听
Yesterday, I told Ed, my old neighbour in Saskatchewan, that I am going to explore having personal branding. I got the idea from a realtor who sent me an email with his brand. He signed his name Ross Smith Realtor 鈥� 鈥淟et me open new doors for you.鈥� I thought his slogan as a real estate agent was catchy. I decided that I should have a snappy motto myself like, Ray Maher 鈥� 鈥淭he bald old guy.鈥�
Ed, of course, rained on my enthusiasm. He said that anyone with an eye could see that I am both bald and old. He is sure a slogan should be unique and give the promise of something worth considering. Ed suggested a brand for me, Ray Maher - 鈥淟eave him in the garden.鈥�听
I told Ed I was looking at some mottos on my computer for myself. He rejected the mottos I liked 鈥戔�戔�淒reamer of the Impossible,鈥� 鈥淪eeker of the unknown.鈥� 鈥淓veryone at your age is into napping and do not know if they are dreaming or awake in their favourite chair unless they fall out of it,鈥� Ed scoffed. Sometimes Ed is not ready for progressive thinking. Through the years, I have had to be patient with him about anything new.
There are many Christian mottos, taglines, or brands, such as, 鈥淢y Saviour is tougher than nails,鈥� 鈥淕od loves each of us as if there was only one of us.鈥�
鈥淟et go and let God鈥� 鈥戔�� John Wesley鈥檚 motto for Christian living is well known, 鈥淒o all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, To all the people you can as long as you can.鈥�
I searched scripture to find out how Jesus branded himself when he was here on Earth. Here are the results of how Jesus labelled himself. John 6:48, 鈥淚 am the bread of life.鈥� John 8:12, 鈥淚 am the light of the world.鈥滼ohn 10:9, 鈥淚 am the door/gate.鈥� John 10:11, 鈥淚 am the good shepherd.鈥� John 11:25, 鈥淚 am the resurrection and the life.鈥� John14:6 鈥淚 am the way, and the truth and the life.鈥� John 15:1, 鈥淚 am the true vine.鈥�
Jesus is much more than his labels. He came down from heaven to give himself as the living bread of heaven. He did this so we could receive eternal life through the spiritual food of His body and blood given and shed for us sinners.
Jesus promises that whoever follows him will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. Whoever is a sheep of Jesus will have life to the full, for his sheep are safe going in and out to pasture. For Jesus, their good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He knows his sheep, and they know him. Jesus promised, 鈥淚 am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.鈥�
As the way and the truth and the life, only Jesus leads his followers to the Father in heaven. In our lives, we can do nothing fruitful unless we remain living branches in Jesus, our vine.
