. Jesus did not say we had to agree, but He suggested strongly we get along. Are we going to break with family or friend over a shopping day? Or music? Or when something happens? Folks-that is pretty shallow and certainly not in keeping with what was given to us.

The greatest thing about our nation is the ability to choose. In the kingdom how much greater does the word freedom ring out? I have been rejected, rebuked and even..oh, no…unfriended, because of a column I wrote about something and never asked people to change anything!

If it is all about love, let’s show it. I get some might have to work today that don’t want to. I get that others need the money. It still comes down to choices and freedom.

Me? I might go fashion shopping and bring a little light to the black. Or just kick back with coffee and family.