well, my FB has a real picture of me taken with my G1. No touch up, only cropping to cut out some of the clutter. I’ve had one good picture taken of me in my life. My Twitter avatar is a picture I created.

No one has ever accused me of being sexy except in an ironic sense.

And that’s because the common wisdom is that you have to look and act perfect in order to be a “leader”, especially in a church. When’s the last time you saw a so-called “leader” that looked like a real person?

The truth is, most “leaders” are fakes – they aren’t any better or more talented than anyone else, and unless they’ve been in the military or a similar organization that taught them what a leader really is and how to be one (and leadership skills can be taught), they can’t lead people any better than anyone else. What they have going for them is charisma and a strong and forceful personality, and that knowledge that they’re not any better than anyone else scares most of them, and that’s why they have to look and act “perfect”.

But the truth is, God rarely picked anywhere close to perfect people to lead Israel. Jesus didn’t appear perfect – the Bible is very clear about that. He wasn’t beautiful to look at, he probably didn’t have perfectly straight white teeth or designer clothes or drove a new car or made a lot of money to impress people. He also didn’t select perfect people to be around him – unlike most churches, he didn’t require people he chose to lead and teach the people to have degrees in divinity or to be charismatic – he chose some of the most common people around, because he knew their hearts and didn’t judge them by their appearance or their backgrounds.

What do you risk by exposing yourself to people, by being the truth, no matter how unpopular or un-politically correct? Do you risk your position, your job, your friends, or your prestige? If there is no risk, there is no bravery. If your life as a leader is comfortable, then you aren’t doing the right things – as Alan Mesher said in his book “Journey of Love”:

The work of love is not always easy or graceful, nor does
it make those who attempt to do it look saintly or
benevolent.

Love does what is required. Real love is the capacity to
meet the needs and requirements of the moment. Putting
love into action takes courage, for we may have to risk our
position, prestige, friendships and security to speak the
truth. This is the reason that great lives are not easy
ones. Great lives demand the truth.

don’t have Twitter or FB nor can I post pictures (no camera and have to have someone else post them) so here is one from the church’s website of me: http://www.ovcf.org/Joomla1.5/ministries/sermons What can I say?
.-= bill cycleguy´s last blog ..I Hate Religion =-.

Done! http://www.twitter.com/dimarco

Done! http://twitter.com/jim_gray
and http://facebook.com/beaconhillnw

mike…that really is a terrible picture…

@jack love it!

@ed you should of written my post great thots.

@bill that loooks like a completely normal pic. great job!

@michael i didnt know you had a beard. thanks for the updated shot.

@jim i didnt recognize you without your hat. and i know thats not a great shot of myself. but wait till you see what i look like early in the am. i shall post later.

Funny thing is my profile pic is one I took of myself with cheap digital pic and then resized and done.
But I think I have some good embarrassing pics around somewhere. On it

Mike, it just occurred to me that I don’t know your story. Have you written it out somewhere?
.-= John´s last blog ..The Purity Report Launched! =-.

Did it….

@kyle thats a great pic considering the time and effort. cant wait to see some others.

@john i havent…yet. but will sometime.

@billy love it!

Done

http://twitter.com/pinkhairedgirl
http://facebook.com/crystalrenaud
.-= Crystal Renaud´s last blog ..Project 365: January 10, 2010 =-.

I didn’t want to play your little game at first, because I quite like my cute pictures.

But you talked me into it!
.-= Lori Wilhite´s last blog ..Jesus and Gangbangers =-.

Intersting idea, but I’m curious as to what the point of it is exactly. What’s supposed to be gleaned from this experiment? Just curious.

@mike
ya to be honest, if I could have pro pics I definitely would, but gotta be resourceful.

I did change my tweet profile pic though. Junior year of high school version of me (oldest one I could find on computer).

https://twitter.com/kylelreed

The problem is that the “mediocre you” is NOT the Real You; the best you is the Real You! Why would anyone want to affirm doing less than our best? Have mediocre people ever made an impact of history?

Any what’s wrong with looking and being sexy? Do NO Christians ever read the Song of Songs anymore? Sex is one of the best things in life. If you really think that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, wouldn’t you want it to look its best?

Have you ever had a day when you looked your very best? That’s the real you.

Have you ever had a day when you accomplished everything you wanted to do? That’s the real you.

Have you ever had a day when everything seemed to go right? That’s the real you also!

And if you have had one “perfect” day like that, you can have every day be that way. It’s already within you. Don’t settle for less!

The “real you” isn’t poor, out-of-shape, unkempt, lacking confidence, or poorly dressed. That’s just what you become when you stop trying to be your best. And if you aren’t doing your best, I hope it’s not guilt that gets you to change, but a renewal of your self-confidence and self-esteem. No matter how many mediocre people say it’s okay to remain mediocre.

So don’t ever feel guilty for being your best, even if everyone else says mediocrity is what’s normal. Because the real you is the best you. Don’t settle for anything less.

See my entire response at http://sowingsuccess.com/?p=171
.-= Stephen O. Wright´s last blog ..What Is The “Real Me?” =-.

Didn’t take too long to find a good one of me. Here I am, the real me:

http://twitter.com/brettbarner

Funny thing is that this was taken after a church service.
.-= Brett Barner´s last blog ..Fearless and Green Book Winners Announced =-.

Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by ronnyroa: Try the “Real Me” experiment from POTSC if you DARE! http://bit.ly/5yP51B...

Done.

twitter.com/jeriggs76
facebook.com/jeriggs76
.-= John Riggs´s last blog ..10. To leave a positive legacy =-.

Done: http://twitter.com/dennarr/

Someone on Facebook commented that I should go back to this look. My reply: 1. My marriage contract stated that I had to grow out the flat top. 2. I’d have to join Hair Club for Men.

‘nuf said!
.-= Dennis´s last blog ..Sunday Setlist – January 10, 2010 =-.

I love that you misspelled elimiated.

(im)Perfect!

Cheers.
.-= Jayson´s last blog ..Hello world! =-.

As did I.

*eliminated

done on my twitter @flowerdust and FB page (facebook.com/flowerdust)
.-= Anne Jackson´s last blog ..Breaking News: New Survey Says Christians Give Poor People the Shaft =-.

Love this idea! I have a whole collection of bad photos! Might just use a different one everyday!
Going to change them now!
.-= Sherri´s last blog ..White Space =-.

@lori glad you joined us.

@kristie the bigger issue is to address our own discomfort with being transparent. my belief is if we struggle to reveal true depictions of ourselves through photos then we may have a problem showing our true selves in relationships and being honest/transparent about even more important issues.its a theory but i think its true. in general i think we all spend too much energy, time, resources, worry on maintaing our image vs. embracing who we are. the good and the bad.

@stephen liked your post but i dont think i totally agree with ya. im all about putting your best foot forward but fully embracing our broke parts, messes and our humanity is what truly makes us “successful.” btw, most of what we exalt as success has a story of ugly/failure/brokeness behind the scenes that rarely gets talked about. but good thots for discussion.

@sherri absolutely feel free to post as many pics as you want ive got a few more myself.

[...] more information about the REAL ME campaign, visit: http://www.potsc.com/uncategorized/tired-of-looking-sexy-all-the-time-realme/ For more information about People About the Second Chance, read below and visit their [...]

Gee, I don’t post pics of me looking sexy or any type of professional quality pics.

I don’t post ANY photos of me at all! Instead, I post photos I took of things, my kids, flowers, bugs, etc. etc. (but I don’t photoshop them…. does that count?)

I think I have an opposite problem….

I love it….this is why we all love you guys so much ’cause you keep it real!!! Im in…scary ….but Im in!!

[...] [...]

@in progress great picture and great post.

really diggin all of your pics. awesome!

For years I avoided even having my picture taken. I became very good at recognizing cameras and becoming absent or hidden. Over the last two years I learned the roots behind why I was hiding so that now I don’t need to. Like Mike theorized, if we have problems with pictures we might also have trouble with showing or at least accepting our real selves.
.-= Sherie´s last blog ..Feeding on Bread =-.

yeah.. gnarly pose in a walmart parking lot after a long day at an air show..

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4620765&l=771d872e3a&id=580092984
.-= Mel´s last blog ..Stealing ideas… =-.

[...] [...]

Just uploaded the 1st #realme baby and baby momma pic.
.-= Sarah´s last blog ..Not the Best Part of Town? Depends on Whether You Get a Donut. =-.

here are a couple of vintage pics from my youth ministry days…both before i cleaned up and went to bible college…
http://twitpic.com/xrfhz
http://twitpic.com/xrfoh

[...] also see [...]

Very scary thing to do, but I think very important if I am to be a role model to others. I am not perfect, but I do have value. Thank you for challenging us to step outside ourselves and be the better us!

p.s. I have grown in Christ the last few years, you would not ever see me come close to doing this a few years ago. I love getting real and finding peace!

[...] Read the post at http://www.potsc.com/uncategorized/tired-of-looking-sexy-all-the-time-realme. [...]

@jimgray

Were you rocking the mullet there?

@kyle a mini-mullet…

I love this!! The real me doesn’t wear make-up all the time, has naturally blonde hair, adores her boys and loves everyone just like they are I’ll have find some pics tonight and blog tomorrow with the not so hot photo’s of me…although none of my current one’s are photoshoped…make-up does wonders Mike, thank you, this is awesome!!
.-= Ginger Roels´s last blog ..Common Sense and Common Courtesy =-.

[...] This week, Mike Foster challenged us to reveal the “real me”. [...]

Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by wifenmom: RT @potsc We’d love for everyone to take part in our #REALME Campaign. change your avatar for one week http://digg.com/u1Jtod // Done….

[...] #realme [...]

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by inworship, inworship, inprogress, Tripp Crosby, Tripp Crosby and others. Tripp Crosby said: Tired of looking sexy all the time? Join this experiment. I did. http://bit.ly/5yP51B [...]

[...] idea of the “Real Me” experiment is this: So this week I thought we could do an experiment. Let’s replace all [...]

[...] present themselves (especially online–and that includes me), I clicked around and looked at the original post as well as a few of my blog buddies who have participated so [...]

[...] out Mike of POTSC is challenging people to replace their glamor shot profile pictures with a shot that is real. And [...]

[...] week on facebook…Ok, I’ll have fun with this one, since I skipped out on the last “change your profile pic” week, and the recent post your bra-color day. This one is all [...]

[...] are excited to have Nicole Wick share with the POTSC community. She participated in the #REALME experiment and shares some of her thoughts [...]