A Question of Grace?

Here is a very real problem we are dealing with. There is someone who has returned to our community after being gone for a year or two. This person was a Vault kid and professed to begin a relationship with Jesus. In the time that this person has been gone they started dealing cocaine. this is confirmed information, so now I have to figure out how to deal with it. What limitations do I set? How hard should I be on this person? How hard and fast? What would Jesus do? Seriously. I know what "I" want to do with it.....

Peace,

K

What We See

I have had a few conversations in the past week that I have found somewhat disturbed and questioning what we see in each other. We seem to be much more gifted at finding what is wrong with people than we are at finding what is right with them. As a matter of fact we are willing to discount the good as fraudulent due to the “bad” that we see. This seems pretty much the opposite of the example Jesus gives us. He seemed to choose to see the good in people rater than the faults. You don’t even have to look past His disciples to see this. As flawed as they were, He used them to change the world.

We have a choice. We can choose to see what God is doing in people, or we can focus on the areas that need work. Maybe we feel better knowing someone else sucks(worse than us…), maybe we feel we need to assist the Holy Spirit(because you know how weak he/she is….). Whatever it is, I think many of us need to make a shift. The question is not what is wrong with someone, the question is what is God doing in their life and can we celebrate and how can we encourage that? Can we trust the Spirit and the Father to continue the work that He started in others?

As recovering assholes, we are need to recognize that we are predisposed to criticism, rather than encouragement and distrust rather than trust. The challenge is to make the change and walk as Jesus did.

Peace,

K

Rough Week

This has been a rough week. Both Syl and I have been battling the flu while trying to keep our regular schedules. I was hoping to fast this week, but the flu kind of put an end to that.

Dealing with people issues isn't always fun, less so when your sick. I have found myself fantasizing about the demise of certain individuals. Not very spiritual I know, but, I opted today to spend time praying for them instead. This really works. It is hard to think ill of people you are asking God to work in and bless. Forgiveness is a crisis of the will, I have to keep reminding myself of that.

Peace,

K

Frag You

Frag is a term that refers to soldiers who turn on their own. A soldier who shoots his sargeant or foxhole mate for example, has "fragged" him. Sometimes I think it is a Christian term more than a military one. There is little more discouraging than finding out your biggest "enemy" out there is a professing believer. I have been struggling lately on how to handle someone who is actively trying to sabotage the good work that we strive to do every day in our community. This someone is supposed to be about the same cause. Part of me wants to get "medieval" on his person. However, I know that God calls me to something more than that(which kinda pisses me off...), He calls me to love the guy.

I know I am not alone, other people I know trying to do good things have the same type of experience going on. Why do we hate to see others do well?

The trick I guess is not to be distracted by what morons do, but to stay focused on the mission and He who called us to it. It still pisses me off.

NC week

Well, I am back from my week in North Carolina. Went with my friend Karl. Hung out with Rocky, Leah and there kids, Olivia and Madison. Tons of fun. Did some golfing and sampling the local fare, such as BBQ, ribs, hush puppies and Waffle House,... what a freak show that was. I have an incredible respect for US micro-breweries.

Golf was crazy. One day was beautiful, the next, hurricane winds. We were the only people on the course. The club staff thought we were nuts, in hind site I would have to concur.

Watched the Duke, UNC game in a bar on Saturday night. What a zoo. The rivalry is alive and well. Karl and I were the only two there without representing colors. It was an experience. They take their college basketball seriously.

Met a band in a pub down in Raleigh. The lead guitar player was a church planter,.... don't ask, I just have a way of finding these people. We had a good time talking. He left his last church plant because it turned into "church". I suggested that he try planting a community. We are keeping in touch. Good times. He plays Reverend guitars through Matchless amp and cab. Sweet sound.


Check out my buddy's blog. Pretty trippy. http://awesomeinternetsite.com

Peace,

K