Jesus Loves Me And My Tattoos And He'd Let Me Minister In Your Church

Right after i graduated high school i decided to get a tattoo. I had been thinking about it for a while, and had came up with something that i knew i wouldnt mind seeing at 70 years old. It was an old school microphone with the phrase "Created to Worship" written around it, along with the scripture documentation of Psalm 146:2 which reads "I will praise the lord as long as i live. i will sing praises to my God, even with my dying breath." I loved exactly how it turned out, and i got nothing but compliments and encouragement from both christians and non-christians. I have even been asked if i would mind if someone else tattooed something similar. And although you can't usually see it, and i cant see it unless im near a mirror, it means something to me.

Then about 5 1/2 months ago, i decided to get another tattoo that i had been thinking about for right at a year. And just like my first tattoo, decided that i wouldnt mind looking at it at age 70. A tattoo with a drum and the phrase "I will beat my drums, like they beat my Savior." A phrase that meant something to me, as well as could be a witness without me ever having to open my mouth. The place that made the most sense to put it was my forearm. And i enjoyed the fact of having a tattoo that i can see no matter where i am. lol. So just like that, i got it done. But life since then has been much different then when i got my first tattoo.

Sure, most people like it. And by no means am i looking for everyones approval, but some peoples reaction/response has taken me back. I've been told countless times, "what were you thinking?" or "i'm not sure that was a good idea to put it there. how are you going to ever cover it up?" "Thats going to limit you." And these remarks have come from people from every walk of life.

I'm blown away how even walking in public, how some people just look at me. And if you have a visible tattoo, i'm sure you can relate. Its like you're a different creature. That you must be up to trouble. Even people in the church look you different, and treat you differently. Its funny, my tattoo's SCREAM JESUS and yet christians have the biggest problem with them. I hear people say, "aren't you scared that you're going to offend someone?" or "can you cover those up when you're around so and so?" Seriously? Do i make you that uncomfortable? I'm no different of a person then before i got my tattoos, yet you treat me and look at me like i just got out of rehab.

I'm glad my tattoos make people uncomfortable. That just lets me knows that my tattoos are the witness that i hoped the would be. 

Also the biggest question i am asked sometimes is " Shouldn't it say "I will beat my drums, BECAUSE they beat my Savior?" No it shouldn't. Yes that statement IS true, but it's not what it should say. I chose the wording of "Like they beat my savior" because of, once again, what it means to ME. When i read and think about my savior, Jesus, being crucified, i think of the soldiers. When they were beating him, and nailing him to the cross, they didnt do so "lightly" or "half-hearted", they swung that whip and that hammer with everything that they had. They held nothing back. They were "trying" to prove a point. They mocked him, and spit in His face. They did all that the could to beat him down. But little did they know, that he would rise from the dead 3 days later! And thats the way i play my drums. When i'm playing, i often think of my Jesus being beaten, crucified, mocked, for me, and for my sins. And if the soldiers who beat Him did so with everything that they had, they I'm going to make sure that i give Him nothing less then that. Everything was their ceiling, but Everything is my floor. Thats where i begin, and i strive to give more.

So take with this what you will. But i leave you with this same statement "Jesus Loves Me and My Tattoos, and He'd Let Me Minister In Your Church."

Ryan