I was looking in the Webster dictionary and came across the word brand-name. The Webster dictionary defines brand-name as; having a well-known and usually highly regarded or marketable name. And I began to think about how family names have become in a sense brand-names. Take the Kennedy's or even the Bush's for that matter. No matter how you may feel about these names when mentioned, you have to see them for their brand-name status. Even at church, we have certain families that have been turned into brand-name status. These certain families are I guess held at a certain plateau(or should I say pedestal).

We look at them for their highly religious status, and sometimes begin to take them in as models for our Christian walk. While it's a great thing to have strong and powerful Christians to look up too, we must understand that we should not place them on a pedestal in which they can fall from. You have to understand that these "brand-name families", that we are looking up to are also human. They too, will make mistakes, they too will let us down at some point or another. God is the only one that we should totally put our trust or faith into. In his word he says that he will never leave us or nor forsake us. I believe in this, I hope all of you do too.

While I am writing this blog, I am beginning to think about how high we actually place these"brand-name families". We place them so high on a pedestal that they sometimes forget who and whose they really are. Sometimes these "brand-name families" portray themselves as if they were God's only begotten child. It's as if their name takes precedent over the well-being of another Christian; even when that other Christian is in need. I am not sure if you would call it an arrogant feeling, but that's exactly how it seems. Like I told you in my last blog, anything I say for you to hear, I must also listen to. I am writing this, because I see this happen too often in churches nowadays. We sometimes help create the opportunity for these regular families to adapt themselves into the roles of "brand-name families". To make matters worse for them, we do not allow room for errors.

We church folk, just do not give these "brand-name families"; a chance to mess-up. You know sometimes we slip up and they slip-up too, they have faults just like all the rest. We have to understand that these families that we look up to are human, and that they will sin. We are all family; we are all apart of the only "brand-name family", that should matter. We are a chosen people, that God has invited to be apart of his family. And when one of us sins(please believe it because we will), don't say to another family member, I can't support you, or I will not pray cause that's not what we(our family) do, our(substitute brand-name family for real last name), "brand-name family" does not act like that. What is wrong with this picture, have we forgotten who and whose we are? We need to get back to basics, and re-learn our roles as Christians. We are all here to love one another, to help one another, to be there for one another, not to look down upon one another when we feel the need too. God places us in certain situations for certain reasons, if we cannot handle our God-given jobs, then maybe we should be replaced, by someone who can.

In other words if you have been placed in a situation where God has called you to be a mentor or role model for a coming-along Christian, do not abuse the power that God has dealt you. Use it to help bring along that Christian, and find joy that God chose you to help him. Do not look down upon people that you feel is beneath you, for a time can come, when the tables are turned and that person will look down upon you. So remember if one day you find yourself apart of a "brand-name family", please act accordingly. Remember God is always watching you, and your family, so do as God would have you do.

Remember God first and the World Last,

Bryan E. Patton

Next Weeks blog: The Needy!

From time to time I will post something to think about. Check it out, it just goes along with my book, "Think About It". Think About It!
I pray that your life will be blessed from reading it.

Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror, and just gazed at the image you saw? What were your thoughts, what were your actions? Did you happen to feel as if the image you saw at that moment was not the image you were most proud of? Now take that into consideration and think about your relationship with God. Do you feel, (be honest) that the life that you are living;(your actions, your feelings towards other people, your words), God is totally pleased with? Do you see any possible places where a change(big or small) would be welcomed? Let me remind you that God knows that none of us are perfect in anyway, (that's why he sent his son to die on the cross) so be honest with yourself. Me, while I am writing this piece, I know that there are some things in my life that I can change, I realize that there are some things that I can make better. When I write I am also talking to myself. I am in no way possible perfect, so anything I can tell you to hear, I should also listen to. So many of us try to change our significant others(spouses, boyfriends or girlfriends), we place so much emphasis on this action that we tend to forget our ownselves. We look at our(let's call them other halves just to shorten for publishing purposes) outher halves, as if we are examining lab rats. We look at every aspect of their lives(from their past, even up to their future , and we try to decide what in their lives need to be changed for our sake. But what if for once, we took the microscope off our other halves and placed it on ourselves. Stop trying to change someone, when in fact we are the ones that need changing. Look at your self in a new mirror, in a new manner, and begin to love yourself as God intends.

Remember God first and the world last!
Bryan E. Patton