"to die for"

So, I just googled the phrase 'to die for" to see what would come up. I got a dozen links to "to die for" blueberry muffins and one for a vintage style Strawberry Shortcake doll. Hmmm....is this a theme? Blueberry muffins and strawberry shortcakes? Sweet! Really. Sweet. Now, I do like a good blueberry muffin and I have some fond memories of a Strawberry Shortcake doll but I don't think I would die for either of them. Would you? I suppose it's a rather sobering thought but it is an interesting question and a good one for self evaluation. In my (humble) opinion we should all have something in our lives worth dying for; don't you think? Jesus is quoted as saying that the ultimate expression of love for a person is "laying down one's life". (John 15:13) I doubt many of us would argue that point. We hail men and women as heroes that will risk their lives for people on a regular basis. I don't know many parents that wouldn't rather suffer themselves than watch their children suffer through any kind of pain. It almost seems instinctive for us to value the lives of people enough to risk life-and-limb for them. There are a few I know that given time to think about it might value one person's life over another based on age, health, culture or gender. I suppose that is human nature too, just not necessarily one to applaud. The question I want to pose (to myself and to you) is this: what ELSE am I willing to die for? There are people all over the world that are so committed to their belief system that they would die before they would reject it or even give their life to extend that belief to other people. Do I have a belief that I hold so dear I would die to protect it? Would I die to propagate it? Is that a worthy goal, to have belief that strong, that impassioned? I am inclined to think it is. What do you think? There is a challenging thought in one of the apostle Paul's letters I want to leave us with; Romans 9: 1 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit— I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, he people of Israel. Hmmm....