{"id":147,"date":"2009-07-29T12:59:25","date_gmt":"2009-07-29T12:59:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/flirtingwithfaith\/2009\/07\/i-have-no-idea-what-i-would-ask-jesus.html"},"modified":"2009-07-29T12:59:25","modified_gmt":"2009-07-29T12:59:25","slug":"i-have-no-idea-what-i-would-ask-jesus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/flirtingwithfaith\/2009\/07\/i-have-no-idea-what-i-would-ask-jesus.html","title":{"rendered":"I Have No Idea What I Would Ask Jesus&#8230;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Okay, I&#8217;ll admit it. I posed a question to my 11 year old son Ian over dinner earlier this week that I cannot answer myself. I didn&#8217;t know it at the time. I didn&#8217;t know it when I shared the conversation here in a post titled, <a href=\"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/flirtingwithfaith\/2009\/07\/what-would-you-ask-jesus.html\">What Would You Ask Jesus<\/a>? In fact, I didn&#8217;t know it until the comments started coming in and the wonderful, honest and genuine readers of this blog took the question to heart. Whether weighing in here or on Facebook, I was humbled as I read the answers of the sick, the faithful, the curious, the skeptical and the disgusted. I considered plucking out a few examples to illustrate this point on either side of my coming clean about my own inability to conger an answer to this simple yet paradoxically complex question but chose instead to list them here. It&#8217;s kind of long, but I think it&#8217;s worth it. Feel free to add to the list. As for me, I have some thinking to do&#8230;<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<blockquote class=\"webkit-indent-blockquote\"><p><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: bold\">Pam<\/span>: I would have so many questions about the state of this<br \/>\nworld, but I would be selfish and ask about me. As a cancer survivor, I feel<br \/>\nthat I am wasting this life, I have had no great epiphany. I would ask Jesus<br \/>\nwhat is it he would have me do with the rest of my life. I have been given a<br \/>\nsecond chance and absolutely nothing has changed.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"webkit-indent-blockquote\"><p><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div><!--StartFragment--><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: bold\">God&#8217;s Servant<\/span>: It would be a huge blessing to have a chance<br \/>\nto meet my SAVIOR face to face. Although I gave him my life, I still feel that<br \/>\nI would not be purified enough to face his glory. If I do have that chance, I<br \/>\nwill ask HIM to allow me to stay next to HIM at all time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote class=\"webkit-indent-blockquote\"><p><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: bold\">Mark<\/span>: As with the 11 yr old, I would want to go back in time<br \/>\nand meet my Jesus face to face. Get a big hug from him, be held by him, Sit and<br \/>\ntalk with him about how I am living my life and all my shortcomings and how I<br \/>\ncan trully get closer to him and serve him and be the man he intended for me to<br \/>\nbe. Then maybe go get a quick look at some of the big fallen empires such as<br \/>\nbabylon, rome maybe see about alexander the great. But before any of that I<br \/>\nwould need to see Jesus first. He must always be first.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"webkit-indent-blockquote\"><p><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: bold\">TRS<\/span>: I would ask Jesus nothing for his infinite wisdom is<br \/>\nall around us. What happens to us is all up to us. He will welcome you to<br \/>\nHeaven if you just do the right things that he has taught in the bible. Be<br \/>\nkind,helpful,understanding of each other. God Bless us all it is up to you.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote class=\"webkit-indent-blockquote\"><p><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: bold\">Anon<\/span>: I would ask him how did we come to be and where did<br \/>\nthis thing called existence come from? I am just fascinated by how existence<br \/>\ncame into existence?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"webkit-indent-blockquote\"><p><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: bold\">Kim<\/span>: If I had the honor of being in the presence of Jesus I<br \/>\nwould ask him to show me the way to lead others to understand that lying in any<br \/>\nmanner is wrong and that truth is the only acceptable way to love life. I would<br \/>\nalso ask that he provide my father in law with the biggest catfish River so he<br \/>\ncan spend eternity catching all the biggest catfish that one could imagine. God<br \/>\nplease take care of this man who has taken care of so many in his lifetime and<br \/>\ngiven so much joy to those around him and never asking anything in return. I<br \/>\nlove you Pop!!!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote class=\"webkit-indent-blockquote\"><p><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: bold\">Jeanine<\/span>: If I was granted the previlage of being face to<br \/>\nface with Jesus on earth I would simply ask,&#8221; am I living my life the way<br \/>\nyou planned and hoped?&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"webkit-indent-blockquote\"><p><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: bold\">Kathleen<\/span>: How is my granmother Helen Pocreva and Aunt Joan Pocreva and my grandfather?<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote class=\"webkit-indent-blockquote\"><p><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: bold\">Jakebreake<\/span>r: I&#8217;d ask Jesus 3 things: 1 &#8211; Why did he lose it<br \/>\nand whip those temple money-changers with nails? He&#8217;s a role model. He should<br \/>\nknow better than that. 2 &#8211; How come he never just flat-out said that it&#8217;s wrong<br \/>\nto own another human being? 3 &#8211; Why would I follow the teachings of a God who<br \/>\nthreatens infinite punishment for finite crimes when he hates you, and who<br \/>\nmutilates infant genitalia without anesthetic when he *likes* you?