Can You Tell I'm a Christian?

Well, this is a little late in being delivered, but better late than never.

Can people tell I am a Christian by looking at me?  Can they see it in my eyes?  Do my actions exemplify it?  I don't know.  As I read Joshua 5, I am struck by circumcision/pain and it points out 2 things to me.  1 - sometimes you have to do painful things for God.  2 - God will mark you, but not everyone sees it.  Circumcision is now a controversial thing, but I didn't think twice about getting my son circumcised.  I did it because I had read that it helps prevents infections, but I also did it because I read about it in the bible.  I was there when he was circumcised and then I was there again when we had to take him to the pediatric nephrologist because of issues due to his circumcision.  I did not regret my decision to have him circumcised.  I cannot imagine grown men being circumcised.  That is truly a sacrifice for God and it shows me that they knew that God was worth it.  God used circumcision as a covenant and promise to his People.

Have I ever been asked to do anything to sacrifice for God?  I don't know.  I went to Kenya and when I returned I felt compelled to apply to local Physician Assistant programs.  I really felt as though God was telling me to do this.  Lots of interesting signs....  Well, I have been rejected by 2 out of the 3 schools I have applied to.  Is it physically painful?  No.  However, it is painful to my psyche.  I never thought I would be rejected because I am too old for this type of program.   Apparently, my prerequisites are too old for some of these programs.  Do I want to go to school to go back to school, not really?  However, I think that is what God is asking me to do.  Not painful by Joshua's standards, but somewhat painful by my standards.  However, I know God is holy and will only ask me to do things that I am capable of doing.

I don't think that I can recognize Christians by sight or smell.  I don't know that I am recognizable as a Christian either.  My ideas of recognizable Christians are not usually favorable.  I have had people say to me that they cannot believe I am a Christian because I don't judge everything they do.  Believe me, I don't want to be judged either.  I don't know that Christianity is about "blending in" but it is about being part of the world we live in.  I want people to notice my actions and reactions and wonder what is different about me.  I don't like the negative connotation that being a Christian has lately.  I want to be like Jesus and have dinner with the tax collectors and sinners.  Bring on the party!