"Death...NOOOO..." (A Rant)

My son Will and I are huge movie buffs, and over the years we have developed our own "short hand" language, using lines from movies to make specific points to one another. One of our favorites comes from Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, the mostly forgettable sequel to the most excellent Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. In the plot of Bogus Journey (and I use the term "plot" extremely loosely here!) Bill & Ted are battling the Grim Reaper for the right to not be dead. Yeah, you read that right. In one scene that are playing charades with some aliens (again, I cannot make this stuff up) and the aliens are making some wild gestures and hand signals, seeming to indicate it is a movie. Suddenly the Grim Reaper blurts out a guess- "Butch and Sundance, the Early Years!" Bill & Ted look at their teammate, shake their heads in disbelief and utter this immortal line- "Death...NOOOO..."

Anytime Will or I see or hear something that seems so completely moronic, out of place or inappropriate that we cannot believe it just happened, we will look at each other and repeat that line. It happens more often than you might think. It is our way of saying "I can't believe you just went there!" 

So what does this have to do with anything? I read a blog a while back from a guy I will call Kevin- because that is his name. I refuse to tell you more than that because I do not want to send traffic to his blog. (As a side rant, are there any other 3-2-1 Penguins fans out there who have trouble saying the name "Kev-innn" with a straight face?) In a post about the current state of the Christian church in USAmerica, he made the following statement:  

"The Jesus found in scripture would act differently and teach differently if he were in 21st century America. He would be much more conservative, much more restrained. He would focus more on sin and less on loving one another. The church needs to realize that just as Jesus would have a different focus, so must we. We need to preach hell fire and damnation. People need to understand that an angry Jesus is waiting to judge us.  Talk about grace all you want to, but trust me- we will all be judged."

"Death...NOOOO..."

We cannot re-write the teachings of Jesus (GOD!) just because they seem out of step with the church of today. Instead we must change our churches to be more in step with the radical, ridiculous love and grace of Jesus Christ. We are promised in scripture that he is the same yesterday, today and forever. I try really hard not be judgmental of others, but in this case, I believe Kevin has earned the coveted Green Weenie Award for representing the WORST the church has to offer our world. In fact, I would suggest to Kev that he check out the urban translation of Proverbs 10:19- "Speak not at all, because you are gonna' say something stupid!"

My prayer today is that God will grant me the wisdom and the strength to follow and represent the REAL Jesus. The one who came to save us, not condemn us. The one who taught us that whatever the question, love is the answer. The one who gave birth to the Church so that we might follow him, not so we can mold him to our beliefs. Thank you for loving me, Jesus.  And forgive me for my judgment of Kevin.

Because of Jesus,

Tomorrow

Today is the LORD's day. All over the world people will worship Him, pray to Him and thank Him for the grace and forgiveness He gives each of us through His Son, Jesus the Christ. Yes, today is the LORD's day. Is it the only day we will give Him this week? Our challenge each day is to carry Jesus with us as we walk through the trials and tribulations of our world. We need to be led by the Holy Spirit as we encounter difficult situations. We need to "let go and let God." This is true every day. You may not know it, but for some of you reading this today there has seldom been a more important day to live in God's grace and share it with the world than tomorrow.

Tomorrow is a day in which we may come face to face with the ghosts of the hurt, pain and anger of days gone by. It is a day in which we will have the opportunity to offer hope instead of condemnation; when we can show love instead of disdain; and in which we can offer grace in the name of Jesus. It is entirely possible that you will not want to do this tomorrow. You may prefer to see someone suffer more for their sins, feeling no amount of suffering is enough. You may prefer to ignore a person in need of love and a kind word. You may think they are only getting what they deserve. It is so tempting to feel that way- and temptation is exactly what it is. Judging someone as "beyond lovable" is a thought that comes straight from The Deceiver. Where would we be if God gave us what we deserve? I can't answer for you, but I sure can for me- and I don't like the answer one little bit. "My sin not in part but in whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more..."  Without those words, I am just a sinner, and I am lost. With them, I am a child of God, forgiven and free. It makes no difference who we are or what we have done, we are worthy of God's love. The question is will we accept it...

