I AM
I AM
By Joseph Thomas M.

I am. I am not. I am inclusive. I am exclusive. I am Christian. I am not. I categorize myself and include those that fit into my category and exclude those that do not. I try to explain to those excluded to understand why they should be included. I rationalize. I debate. I fight for the cause. I am right and they are wrong. They do not understand. They are the not included and must be changed, or they must not be included. They must be changed to belong. They must change to
be included into my world, my understanding, my rightfulness.

"I AM WHO AM", says the Lord. The Lord is not, the Lord is. We all exclude. We look down. We take pity on those that do not see the light. But whose light is it? Is it truly the light of God? I AM WHO AM.

Did Jesus where a cross around his neck? No, he carried a cross, and he died on a cross. Some wear a cross to acknowledge the fact. They say, "I am included". Some have a decal on their car that says, "I am included". They say to you, either you are included or you are excluded. Jesus did not exclude. Jesus did not die for those that sinned by a specific commandment. Jesus did not die for those that were there at the cross. Jesus did not die for the Jews. Jesus did not die for the Romans. Jesus died for us all. Jesus died for sinners, of which we are all included. We share that in common. Why not wear your sin around your neck with pride? Why do we hide it? And whom do we hide it from? We hide it from ourselves. We put on our garments of deceit and walk around filled with pride. Filled with the knowledge that we are not, that we are better, that we are included, and certainly you are not, unless you are the same, unless you wear the same garments of deceit.

Jesus wore sandals on his feet, on his dirty feet. And his garments were ordinary, if not dirty also. His hair was curly, like lamb's wool, and like lamb's wool it was probably not washed every day. Jesus wore nothing for Jesus was transparent. Jesus was what he appeared to be. Jesus came to declare, "I AM WHO AM". Jesus came to include. Jesus
came to speak with us all, and to die for us all.

Shed your garments of deceit. Do not be ashamed. Become transparent. God already sees you as he created you. It is a common phrase to say, "whoever among you is without sin, cast the first stone." I challenge you to have courage enough to take off your garments of deceit and not only put down your stones, but to join your fellow sinner in the line of fire. I am included. I am a sinner.

I challenge that whoever among you is with sin, please stand up. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Joseph Mueller and I am a sinner. My sin may be different from yours and may even change from day to day, season to season, but I am a sinner. I am included, and it is I whom Jesus chose to die for on the cross.