But what happens when the perpetrator of the hurt..makes amends?

• Yeah..what is the appropriate response?
• Should I let my guard down a little?
• Should I try and judge their sincerity?
• Should I forgive and let them right back into the place they occupied in my heart like before?

Ok..ok..ok..

Let’s pretend I could be that strong and forgive to that extent and experience that kind reconciliation (discussed earlier here).

What happens when they break their promise?

We read in 1 Samuel 24 a beautiful story of reconciliation and what appears to be a tear-filled and sincere promise by King Saul to stop chasing David (or at least a pledge of his support.) But two chapters later, Saul is on the hunt again. In 1 Samuel 26 David spares Saul’s life once more..and again offers an opportunity to Saul for reconciliation.

WHY!?!

This is the second time now that Saul has been hunting David. So, David has been burned once already by Saul..forgiven him..and honored him..AND NOW HE’S BACK!

I know what Matthew 18:21-22 says:

Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!

But my question today is, HOW?
It’s not that easy..
Should this kind of repeated forgiveness be normal?

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. (Luke 9:23 NLT)

Are you IN? ALL-IN? Are you a “fan” or a “follower”?

Three questions that have to be answered:

1. Why are you here?

In Jesus’s early ministry he saw many folks following him around and so he analyzed the situation and saw..

• people were seeing the miracles
• Folks were getting healed
• Jesus had fans that wanted to see a good show

Jesus then began teaching the strongest sermon about sacrifice and giving and the people began leaving.

Many of us want something FROM Jesus..but we don’t want JESUS.

At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. (John 6:66 NLT)

So, now we ask ourselves, ”Why am I here?”

2. Are you ALL-IN?

It seems like we all have something we hold onto.

We don’t mind giving up 75% of ourselves but we want to hold onto somethings: sexual sins, money, possessions, relationships, anger, etc.

Jesus asks for 100%

3. Have you made it your own?

Sometimes just being around church can rub off on you and by being around committed followers of Jesus can make us think we are also committed followers. But have we made it our own?

• You can be around church and start liking some of the things about it; particularly Jesus. 
• You come because it’s a nice place to be.
• You may appreciate the “feeling” of serving others. 
• You might enjoy the relationships you gain in Growth Groups. 

But what is MY relationship like with Jesus? Is it MY faith? Have I made it my own?

“If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26 NLT)

I missed some great quotes today by Scott. Please add what you got to the comments:: thanks.

You can view the entire message here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hABUNWk6sXc

what a beautiful reminder that my last failing was not the final word..

Rend Collective Experiment :: Second Chance

My future hangs on this
You make preciousness from dust
Please don’t
Stop creating me

Your blood offers the chance
To rewind to innocence
Reborn
Perfect as a child

Oh Your cross it changes everything
There my world begins again with You
Oh Your cross it’s where my hope restarts
A second chance is Heaven’s heart

When sin and ugliness
Collide with redemption’s kiss
Beauty
Awakens by romance

Always inside this mess
I have found forgiveness
Mercy
As infinite as You

Countless second chances
We’ve been given at the cross

Fragments of brokenness
Salvaged by the art of grace
You craft
Life from our mistakes

Black skies of my regrets
Outshone by this kindness
New life
Dawns over my soul

Have you experienced this Second Chance?

You can also check out my friends over at People of the Second Chance..but you probably knew that plug was coming.

Does this ever happen to you..
You meet an intelligent and beautiful woman..then you meet her husband..
and you ask, “How!?”

How does this happen?

How can intelligent, beautiful, strong, Bible-believing women get trapped into relationships with men not their equal?

It is almost understandable in ancient history and still-backward cultures today where arranged marriage is the rule. A man simply had(s) to be rich to then be the most “attractive” man in the village, regardless of how he looked or acted. But today? and here? where women have the ability to make their own choice!?! (Maybe the strong women who read this blog can help me out with the answer to this riddle in the comments?)