In the Gospel of John at the beginning of chapter 8, Jesus comes upon a woman accused of adultery. Her accusers are preparing to stone her, because in their eyes she no longer has any worth as a person. When Jesus arrives, the crowd attempts to gain his approval before commencing. Jesus kneels down and begins to doodle in the sand while they await his response. He finally says to them, "Let him without sin cast the first stone." One by one, the rocks drop from their hands and they walk away. Jesus asked her, "Woman, where are they?  Has no one condemned you?" She replied, "No one, sir." Then Jesus declared, "Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin."

The question for us is, what will we do tomorrow when we encounter "the sinner," for it is an encounter that is bound to happen. Will we see the pebble in their eye, or will we be aware of the boulder in our own? Will we decide that it is our place to carry out judgement, or will we understand that Jesus died for every sin, not just ours? It is so very USAmerican these days to go Old Testament and demand "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth," forgetting Gandhi's reminder that "An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind." To think that way is to forget that the coming of Jesus changed everything. It is human nature to carry grudges and never forget sin; indeed, we love reminding others of their sins. It is God's nature, as demonstrated in the gift of Jesus, to love and ALWAYS forget our sins. With God looking on, with Jesus in your heart and with the Holy Spirit leading the way, how will you respond tomorrow? I say "you" because I already know my answer. I don't know much, but I do know this- "The longer I know my LORD, the more I know- I've got no stones to throw."  

Today is the LORD's day. And so is tomorrow. Share God's love and forgiveness with everyone you encounter. And if you happen to run into any returning prodigal sons (besides me- I have already been welcomed home with amazing grace!), go to them. Hug them. Break out the fatted calf! Because that is exactly what Jesus said to do...

Because of Jesus,

70 X 7

Last night in a movie theater while waiting for Mockingjay to begin I overheard the following bit of a conversation: "I just can't believe she did it again. I forgave her once; how many times should I forgive her?"  I don't know who she is or what she did, but it occurred to me that Jesus already answered the question...if they really wants to know the answer.

Matthew 18:21-22 (NIV): Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "LORD, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? 7 times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not 7 times, but 70 times 7."  

Not recorded is Peter's response of, "HOLY CRAP!" That's a lot of forgiveness. Most of us have trouble with once. But that is not what Jesus requires of us. It's hard, and it may not seem fair, but that's the deal. Just as there are no limits on God's grace in our lives, we are to take the cap off our well of forgiveness. 70 X 7. Lots of scholars believe that means an infinite amount of times we are called upon to forgive others...and ourselves. But I'll make a deal with you today. You forgive someone 490 times, and we'll not worry about the infinite stuff. 490 times. We'd better get started...

Because of Jesus,

A Parable of Radical Forgivness

I used to tell students that we only needed forgiveness for two things in this life- the things we do and the things we don't do! With that in mind...

In case you missed this while reading your Bible, Jesus was big into forgiveness. His mission statement- "I came to save the world, not to condemn it"- is all about offering us grace and forgiveness, because God knows we deserve to be condemned. Jesus came and died on the cross so we wouldn't get what we deserve. He told the following parable in Matthew 18:21-35 (The Message).

At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, "Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?"   Jesus replied, "Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven. The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn't pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market. The poor wretch threw himself at the king's feet and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt.

The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, 'Pay up. Now!'  The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' But he wouldn't do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king.

The king summoned the man and said, 'You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn't you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?' The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And that's exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy."