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"webkit-indent-blockquote\"><p><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: bold\">Barbara<\/span>: I would ask him to help me to walk up right and do<br \/>\nwhat is pleasing and acceptable in his sight daily.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote class=\"webkit-indent-blockquote\"><p><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: bold\">Larry<\/span>: I would thank him for giving me understanding of<br \/>\nwhat&#8217;s happening today, tomorrow, and all that will happen till he comes. It is<br \/>\nwhat he will say to us that&#8217;s important, I want to hear &#8220;well done my good<br \/>\nand faithful servant&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"webkit-indent-blockquote\"><p><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: bold\">Bill<\/span>: Hmmm&#8230; I would simply ask Jesus what he would have me do<br \/>\nfor him. I would be blessed indeed if I could wash his feet and anoint him with<br \/>\noil. I would feed him a very good meal with family and friends all gathered<br \/>\n&#8217;round. What a wondrous and glorious day that would be. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote class=\"webkit-indent-blockquote\"><p><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: bold\">Anon<\/span>: I would ask Jesus alot of WHY&#8217;s and have him teach me<br \/>\nthe reason behind them all. I don&#8217;t understand the Bible nor do I understand<br \/>\nwhat it tries to tell me. I went to several classes on the teachings and got me<br \/>\nmore confused then ever as everyone interpets differently. So I would have the<br \/>\nGreat Teacher of all teach me the Why&#8217;s and What If&#8217;s that I have within me.<br \/>\nThat is if HE (Jesus ) has the time.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"webkit-indent-blockquote\"><p><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: bold\">Maria<\/span>: I would ask the HEAVENLY FATHER to touch and heal my<br \/>\nbeloved mother.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote class=\"webkit-indent-blockquote\"><p><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: bold\">Robert<\/span>: Did you take the day off on September 11, 2001?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"webkit-indent-blockquote\"><p><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: bold\">Beverly Rodgers<\/span>: When I was reading about what your son said<br \/>\nabout asking Jesus what is the right thing to do? I thought that was a pretty<br \/>\ngood question. I think I would ask Him why after I had met and married my<br \/>\nsecond husband and we enjoyed singing gospel music together and we were just so<br \/>\nhappy that he has had to spend the last 4 years in a nursing facility fighting<br \/>\nAlzheimer&#8217;s Disease. That is probably what I would ask Him. After my 1st<br \/>\nhusband died I vowed that I wouldn&#8217;t marry again. Never say never. God showed<br \/>\nme the difference of loving someone and really being in love with someone. For<br \/>\nthat I will always be greatful. I am so thankful that we can go to Him even<br \/>\nwhen we are upset or angry and He continues to love us in spite of everything.<br \/>\nI don&#8217;t know what I would do without Him in my life. He has blessed me with a<br \/>\nmusic ministry which I basically use at church through playing the piano and<br \/>\nsinging. I love it more every day. I&#8217;ve had a lot of ups and downs in my life<br \/>\nas a lot of people have but I don&#8217;t regret a single mile I have traveled for<br \/>\nthe Lord. Howard Goodman of the Happy Goodman Family wrote a poem entitled that<br \/>\nand I just loved it and I found it to be true in my life. I am so greatful to<br \/>\nGod that we have someone we can go to at any time and He is never too busy. <span>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote class=\"webkit-indent-blockquote\"><p><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: bold\">Kristy<\/span>: I would ask Jesus to help me remember that He has<br \/>\nalready accomplished the work in us and that we do not need to strive as<br \/>\nChristians. What we do need to do is call on His holy name, and trust only in<br \/>\nHim through the faith that has been given to us that are His.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div>\n<!--EndFragment--><\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/p>\n<div>\u00a0\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Okay, I&#8217;ll admit it. I posed a question to my 11 year old son Ian over dinner earlier this week that I cannot answer myself. I didn&#8217;t know it at the time. I didn&#8217;t know it when I shared the conversation here in a post titled, What Would You Ask Jesus? In fact, I didn&#8217;t&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":181,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-147","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-spiritual-growth"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>I Have No Idea What I Would Ask Jesus... - Flirting with Faith<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/flirtingwithfaith\/2009\/07\/i-have-no-idea-what-i-would-ask-jesus.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"I Have No Idea What I Would Ask Jesus... - Flirting with Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Okay, I&#8217;ll admit it. 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In fact, I didn&#8217;t&hellip;\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/flirtingwithfaith\/2009\/07\/i-have-no-idea-what-i-would-ask-jesus.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Flirting with Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2009-07-29T12:59:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Joan Ball\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"I Have No Idea What I Would Ask Jesus... - Flirting with Faith","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/flirtingwithfaith\/2009\/07\/i-have-no-idea-what-i-would-ask-jesus.html","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"I Have No Idea What I Would Ask Jesus... - Flirting with Faith","og_description":"Okay, I&#8217;ll admit it. 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