In 1 Samuel 25 this situation plays itself out with the “intelligent and beautiful” Abigail and her “crude and mean” husband, Nabal. She seems to have a good head on her shoulders while Nabal proves himself to be an idiot. And David is included in the mix.

• Nabal, the jerk,  angers and offends David..
• David vows to kill Nabal..
• Abigail comes to the rescue..
• she acts quickly..
• she goes out to meet David bringing what he had requested from Nabal..
• she humbles herself before David..
• she calmly and persuasively re-frames the situation for David..
• and she keeps David from sin..
  (and as an aside, she eventually marries David after her husband dies.)

Now, Abigail is not without some fault..she didn’t get it all right..but I would suggest that SHE was the bigger person in this whole story.

I’ve read some interesting thoughts on this phenomenon of “choosing to be trapped” to these men and the spiritual implication/explanation of such bad decisions. From the Enduring Word commentary I got this:

A woman may still find herself in Abigail’s pitiful plight. To such a one there is but one advice – you must stay where you are. The dissimilarity in taste and temperament does not constitute a sufficient reason for leaving your husband to drift. You must believe that God has permitted you to enter on this awful heritage, partly because this fiery ordeal was required by your character, and partly that you might act as a counteractive influence. You must stay as you are. It may be that some day your opportunity will come, as it came to Abigail. In the meantime do not allow your purer nature to be bespotted or besmeared. You can always keep the soul clean and pure. (Meyer)

May I say to you lovingly, but firmly, if such a circumstance has befallen you, that is no reason for you to invoke the law of the country to get out of the entanglement. Perhaps God knew that you needed the fiery trial to humble you and make you a testimony to your partner. The Bible says you must stay as you are. Maybe there will come to you one day, as there came to Abigail, a new opportunity; but until then, it is for you to prove the grace and power of the Lord in your heart to strengthen you and keep you pure. (Redpath)

But what do you think?

It’s obvious by David’s response to Abigail that God was at work. He thanks the Lord who he says “sent her” to him that day to keep him from a sinful course. The Bible describes her as beautiful and intelligent, yet she was bound to a jerk. She did remain with her husband until he died. It’s just a weird confusing story..relationally. God obviously used the situation and made something beautiful out of what was quite a mess.

I believe in the strong woman.
I believe there are many strong women today who are leading this community as Christ leads them.
And I believe there are many Abigails out there married to Nabals.

What’s your take?
Do you know an Abigail?

It is so hard to forgive someone.

It is so hard to forgive someone close to you.

It is so hard to forgive someone close to you who has wronged you.

It is so hard to forgive someone close to you who has wronged you and continues to wrong you.

It is so hard to forgive someone close to you who has wronged you and continues to wrong you and who you still love dearly.

This same situation is played out in 1 Samuel 24. Saul continues to chase after David. He is convinced that David is scheming against him. He is consumed with killing David. And in chapter 24 the tables turn. Through a weird twist (which is actually Saul stopping in a cave to take a poop), David, who is hiding in the poop-cave, has the opportunity to kill Saul. But instead only cuts off a small corner of Saul’s royal robe. Saul leaves the cave. David follows him out; then when Saul is some distance away, this conversation occurs:

After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way,

8 David came out and shouted after him, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him.
9 Then he shouted to Saul, “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you?10 This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn’t true. For the LORD placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king—he is the LORD’s anointed one.’

11 Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me.
12 “May the LORD judge between us. Perhaps the LORD will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you.13 As that old proverb says, ‘From evil people come evil deeds.’ So you can be sure I will never harm you.14 Who is the king of Israel trying to catch anyway? Should he spend his time chasing one who is as worthless as a dead dog or a single flea?

15 May the LORD therefore judge which of us is right and punish the guilty one. He is my advocate, and he will rescue me from your power!”

16 When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, “Is that really you, my son David?” Then he began to cry.17 And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil.18 Yes, you have been amazingly kind to me today, for when the LORD put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn’t do it.19 Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the LORD reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today.20 And now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule.