Over the years I have encountered both the king and the servant from this story. The kings- of which there are many- have seen the sin and failure (the debt) in my life, and have forgiven me anyway. Paul writes that sin will always be with us on this side of heaven. My past sins serve as a reminder of how much I need Jesus, but the debt has been erased by the sacrifice of Jesus and these "kings" I have encountered along the road. The servants- of which, thankfully, I have encountered but a few- have seen the sin and failure in my life, and they seem determined to make sure those things are never forgotten. They feel hurt and betrayed by my actions (and I don't blame them) but they just can't let it go. My sin seems to effect them more than their own. And if I am not careful, their actions and attitudes can cause me to sin again- because they make me want to not forgive them. But I must. I cannot experience the abundant life that Jesus came to bring unless I can forgive myself and others. People who are otherwise faithful Christians seem to carry around an unhealthy bitterness and resentment that one would think should be absent from the body of Christ. And that is their prerogative- as long as they never need forgiveness themselves. This parable is not the only scripture that makes this point very clear. In the LORD's Prayer, we are told to pray for God to "forgive our trespasses (debts)  as we forgive those who trespass against us." Jesus said "Judge not at all, or you will be judged." He said "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." In other words, Jesus makes it clear that we will all be held to the same standard that we hold others to. If we forgive and offer grace and mercy to the people who wrong us, then that is what we shall receive from God. If we don't- well, I'd prefer not to find out what refusing God's grace feels like. 

We all seek forgiveness in our lives, and those of us who call ourselves Christ-followers know that we can repent and ask for grace, and that it is a gift given freely by our God. Far too many people, however, struggle when it comes to personal grace; we want forgiveness from God but are not willing to offer it to those around us. I hope that this parable will inspire us all to be like the King- both the one in parable and the One we worship. He understood the debt, he hated the debt- but he erased the debt. Many of you have been "human erasers" in my life, and I thank God everyday for your mercy- and His.  Have a happy Hump Day, everyone!

Because of Jesus,

Like a Sad Song

This blog often contains references to the amazing grace of God. I know that our sins are forgiven and forgotten in heaven because of the love of God whose name is Jesus. Despite my own sinful nature and notorious failures, it is that gift of God that defines me before the throne on God Almighty- not my past. I know and believe that God's love is all I need, because love is always enough. But every now and then I am reminded that this world does not forgive so easily, and that it very seldom (if ever) forgets.

Most of you reading this know my story of sin and failure over 7 years ago. You know that I confessed, repented and have started life over again in many ways. You know that I served a probation and was granted an early termination this past April, having done anything that was asked of me during my supervised time. Freedom was mine- or so it seemed. Since then there have been a series of disappointments and frustrations in my life because of that single act committed in late 2006. I try to stay positive, and I try to press on. But the world keeps tapping me on the shoulder and reminding me of my sin. And it makes me sad. It is hard to escape your past when the system keeps reminding you of the worst thing about you.

The most recent reminder came at the end of last week. One of our neighbors (whom I had talked to numerous times while we were out walking dogs) appeared at my door one morning and said she needed to talk to me. She and her husband (they are an older couple) are trying to sell their house and have had all kinds of problems. They are currently on the third potential buyer. She told me that they were all but signed on the dotted line when this latest prospect discovered that I lived in the neighborhood. And now they were going to back out. My mere presence was scaring them away. My neighbor had not known of my offense previously, and she was there to get details and reassurance in the hope that she could change they buyer's mind. She listened to my story, and like many of you have been she was amazed that I shared it so openly and so easily. It was her opinion that I had more than paid the price for my crime and have rehabilitated myself, but she was not the one who needed to be convinced. She left in the hopes that she had enough information to do just that.

She did not. She was back a few hours later asking a few more questions and getting the phone number of my last probation office so the buyer could call. This mother- at least I assume there were kids and that was the reason for her concern- was about to give up a beautiful home in a great neighborhood simply because I live there. And that, my friends, was a hard dose of reality to swallow. I am still awaiting word on their final decision.

It continues to amaze me that my presence on a list because of something that happened over 7 years ago can still cause such turmoil in my life, let alone in the lives of others. I am not on the list because of law enforcement or the judicial system, I am there at the whim of legislators who years ago decided to "protect" the public from people like me by lumping dozens of different types of offenders on one easy-to-hate list. Instead of offering protection, this has led to great confusion as no one can differentiate the truly dangerous from the sinfully stupid.  This is not just my opinion- it is the opinion of law enforcement officials and counselors all over the country. But no lawmakers listen, because standing up for the rights of an offender like me is political suicide. So despite the love and support of so many friends and family (and neighbors, I might add) and the knowledge that God loves me, there are days I feel like a monster. People are avoiding my neighborhood because I live there. My spirits are often most easily defined through music. And this makes me feel like a sad song...

