What'd you call me?

For a long time I thought he hated me.

My best friend Jason Sleight dad that is.

It all started about 14 years ago, I was talking to Jason on the phone when out of nowhere he calls Bob (Jason’s dad) and says I called him (I don’t even remember what exactly) something like a sissy girl that anyone could beat up.

I couldn’t believe Jason would lie to his dad and I started to freak out.

I hear Jason yelling this to his dad and I hear his dad in the distance yelling, “WHAT’D HE CALL ME.”

Next his dad got on the phone and said it again, I fumbled words around saying it was Jason and not me.

I thought for a while Jason’s dad hated me.

What I found out later, I was setup.

Jason’s dad was next to him the entire time and they were laughing about it.

At the time I really didn’t find it funny, now I can look back and laugh.

Bob will still come up to me once every while and say, “What’d you call me?”

What do people call you?

What do people call you to your face?

Behind your back?

If people just met you, what would they say about you after spending a couple of minutes with you.

What would you like to be called?

In Acts 4 the apostles and followers were sharing everything in common.

People brought things to the apostles and gave to those in need.

One of the people that brought stuff to Jesus was a man named Joseph.

Listen to what they called him in verse 36…

“Joseph, a Levite from Cyrpus whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”).”

Son of encouragement.

That is a great name to be called.

He was known as an encourager.

Not a bad trait to be known as.

I think about what I want to be known as…

A good guy

Good follower of Jesus
A funny guy
Person who was there for others
Genuinely cared about other people

I don’t want to be known for negative things.

Sometimes we are known for things we don’t want to be known for.

If that is the case, how can that change today?

How do you want to be known for?

Are you the person you want to be today?

I am a firm believer that everyone no matter how old can still change for the better.

That Jesus gives us another chance and we can do the same for others.

We can be known for being a better person and if we are the ones that make fun of other people we can change.

Are you who you want to be known for today?

If not, what can you do to improve that?

What’d you call me is a joke I laugh about now, what do you want to be called today?

Have a great day.