One verse

Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.  —Mark 8:38

The emphasis, of course, is mine; but that's what jumped out at me when I read this verse yesterday.  I think it's all too easy to downplay Christianity, and try to sweep what the Bible says under the carpet; I also think that parts of the Bible are too easily overlooked if the reader doesn't understand the implications of what they're reading.  I have done that myself.  And finally, I don't think people like to admit the great power the Bible has on their life; after all, it's far easier to do things which are opposed to what most others are doing with a shrug and a "Why not?" than a full blown explanation that we're doing something because the Bible says to do it.  But why be ashamed of following the Bible?  Why be ashamed of seeking to live how God says to live?  After all, God is all knowing, and therefore what he says to do has to be best.  The Lord will do good to those who follow him.  So why pretend that we don't want to follow him?

Why not be like Joshua, and have an attitude of "you choose who you will serve, but as for me, I will serve the Lord"?  Why not be upfront with this attitude?