There are things none of us can control once they happen. We deal with consequences both earned and undeserved that enter our lives and bring us joy or sorrow. The thing that we must remember- each and every one of us- is that none of these earthly sorrows have any impact on the love of God in our lives. Jesus loves us no matter who we are, no matter what we have done and no matter what the world may say to us. Even as I struggle with feelings of sadness and inadequacy I can feel the arms of God wrapped around me, reminding me that He will never leave nor forsake me. My family and friends are by my side. And so despite feeling like a sad song, the song in my heart remains one of hope- because God's love is always enough. To continue this week's theme, I've gotta' keep pressing on...

Because of Jesus,

GET FOUND!

Ted & Lee, in their great two-man show Fisheyes, portray the disciples Peter and Andrew as two guys who seldom understood what Jesus was talking about. They had particular difficulty making any sense out of the parables the Master told. We have much in common with them. I am constantly amazed at pastors and others who claim to know exactly what Jesus meant with these sometimes random tales. I am frustrated by those who twist them to illustrate points they are trying to make. Today I will most likely do both- but as usual, I'm charging ahead! 

In Luke 15:8-10, Jesus tells the parable of the Lost Coin.  Here it is from The Message:
"Or imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won't she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it? And when she finds it you can be sure she'll call her friends and neighbors: 'Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!' Count on it—that's the kind of party God's angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God."  

Now I don't know about you, but when I first began hearing this one in Sunday School all those years ago, I thought it made no sense at all. I mean really...who in their right mind would spend time looking for a quarter when you still had nine in your pocket? And even if I did find it, I 'm not calling my buddies and inviting them to a party. It sounded like Jesus was hanging out with some crazy old lady to me. I didn't connect at all.

In fact, I'm not sure I really understood the deepest meaning of this parable until about 7 years ago, when the circumstances of my life revealed to me that I was the lost coin. I had once felt shiny and important, part of a coin collection that was worth something. But at some point along the way, I slipped out of pocket and rolled under the couch. I was there for quite a while. I know now that this parable is a reminder that Jesus NEVER stops looking for us. He came so that the lost and sinners would know God's love, and He never gives up on us. The "lost" are not always people who have never bowed a knee to Jesus; sometimes they are people just like me who are playing hide and seek with our Savior. In that game, when people hide too well it is frustrating and we just yell for them to come out and start over.  Our heavenly Father is screaming at us as well- GET FOUND! And when we do come out from our hiding place and confess our lostness, a strange thing happens. Jesus declares us winners, and the angels throw a killer party for us. You may believe in the doctrine of "once saved, always saved," and that may well be true. But I can promise you this from my own experience- you can be saved and lost at the same time. And Jesus just keeps on looking...

You may feel about yourself the way I did about the lost coin when I was younger- that you are insignificant and unworthy of being found. That's just stinkin' thinkin'! The Jesus Revolution is all about grace, and grace is available to everyone- even us lost coins. We become part of that revolution when we jump in the game on the side of Jesus and help people GET FOUND! No matter who they are- thief, gossip, heretic or sex offender- God is looking for them- or in my case, us. "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!  I once was lost but now I'm found..." The party is meant to be for everyone. The question is, are you helping deliver the invitations?

Because of Jesus,

#DangerDays: Blind Squirrels & the Church

Earlier this week I had a conversation with an old friend who thanked me for "being open to the little nudges of the Holy Spirit" in my writing. I responded that sometimes those nudges become pushes...or kicks to the groin! You have to respond. And often, especially as I write about the #DangerDays, I tend to pass along the pain. I have been pretty hard on the institution of the Church on this blog. I have been even tougher on individual Christians who I think buy into the message of the American church more than they seek to follow Jesus. But today I want to tell you a story of a time we actually got one right. It shows what can happen when we buy into the Jesus Revolution instead of the agenda of men. It is far too rare an occurrence, but it did happen- because a few people were willing to take bold steps of faith and forgiveness. As my Dad always said, "Even a blind squirrel stumbles over an acorn every now and then..."

