A Work In Progress by Chad Hess

Several years ago I went through the difficult challenge of a divorce. One of the challenges I faced was accepting the reality that other people would know I wasn’t perfect. I always knew I wasn’t perfect; I just didn’t want other people to know. Through the help of my counselor, I came to accept the reality of my imperfection. This is not to say that I stopped trying to improve; I just accepted the reality that no one is perfect. The graphic on this blog is a picture of the incomplete puzzle I framed to remind me that it is okay to be a work in progress.

Why is it so hard for Christians to admit imperfection? I’m not talking about saying you are a sinner; I’m talking about admitting the specific sins you struggle with. Why is it so hard for a church to acknowledge and talk about problems that the church is facing? I’m not talking about glorifying the sin or cheapening grace; I’m talking about honesty and transparency. This doesn’t mean we should walk around with a t-shirt that lists our deepest, darkest secrets. Prudence is required in our disclosure.

A perfect church is only appealing to perfect people. But since neither of those exists, why do we pretend they do? When I was going through my divorce, I sought the help of others that I knew were divorced. I wanted someone who could understand what I was experiencing and help me through it. The lost and broken people in this world (you know, the ones the church is called to save) are going to be drawn to people who offer both empathy and hope. Christians who can say, “I know what you’re going through. I’ve been there and, while I’m not perfect, I’m also not where I used to be. Let me share with you how Jesus brought hope and healing to my life.”

Chad Hess

I Heard Jesus in a Key West Taco Bar by John Monday

A few weeks ago my family and I went to the Florida Keys for a few days of snorkeling, boating, and fun while reconnecting with old friends. On Saturday evening we drove an hour south to watch the Key West sunset, experience the spectacle that is Mallory Square, and wander Duval Street.

After seeing beautiful sail boats silhouetted against the sunset, human statues entertaining children, listening to banjos, guitars, and mandolins, watching cats and old men jump through hoops, and being mesmerized by didgeridoos (google it), we found ourselves in Amigo’s tortilla bar. That's when I heard Jesus.

It wasn’t a trance-inducing vision from heaven or a prophet decrying the decadence of an immoral society. It was a simple statement printed on the side of every plastic cup at Amigo’s: “Once you’ve ruined your reputation, you can live quite freely”.

It reconfirmed for me two things that I’ve come to believe. The first is that God can and will use any and all means to reach us; be it movies, music, or plastic cups. I’ve begun to rethink the entire notion of “secular” as it relates to me as a Christian. I believe that, no matter where I go, what I do or see, who I talk or listen to, God is already there. So if I hear truth in a Jimmy Buffett song, see beauty in a painting, or read prophetic words on a plastic cup in Key West, how can those things for me be secular? Christ is in me and will always be wherever I go; secular (separate from God) is not an option.

But that only deals with the way the message was delivered. The second thing that really awed me was the basic gospel message encapsulated in a restaurant slogan. I don’t know, but I doubt it was the intention of the owners to preach the gospel, just as I doubt it was Pilate’s plan to reveal truth when he nailed a sign over Christ’s head reading “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”. But the intended purpose does not negate the truth or Gods ability to use it. And were I trying to convey the gospel message, I may have phrased it a little differently, but as I think about it, no better.

Were I writing a biblical paraphrase, I might use such a saying to communicate the message of Ephesians 2: 4-10: “4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions … 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.”

or Isaiah 64:6:

“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”

Or maybe I’d use it to express the sentiment of Romans 3:23-24:

“23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

Everybody, but especially we Christians, need to understand that our efforts, or works, our good deeds and intentions are not very good, and if we strive to advance, preserve, or protect our “goodness,” our reputations will become a trap that will enslave and separate us from Christ, the Author of freedom.

So I wonder, did God inspire the words on that cup, or did he just orchestrate my travels so that I would see them? I don’t know, but I do believe that, realizing the ruined condition of my reputation, I can live quite freely in the grace of Christ.

John Monday

Grace Is No License to Sin by Andy McDonald

The two incidents weren’t two weeks apart – the dreaded, unnerving experience of being pulled over by a police officer. I wasn’t speeding. I didn’t run a light. I hadn’t ignored a stop sign. I couldn’t be accused of reckless driving. No, it was simply that I wasn’t wearing my seatbelt.

