A lot of people are getting psyched about the weekend — it’s time for the annual Oscars Awards Ceremony !

Tinseltown’s buzzing with their Who’s Who List, hoping to get some applause and credit.  It’s guaranteed, many will be down in the dumps by the end of the night.

I’m not just talking about the people who’ll be driving home without a golden statue.

Since the 1990’s, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences started a tradition of airing a montage of actors who’ve passed away the previous year — as a “Memoriam” to their life and contribution to the art of film.

“It is the single most troubling element of the Oscar show every year,” says Bruce Davis, executive director of the Academy. “Because more people die each year than can possibly be included in that segment.” 

According to the AP article that quoted Davis, there are hundreds of names who could be included in the show’s memorial.  Only thirty or so make the final cut.

The family members who watch the show and see their loved ones missing from the tribute are heart broken. As a result, the show gets barraged with upset phone calls every year.

Keepin’ It Real

We may also get left out, if we step out and take a chance to be real.  We risk being cut from someone’s (unrealistic, incomplete) image of us.

It hurts.  If you’ve been misunderstood, you get me when I say it’s easier to go back to living in a box and live safe, rather than real.

It gets kinda lonely though.  And stale.

After all, real life is about the good and the bad.

Are You A Faith Barista, Too?

This week, I celebrated a personal milestone of hitting the 100th Faith Barista post — with an article about Becoming Real:  Why We All Have Dots.

I couldn’t have picked a better topic to blog about because of the amazing stories you shared in the comments.

I was touched by the authenticity of your experiences.

It underscored my conviction that real stories are what puts us in touch with ourselves, others and God.

Our vulnerabilities make up the perfect conditions for faith.

As people of faith, our lives can stand out.  It’s not that we’re on So-and-So’s list.  We can afford to  take risks relationally and with our dreams. We can dare to be real, because we are never cut from God’s list.

I’ve met quite a few faith baristas, since I opened up the bar here at Faith Barista.

I started blogging because I wanted to  find people who are on the same journey to keep faith hot and fresh.

Is that you, too?

If so, you are a faith barista!

Calling Faith Baristas

*** BLOG WITH ME!  JOIN ME NEXT WEEK, FRIDAY, 3/12 ***

Serve up your shot of faith by writing about:  Rejection

1. Write 300-700 words about the topic of rejection.

2.  Keep it real.

3.  Share how it affected or influenced your faith walk (relationship with God, others, or yourself).

Next week, I’ll have MckLinky up — which means you can type in the url of your blog post & we can all read your thoughts on rejection.

I’m looking forward to how we’ll encourage each other in our unique experiences.  I know we’ll end up sharing new ways to keep faith hot & fresh!

Comment below and lemme know if you’re game!

A.  Naw.  I’ll just read.

B.  Maybe.  We’ll see.

C.  Probably.  I’ll try.

D.  Plan to do it!

* Psst… By the way, if you don’t have a blog, you can comment your thoughts on this topic too next week!

** Double psst… To sweeten the deal, I’m going to have a special Faith Barista giveaway, for the faith barsitas who participate!

“He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white.
I will never blot out his name from the book of life,
but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.”
Revelations. 3:5