I have an old friend (and yes, it really is a friend. This story of failure is, for once, not about me) who a very long time ago really messed up his life. He was a pastor, writer, speaker and a leader within his denomination. He and I met through a mutual ministry and quickly became friends. He was (and is!) one of the happiest, funniest and most spiritually connected people I had ever met, and on the rare occasions we got to spend time together we just clicked. I thought he had it all together (and chances are good he thought the same of me).  So did a lot of other people. Like most of us, he didn't. Behind the scenes he was struggling with his marriage, and eventually had an affair. He was caught in a very public manner, and things went downhill quickly from there. His marriage collapsed. He lost his ministry, which I suppose was inevitable. Many of his pastor friends deserted him (which was wrong). But some of his friends did not. Many felt his pain and repentance and offered him love and prayer instead of judgement and condemnation. He stayed in the church. He had a pastor who helped him use his many gifts to help serve their congregation. He worked for ministries that were not part of any church or denomination but that still served Jesus with their work in our world. And slowly- ever so slowly- he began to feel accepted again inside the walls of the Church.

And that is when people began to step into the #DangerDays, and our blind squirrel found the acorn. The Church- complete with as many judgmental people as you can find anywhere- began to accept him back. The people and the institution had their eyes opened to the fact that this servant of God still had much to offer. They realized that God was still using him in amazing ways. We often speak in the Church of how our sins are forgiven and forgotten by God. We humans sometimes forgive but almost never forget. But for at least this one instance, the church got it right- and got a little Holy Amnesia. Despite (or in some cases because of what he learned from) his sin, he is now one of the most respected spiritual voices I know. He is making a major difference in the lives of believers all over the country. So many times people like my friend never get that second chance because of Christians who cannot forget their sins. I have known others whose gifts for ministry were never allowed to flourish again inside the church because of their sins- and in a few cases because of their supposed sins. And the Church does tend to "eat it's own- bones and all." In those situations Satan rejoices, because if we remove all the sinners from our pews, who's left? But in this case we see what can happen when the Church truly reflects the love, grace and values of Jesus. We see that though we sin, we still have much to offer the kingdom of God. Don't believe me? Check out the bible stories of Moses, Jonah, King David, Peter, Paul and so many more. There can be redemption and restoration in our lives. That is what the #DangerDays are all about. They're about remembering that all saints have a past and all sinners have a future. If we- the Body of Christ- can remember that, then just maybe our friend the squirrel will sprint head-first into a huge oak tree and shake the foundation. Acorns for everyone! For such is the grace of God...

Because of Jesus,

Taking a Step Towards #DangerDays

Every Tuesday I will be sharing a post about my 2014 theme of #DangerDays - risky, concrete steps we can take to be more like Jesus. If you'd be interested in writing one of these posts,  please contact me.

So there's this guy. I met him back in 2001 when we first moved to Tampa, and he and his family were a very important part of the church we came here to serve. Over the next 4 years we became great friends and confidants, participating in a men's group together in addition to other very strong connections. He and his wife had kids in the youth group and were extremely supportive of my ministry. I considered him one of my best friends in that church.

When I left that church he remained very supportive - for a time. As the issues between myself and the Rev. Not Appearing in This Blog (senior pastor) became more public, he sided with the pastor, and I understood. By the time my fall came in in 2007 he had removed himself from my life, but learning of my very public sin seemed to be the final straw. I wouldn't have known that except that his family wound up leaving that church as well and ending up at the same church we attend these days. For the past 3+ years our families have sat in the same worship service listening to a great pastor who often preaches grace and forgiveness as cornerstones of following Jesus. His wife has been very gracious and friendly to us on numerous occasions. His son always speaks to me. But this fine Christian man (and I mean that- he is a man of God and a great husband and father) has gone out of his way to never have any contact with me. I am persona non grata to him. It seems there will be no forgiveness coming from him for my transgressions. And I have to admit it bothers me. 

