Philippians 3:7-11 (NIV)

⁷But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. ¹⁰I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,¹¹and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Reflection

When we find gum wrappers or lint in our pockets, it’s so easy for us to toss it. It’s garbage. We don’t give it a second thought. Then there are some things that we keep around forever because it means so much to us or it has made some lasting impression. In this passage, it’s saying whatever it is, it is now all a loss for the sake of Christ. Everything else is garbage compared to knowing Christ our Lord not because those things are all bad or inherently garbage, but because knowing Christ is so much better than all those things. They no longer matter and are blown out of the water. Our identity and righteousness are not based on what good or bad stuff we have done or what we have or don’t have, but rather on what Christ has done and His presence in our life.

Responding to the Transmission

What marks us? What defines us? What do we hold on to as most valuable? For Paul it is Christ and Christ alone. And because of what Christ has done for us, this is true for us as well. It may not be as clear as it was for Paul and sometimes we live acting like this is not true. But as we come to our Father today, we can again lay at His feet our prized possessions (what we love about ourselves) as well as things that have just lingered with us. Let’s bring good and bad, our best memories and worst memories. May we know again that everything else is worthless compared to knowing Christ and experiencing righteousness that comes from Christ. Let’s say yes to knowing the power of His resurrection and even participation in His sufferings. Let’s pray for God’s mission and for others to experience the power of His resurrection.

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – George Zimmerman arrived at the Seminole County jail Wednesday night after being charged with second-degree murder for the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

Cameras captured a man, believed to be Zimmerman, wearing a plaid shirt and covering his face with a jacket being led into the jail. He was booked, and his photo was made public, the first look the public had of Zimmerman as he looks today.

He faces an appearance in bond court Thursday at which time prosecutors will ask that be held without bond until his trial.

A man, believed to be George Zimmerman, was led into jail after being charged with second degree murder. (CBS4)

“We voluntarily surrendered him to law enforcement, with the realization that the charges were going to come,” said Mark O’Mara, Zimmerman’s attorney.

“I think anyone who would be charged with second degree murder would be scared, so yes, I’m certain that he’s frightened.”

Earlier in the day, special prosecutor Angela Corey announced the charges in a news conference.

“It is the search for justice for Trayvon that has brought us to this moment,” state attorney Corey said.

Corey also had a message for those who have been rushing to judgment on the case.

“You cannot know what it’s like to launch this type of investigation and come to this conclusion,” State Attorney Angela Corey said during the press conference.

“We don’t prosecute by public pressure or petition. We prosecute cases on the relevant facts of each case and on the laws of the state of Florida.”

UMBC professor Roy T. Meyers, political science, offered his budget expertise in this week’s PolitiFact analysis of a claim by Rep. Paul Ryan that “the president has doubled the size of government since he took office.” The article concludes that data do not support Ryan’s statement. Meyers argues that even if the doubling claim were true, President Obama would not be the cause.

“Were all the increased outlays because of Obama’s actions? Of course not,” Meyers says. “Many of them were the result of ‘mandatory’ policies in place before he took office, and those policies responded to unfavorable economic conditions — deposit insurance, food stamps, Medicaid, unemployment insurance and so on.”

PolitiFact rated Ryan’s claim “Pants on Fire” and Ryan’s office has since replaced the sentence on his congressional website.