Taking Christ at His Word

I was chatting with Drew over lunch, which we should all do more of (with each other, and with Drew - he's full of gems that come out over a spread at TGIFs) and the convo went something like, "I prayed for God to open my eyes and show me my sins," says I. "Yeah, didn't think that one through did you? God is faithful to give, remember? Bet He wholloped you one, didn't He?" Oooh, yes, indeedy He did.

The more we talked about it, it kind of occurred to us that seeing our own sins so we can repent of them is good, but staring them down is not repentance. Repentance means turning away and not looking back.
I was getting down because I saw my own filth and realized, I'm still looking at myself and not at the Light!
Jesus came to make us free of our sins, not just to show us better what they were! He opens our eyes not so that we would be more afraid once we knew the bog we were wallowing in, but so that we might see and thank the Man dragging us to safety.
Now I realize its time to stick my hand out to others wallowing as well.

Shane Claiborne said once, "Pastors were telling me to lay my life at the foot of the cross, but not giving me anything to pick up."
So, my big question. How can a man, married with children (brum da daa dum, brum da daa dum (hum along)) like myself give his life up for Christ and yet still take care of his family? My wife sure won't go for moving to Calcutta and living in a shanty with Meg on a dirt floor while we feed the poor. There must be a way for us men to live for Jesus - and take the things He said seriously - and to make a difference here in Tokyo, one of the bigger cities of the world. There is much to do here, the harvest is ripe!