It bothers me because in the depths of my heart I really believe he should forgive me. I sinned. I repented. I gave public confessions. I did not slander others (when I easily could have) to help him see that there was more to the situation than he knows. I have given him time and space to get past my actions and have acknowledged that my actions must have felt like a betrayal of our friendship. And on days like this past Sunday, when our pastor spoke of Psalm 51 and the sins and confessions of David and how he was forgiven and even HONORED by God, I often glance across the room at this man and think, "What IS your problem?" How can a man who claims to be (and is!) such a strong believer have so little grace and forgiveness in his heart for me? And in my heart, I judge him.

No doubt you see the problem by now. In all of my worry and fear about why he has never forgiven me for the things I did, I have begun to refuse to forgive him for the way he has treated me. I was a sinner and that offended him. His unwillingness to forgive offends me. And we are both offending Jesus through our actions.

I need to take my first step into the #DangerDays of 2014. It is time for me to forgive him and seek to honor him with the love of God whose name is Jesus by going to him and simply being friendly. It will do no good to offer him words of forgiveness- he most likely has no idea what he needs to be forgiven for at this point. But I can offer words of grace and of friendship. He may not accept them. He may reject me. And even after all this time, that will hurt. But part of taking risks in our walk with Christ is being willing to suffer for doing the right things. The right things are for me to pray for him, to take the first step and go him in friendship, and to forgive him in my heart. So I will. I know it will lift a burden from me, and be one more step down the road to my #COMEBACK. It won't be easy to approach him, so pray for me and give me some shoves in the right direction so that I will get this done this month.

And remember- sometimes we are so focused on receiving forgiveness for the things we have done that we fail to forgive those who do not forgive us. It's a trap. Followers of Jesus are called to hand out grace & forgiveness like they are potato chips from a bottomless bag. Everybody needs more than one! I want to be willing to step out in faith and be that potato chip guy. Join me?

Because of Jesus,

We Are Beloved

Most every Tuesday night I participate in a chat on Twitter sponsored by a group called People of the Second Chance (Tweeps should follow @POTSC. or you can follow the conversation Tuesday nights at 10 EST at #POTSClive).  This group gathers to discuss questions of forgiveness and grace in our lives, and have been nicknamed the #Graceketeers. I love that title. For one hour each week I feel bathed in the grace of God as expressed through other sinful human beings struggling to see God in new ways, and it is a wonderful experience. This past week one of the questions posed by the moderator asked us which was harder- forgiving others or forgiving ourselves?  I immediately responded "myself" and so did quite a few others. It is so hard to let go of our own failures. We so often compare what we know about ourselves to what we don't know about others and come out feeling like second class citizens, even in the Kingdom of God. 

A few years ago I realized that beating myself up over past sins was a slap in the face to Jesus. He came- he DIED - so that my sins and yours would be forgiven and we would be bathed in grace. God loves us so much He sent Jesus  - and if that doesn't show us we are beloved then I don't know what does! But even as God welcomes us into His loving arms each day, we still often reject ourselves as unworthy of that love. Read these words from the great Henri Nouwen:

“Over the years, I have come to realize that the greatest trap in our life is not success, popularity, or power, but self-rejection. Success, popularity, and power can indeed present a great temptation, but their seductive quality often comes from the way they are part of the much larger temptation to self-rejection. When we have come to believe in the voices that call us worthless and unlovable, then success, popularity, and power are easily perceived as attractive solutions. The real trap, however, is self-rejection. As soon as someone accuses me or criticizes me, as soon as I am rejected, left alone, or abandoned, I find myself thinking, "Well, that proves once again that I am a nobody." ... [My dark side says,] I am no good... I deserve to be pushed aside, forgotten, rejected, and abandoned. Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the "Beloved." Being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence.” 

Even in all my years as a youth pastor I realize now that I was often trying to perform for God's love, instead of simply drowning in His grace. I once thought my life was defined by who I was and what I did. Now I know my life is defined by Jesus- by who HE was and what HE did. I am indeed beloved. And so are you...

Because of Jesus,

"Feels Good To Be Forgiven"

"Jesus proved it and I have found,

you can't keep a good man down!

Oh, Oh...feels good to be forgiven!"