It is the perfect picture of sincere reconciliation. I’ve sketched out a recipe for this kind of reconciliation below..it you leave any ingredient out..it might not work like you hope..and keep in mind..this recipe is from David’s perspective..he is the one initiating the reconciliation..and he’s the one who has been wronged..

the recipe for reconciliation

• start with humility.. (v8 David bowed before Saul)
• season your words with kindness.. (v9, v11, v13)
• add plenty of mercy.. (v11 David didn’t kill Saul when given the opportunity)
• make sure to acknowledge the other person’s perspective.. (v8, v10, v11, v13 David calls Saul “king”, “father”, “Lord”)
• throw in BIG doses of respect for the other party even if you don’t approve of the actions.. (v14, v15 David recognizes Saul’s power)
• whatever you do, DON’T try to “get even”.. (v15, “may the LORD judge” not David)
• finish by speaking the truth in love.. (v15, “may the LORD judge and PUNISH the guilty one”)
• garnish with one last bit of humility.. (remember David was bowed before Saul during this monologue, v8)

The result of this recipe is a broken man in Saul..and he reciprocates the offer of reconciliation.

Is there anyone you need to offer this kind of reconciliation too?
Try this recipe and post your results..

15 One day near Horesh, David received the news that Saul was on the way to Ziph to search for him and kill him.16 Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God.17 “Don’t be afraid,” Jonathan reassured him. “My father will never find you! You are going to be the king of Israel, and I will be next to you, as my father, Saul, is well aware.”18 So the two of them renewed their solemn pact before the LORD. Then Jonathan returned home, while David stayed at Horesh. (1 Samuel 23:15-18)

Shouldn’t it be NORMAL for us to be surrounded by people who encourage us AND who speak truth to us IN LOVE..

Are YOU a Jonathan?
Do you encourage and reassure your friend’s God-given mission?

AND ALL OF THAT HAPPENS IN JUST THE FIRST FIVE VERSES OF 1 SAMUEL 23…..

So, how do you end injustice?
prayer, prayer, and action/obedience..

Ok..let’s get busy..

What are the scriptures screaming to you today??

Can my simple wandering of the mind lead to destructive sin passed down to my daughters, and their kids, and their kid’s kids?

Seriously, my evil thoughts could change history?

Am I over thinking this? I don’t think so. 

You’ve heard of the “butterfly effect,” right? 

The butterfly effect is the sensitive dependence on initial conditions. The name butterfly effect comes from the theory that a butterfly who flaps her wings here in the United States could, in essence, trigger a hurricane on the other side of the world. That one small nuance and history can be drastically changed forever. You’ve seen It’s A Wonderful Life where George Bailey is able to see what life would look like had he never been born. Yup, the butterfly effect. 

And look at King Saul in 1 Samuel 22. He goes from being God’s annointed and chosen king to an all-encompassing obsession with David. Saul grows increasingly more paranoid that David has convinced random people (the priests) to plot against him. So Saul has them murdered for no reason (THE INNOCENT PRIESTS AND THEIR FAMILIES)!! This slippery slope is described by Meyer, from Enduring Word, like this:

What a warning is here that we should not yield to the first intrusion of evil, lest the thought should lead to the act, and repeated acts to the habit, and habits congeal to character, and character become set in destiny!

Sounds like the butterfly effect. 

James warns us of this “thought-to-sin” cycle when he says,

Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. (James 1:14, 15 NLT)

Exactly what happened to Saul. Exactly what will happen to me if I don’t guard my heart. The butterfly effect. 

So my ponderings on this chapter of 1 Samuel today make me see what an unguarded heart can lead to..a destiny of death and a poor infrastructure to build on for my lineage. I MUST not let my thoughts wander..for the sake of my grandkid’s kids. 

Guard your heart above all else,

for it determines the course of your life. (Proverbs 4:23 NLT)

Have you witnessed the butterfly effect in your life? 

There are defining moments in our life that can change the course of our history. Some might seem like insignificant decisions that effect no one at the time..others become our “moment of clarity” or our “rock bottom.” One moment we feel like we’re with a handful of friends headed down a path that looks as great as the yellow brick road to Oz..then the next minute you’re all alone and evil apple trees are pelting you with their fruit.

