Breathe Deep

Back in my youth pastor days at FUMC-Kissimmee we used to sing this weird song at youth group on Sunday evenings. At the time, I had never heard a recorded version of the song- I found it in the Songs & Creations songbook. So we sort of made up our own version.  We liked it because it was different. We liked it because it had a message of hope for the hurting, the outcast and the disenfranchised. And we liked it because it was full of big words we had to look up to actually get what the song was about! That group loved to sing- and this Terry Taylor tune was one of the songs we sang with gusto.

We live in a day and age when the church universal struggles with how (and how much) we reach out out to the poor, the different, the hungry and the sin-filled. The fact is there should be no debate. Scripture deems very clear to me. The love of God is for everyone- including the very people from whom you and I seek to protect ourselves. We don't get to pick and choose the people who are in the family of God based on our prejudices and preferences. Everyone is entitled to breathe deep the breath of God. And the more broken or damaged we are, the more we need it.

So listen to and watch the video below from the band Lost Dogs. It turns out the old FUMC-K gang was pretty close on the melody.The lyrics are included, but you must follow closely to catch them all. If you have never heard the song before, I promise the listing of who should be allowed to "breathe deep" will stun you a bit. That's a good thing. And then when you are done listening, pray for the people in your life who need to feel grace and forgiveness from you, and who need to know that the breath of God is for them...too. Because one of those people may be you...

And one more thing.  When we sang this song in Kissimmee we shouted the last line of the final verse with power, like the bold statement of faith it was meant to be. I hope you will feel the same way - that "EVERYBODY EVERYWHERE!!!" deserves to know they are loved by the love of God whose name is Jesus. Amen and Amen!

Because of Jesus,