Welcome to Obscure Music Monday #3!  This ongoing series seeks to expose my readers to classic Christian music that you may have forgotten, or (more likely) never knew about in the first place!  Today I am happy to feature Eddie Degarmo and his classic solo hit, Feels Good To Be Forgiven.

Dana Key and Eddie Degarmo were pioneers of Christian rock music.  They began recording in 1978 and for over two decades recorded and toured together.  I have to admit to not being much of a D & K fan; their lyrics were often a bit heavy handed for my taste.  But they were quite popular in the early to mid 80's, with songs like Destined To Win, Six, Six, Six and Boycott Hell.  In fact, Six, Six, Six was the first Christian music video I ever remember seeing on MTV.  The video was considered tooo graphic and violent and was actually banned for a period of time.  Imagine that...  Eddie and Dana (who passed away in 2010) would go on to make an enormous contribution to Christian music in the 90's with the founding of Forefront Records- the company that gave us (among others) dc Talk and Audio Adrenaline. In the late 80's they each recorded their own solo projects, and I fell in love with Eddie's 1988 song Feels Good To Be Forgiven. It was bluesy, soulful, and had a message we can all relate to.  Who among us doesn't need forgiveness- from our families, our friends and our God?  And oh by the way- it does feel good to be forgiven, doesn't it?

As we count down the days to Good Friday, it is important to remember that Jesus' trip to Golgotha was not about betrayal or governments or faulty Jewish leadership.  It was about mission.  Jesus came to earth to die...for US.  Even thought we didn't deserve it and we don't deserve and we never will earn it, Jesus gave us grace, taking the sins of the world upon his back on the cross. He conquered our sin, and three days later he would conquer death as well.  Remember that this week.  And remember that Jesus died for YOU, too.  Forgiveness is yours. And it feels good to be forgiven!  "And if you're not sure you can sing along, look down deep 'cause something's very wrong..."  Christ is risen- He is risen indeed!

Because of Jesus,

Forgiveness & Grace

I used to tell students that I only needed forgiveness for two things in my life- the things I do and the things I don't do!  With that in mind...

In case you missed this while reading your Bible, Jesus was big into forgiveness.  His mission statement- "I came to save the world, not to condemn it"- is all about offering us grace and forgiveness, because God knows we deserve to be condemned.  Jesus came and died on the cross so we wouldn't get what we deserve.  He told the following parable in Matthew 18:21-35 (The Message).

At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, "Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?"   Jesus replied, "Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.
"The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn't pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market.   "The poor wretch threw himself at the king's feet and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.'  Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt.

"The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, 'Pay up. Now!'   "The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' But he wouldn't do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king.

"The king summoned the man and said, 'You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn't you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?' The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And that's exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy."

Over the past few years I have encountered both the king and the servant from this story.  The kings- of which there are many- have seen the sin and failure (the debt) in my life, and have forgiven me anyway.  Paul writes that sin will always be with us on this side of heaven.  My past sins serve as a reminder of how much I need Jesus, but the debt has been erased by the sacrifice of Jesus and these "kings" I have encountered along the road.  The servants- of which, thankfully, I have encountered but a few- have seen the sin and failure in my life, and they seem determined to make sure those things are never forgotten.  They feel hurt and betrayed by my actions (and I don't blame them) but they just can't let it go.  My sin seems to effect them more than their own.  And if I am not careful, their actions and attitudes can cause me to sin again- because they make me want to not forgive them.  But I must.  I cannot experience the abundant life that Jesus came to bring unless I can forgive myself and others.  People who are otherwise faithful Christians seem to carry around an unhealthy bitterness and resentment that one would think should be absent from the body of Christ.  And that is their prerogative- as long as they never need forgiveness themselves.  This parable is not the only scripture that makes this point very clear.  In the LORD's Prayer, we are told to pray for God to "forgive our trespasses (debts)  as we forgive those who trespass against us."  Jesus said "Judge not at all, or you will be judged."  He said "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."  In other words, Jesus makes it clear that we will all be held to the same standard that we hold others to.  If we forgive and offer grace and mercy to the people who wrong us, then that is what we shall receive from God.  If we don't- well, I'd prefer not to find out what refusing God's grace feels like. 