Ok, reality sucks much worse than that. 

• Marriages that seemed perfect end in nasty divorce.
• Perfectly healthy kids are snatched from our world wayyyy too soon. 
• Faithful friends turn their backs on you when you need them most. 
• The awesome job that finally got you out of debt ends. 
• You were promised one thing..but got something completely different.
• Promises broken..
• Trust destroyed..
• Life makes no sense..

And what is your response?

For many they make the right first step and run to the Lord. 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. (Proverbs 3:5, 6 NLT)

And while we WANT to believe those verses..sometimes it just sounds too..um..trite. 

So, we begin running again..looking for something else to fill that God-sized void. And our running leads us to all sorts of crazy places that we KNOW won’t bring us life. But we run anyway. 

Take heart though. King David, in 1 Samuel 21 does the same thing: 

• Saul is trying to kill him..
• David has to say goodbye to his best friend Jonathan..
• He flees for his life..
• First stop, the tabernacle (good choice)..
• But quickly begins lying to “save himself” he thinks..
• Needing protection, he asks for the sword of Goliath (a fond memory of past triumphs, but the power wasn’t in the sword, it was in the radical faith)..

“David lost confidence in God and in fulfillment of God’s purpose for his life which had been revealed to him. He went to God’s house for comfort and help and guidance, but he was detected as being wrong in his soul. Instead of acknowledging the truth to the only one who could help him and confessing that he had been telling a lie, he ran for his life again.” (from Enduring Word commentary)

Now an even crazier move:

• He runs to the Philistine town of Gath (GOLIATH’S HOMETOWN!!!)..
• And carrying the sword of Goliath..
• Now he’s in the city..people recognize him..and he gets fearful..
• So he acts like a madman..flailing arms..drool..the whole nine yards..
• And now we wait to see what happens in the next chapter.

But let’s notice this, we are all Davids. We have life changing situations occur. And we run to God (or maybe just to church) and when we aren’t satisfied by the immediate results we take off again. Maybe go a little crazy. Do stupid things and wonder how and why (when we ran straight into the enemy’s camp). And maybe..just maybe..we forget for a moment that God really does have a plan for us..a plan not to harm us..but do we really believe it??

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:28 NLT)

Do you really believe, in the midst of chaos and turmoil and confusion, that God does have a plan and He really is working all things to the good?

I’m trying something new today. I’m simply posting my notes from today’s message. I don’t know how often or how helpful these may be to anyone..but here they are. Any feedback you have would be helpful.

These are my notes from (01/29/2012) Pastor Gary Thompson’s message about acceptance.

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” (Romans 15:7)

1. We like the idea of being accepted. 

Demi Moore quote. “there’s something wrong with me.”

Good thoughts on acceptance not being approval of wrongs but receiving someone despite their wrongs.

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” (Luke 15:11-24, 30-32 NIV)

2. But we all have acceptance issues. 

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ (Luke 15:25-30 NIV)

RACE

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26-28 NIV)

We all perceive Jesus in our own ethnicity. Partial to our own culture and ideas about God. But God sees no color.

Church needs to get over racial issues.

ECONOMIC

If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? (James 2:3, 4 NIV)

Some “rich” people see poor people as needy because of something they have done to themselves.

Some “poor” people have a predetermined mindset that rich people don’t care and are selfish.

All people need Jesus..regardless of $$$

SPIRITUAL

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV)

Judgment..we use outward appearances..but God looks inward.

We don’t have the ability to judge a mans heart (his salvation).

3. So we need to look at people the way God does. 

But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” (Luke 15:30-32 NIV)

Dead and alive!!!!

Lost that are found!!!

That’s it. We’re either dead and still dead or we were once dead and are now ALIVE!!

We ALL were once lost! So we shouldnt judge the lost but rather welcome them in like a hospital welcomes the sick.

The church should be a place of NO judgment. We should accept everyone as they are and work together towards holiness.