The first time I was coming around a corner and saw two motorcycle cops who were ticketing another driver. As soon as I saw them, I recognized the absence of my seatbelt, so I quickly reached over my shoulder, pulled it forward and clicked it in place. But as soon as I passed the officers, one of the motorcycles immediately pursued me and pulled me to the side of the road. Before he got to my window, I had my license and insurance in hand and was fumbling for the registration. He asked me why I took my seatbelt off when I approached them. I explained that I wasn’t taking it off – I was putting it on. Why in the world would I take it off as I approached them? A few minutes later he returned, gave me back my cards, and explained that he was only going to give me a warning. He also explained that, had he ticketed me, it would have been $116.00!

I was grateful to not be fined, but I was mad about the whole incident. Like every other citizen who might choose, I could ride a motorcycle down much of I-4 or the Turnpike at 70 mph with no helmet and expect no one to stop or fine me. But if I didn’t wear my seatbelt, sitting inside my car driving 25 mph in a residential area, it could cost me $116! Of course, I kept these thoughts to myself, simply thanked the officer, bucked my seatbelt, and continued on my way.

All too soon, I was again driving along, minding my own business, when a patrol car pulled up behind me, sounded his siren, and pulled me over. Once again, I was being very law-abiding when it came to speed, stop signs, and traffic lights, but on this short errand had, once again, failed to click my seatbelt in place. This time I was sure I would pop up on his computer as a “seatbelt violator,” and I’d be getting a ticket. But the officer was gracious and just gave me a warning. It was a different branch of law enforcement, and he said the ticket would have been $115.00. One again, I was grateful for grace.

Sometimes people accuse that if we give too much grace, offer grace too freely, or let people experience grace too often, that grace recipients will simply abuse grace. Even I have thought that on occasion. But my recent experience with receiving grace from two different law enforcement officers makes me think otherwise. Instead of creating some bold sense of presuming on grace, I clearly recognize my guilt, and I don’t want to push the limits of grace – wherever those might be. Instead, I am wearing my seatbelt more faithfully! Oh, I still sometimes simply forget; the habit isn’t habitual yet. But I’m better at buckling before I begin rolling and – even when I forget initially – as soon as I realize I’m not bucked up, I immediately remedy the situation!

Interestingly enough, I’m not doing so because a cop might be watching or out of fear of facing a fine. With this quick, double occurrence of receiving grace, I don’t want to presume upon it. It is grace experienced that motivates my buckling up. Grace really is “amazing” on so many fronts. What if everyone who has recognized they are recipients of God’s grace became grace dispensers to everyone they know and meet? It might just change the world.

Andy McDonald

Our Current Debt by Tami Cinquemani

This morning’s newspapers, talk shows, and Internet news feeds share a common theme: the United States’ credit rating downgrade from AAA to AA+. The happenings of the recent past have led U.S. credit rating agency S&P to question our nation’s ability to pay our debt and have a credible long-term plan for reducing it.

And even in this crisis situation, even though the bickering and lack of willingness to work together has brought us to a place where none of us want to be, the partisanship and pettiness continues. As I’ve watched the theatrics acted out on our political stage for the past several months, I just want to be in the room and plead, “Come on, people! We know we’re in trouble, and we’re all in this together. These pathetic one-sided arguments are counter-productive. Can’t we just admit the problem, come together, and take a bold stand on the true solution?”

Our Senior Pastor, Andy McDonald, had a great sermon yesterday. He talked about the story in John 9 where Jesus heals the man born blind. The religious leaders of the day were furious. Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. Jesus solved the problem; he brought healing and wholeness to this man, but He didn’t do it in the way the Pharisees wanted it done. They grilled the healed man, even questioning whether he was actually ever blind! Their arguments were preposterous, petty, and completely missed the point. Jesus was the answer!

As a church, I hope we learn from the mistakes of our political leaders as well as the mistakes of the biblical religious leaders. There is only one solution to our human “debt” problem – Jesus. We can easily get bogged down in meaningless petty arguments that get us nowhere. It’s time we admit the problem, come together, and take a bold stand on the true solution. Jesus makes it clear in Luke 10:41-42: “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.” Jesus is the answer. Jesus is the solution. Jesus is enough.

Tami Cinquemani