We all seek forgiveness in our lives, and those of us who call ourselves Christ-followers know that we can repent and ask for grace, and that it is a gift given freely by our God.  Far too many people, however, struggle when it comes to personal grace; we want forgiveness from God but are not willing to offer it to those around us.  I hope that this parable will inspire us all to be like the King- both the one in parable and the One we worship.  He understood the debt, he hated the debt- but he erased the debt.  Many of you have been "human erasers" in my life, and I thank God everyday for your mercy- and His.  Have a blessed Sabbath, everyone!

Because of Jesus,

The Parable of Abe & Gabe

"I've been trying to get down to the heart of the matter...and I think it's about forgiveness..."  ~ Don Henley

Today I want to take a new look at a familiar story.  If you have ever spent any time around a Christian church, you have almost certainly heard a pastor preach on the parable of The Prodigal Son as found in Luke 15:11-31.  You know that Jesus told a story of a father with two sons (we'll call them Abe and Gabe to keep it straight).  The younger son, Gabe, decided he wanted his share of his father's estate so he could see the world.  The father gave him his share, and Gabe set off on his adventure.  He quickly blew the money on wine, women and wild living.  He found himself in need of food and shelter and hired himself out to feed pigs.  He was so hungry he wanted to eat the pig's food, but no one offered him any.  He came to his senses and decided to return home, for his father's employees were much better off than he was.  He would admit his sins and his unworthiness to his Dad and asked to be hired on as a servant.  His father saw him coming and ran to him and hugged him.  Gabe confessed his sins, but his father was not interested in the past.  He called for his best robe and a feast in honor of Gabe's return.  A huge party was planned.  Meanwhile, Abe was out working in the field, as he always was.  When he found out that not only was his worthless brother back, but that his Dad was throwing Gabe a party, Abe was not happy.  He protested to his father that he had always been there and had always served him well, but that he had never been thrown such a party.  His father responded, "Abe, you are always with me and everything I have is yours.  But we had to celebrate and be glad, because Gabe was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!"

We understand that in this parable of Jesus the father represents our Heavenly Father.  His love never fails us, no matter how we may fail Him.  It is so clear in the story that God is not just waiting for us to come back to Him when sin separates us; He is out looking for us.  Jesus said that the father "ran to meet to him" when Gabe returned home.  Our "Abba Father" offers a forgiveness and grace that we cannot fully understand.  This parable, along with the Lost Coin and the Lost Sheep parables also found in Luke 15, make it quite clear that God rejoices every time the lost are found and every time we return to Him.

We all understand what it is like to be Gabe.  We all sin.  We all fall away from God.  I hope you understand, at least to some extent, what it feels like to have God welcome you home.  But for those of us in the church, it is the attitude of Abe that offers a cautionary tale.  To me, Abe too often represents the church, the body of believers.  We are a people who think that our piety and faithfulness entitle us to greater blessings from God.  How can God forgive the thief, the murderer or the abuser who repents?  Haven't they thrown salvation away?  It seems so unfair to those who feel like they have been with God the whole time.  We miss the party.  While Gabe is inside at a festive family reunion, Abe is outside throwing stones, bitter and unwilling to forgive.  Which brother is truly lost?

We believe that because of Jesus our sins are forgiven.  Sometimes we don't believe that God would ever forgive THEM -those "real" sinners.  For many years I taught this parable, and for many years I thought I understood grace.  It has only been in the past few years that I have truly grasped what it means to have the Father waiting on my return to the family, even though I could not imagine I deserved such love.  I came to realize that grace could not be fully comprehensible until I realized how lost I was- until the pig food starting looking good!  I experienced what it means to fall into the loving arms of God (and my family) at the time that I least deserved it.  It is that kind of love that the church universal often fails to offer to those who are lost.  Share the love.  Don't be an Abe.  It has been said for the church to really be the church, we need to have our hearts broken by the things that break the heart of God.  And according to Jesus, nothing breaks God's heart like people who are lost.  My prayer today is that the church would open it's arms and show the world what our Heavenly Father's love is like when we come running home to Him- from wherever we may have been...

Because of Jesus,