Patrick's Blog!     Starting this blog will help me to write down what comes to mind as I go about doing the duties of life. I am an inquirer. I like to question and test everything. I am convinced that to live a Christian life is the most rewarding experience a person can choose in this life. So, in my daily life and in my search for Truth, as I am led to understand who Jesus Christ is and what His life and death mean to me, I will attempt to write these things down. This I feel must be shared with the prayer that others may also understand what life on this earth is like with the love of Christ living in and through us.     This is not meant to be a diary, but I will add to this blog as I have time and receive things to write. May God Bless! Sunday, April 25, 2009: ~~What is a Christian?     Just 'what is a Christian' has been a question which I have thought about for many years. Of course, the obvious answer is "to be like Christ." But what does that mean? I would like to pass on an answer I heard recently in a Bible study class. Maybe this answer will also help you understand what it means to be a citizen of Heaven, starting on this earth, even under the conditions of this sinful world.     When our Bible teacher asked this question of our class, the answer was stated by many, in varying degrees, like the answer given above; “A Christian patterns his/her life as near as possible to the life of Christ.” The Bible teacher, wanting the class to think and dig deeper then asked, "And what does that mean?" Again, there were varying answers, all bordering on the cliché answers all good Christians would give. But the Bible teacher was going for something specific which she went on to explain.     Before this world was created there were a few events that took place which caused the plan of Salvation to be put in place. It was Lucifer who started the problem by looking at the actions of God the Father, God the Son, and the angels differently than anyone had before. It was slow and probably not even perceived by Lucifer himself at first, but he began to look inward. As this inward gaze became more intense he could not see the reason for God’s law of love and service to other beings throughout the created universe. This was a new way of thinking. Many of the angels followed Lucifer’s example of inward gaze, not realizing at first, where it would led. Looking inward always sets the eyes, whether physical, mental, or spiritual, to look upon self. Looking upon self is the exclusion of service to others, and will always led away from the law of love, --and that is sin.     Bringing the point on home the Bible teacher went on to explain that, yes, being a Christian is living that life that Christ lived. Christ life is that of looking out for the creatures He created, even though they rebelled against His law of love. He not only lived in service for others, but He died in service to them, that they may have the choice to reject looking inward and living for self.     “And therein is when the plan of salvation is completed!” the Bible teacher went on to explain. Those who are saved among man will restore the law of love in service to others, --which the fallen angels gave up. We are in that training-camp right now! Under the most terrible and hideous conditions of looking inward, --imaginable only by the devising of the greatest of sins, the follower of Christ is placed. Against such odds, if a person were to draw upon the powers within himself, he could not possibly overcome.     But when he reaches outside of himself, and asks the Spirit of Love to live within, there is no power living for itself, that cannot be overturned by the Power of Heaven. This order of living for one’s self interested will not continue for very much longer and the great controversy of self against God’s law of love will soon end.     Who then is a Christian? A Christian is one who loves to live for the well being of others, even to the exclusion of himself. P.S. --A person who looks out for himself becomes other-blind, and cannot see and hear the cries of others.