Saving Grace

I was just getting ready to turn the TV off last night when an episode of Saving Grace began. I had seen commercials for the show but had never seen an episode, so I decided to stay up and see what it was all about.

If you are not familiar with the show, click here for an overview. In a nutshell, Holly Hunter plays Grace Hanadarko, a cynical detective who lives hard and fast by drinking too much, sleeping with numerous men (most of them married), and defying authority. One night she cries out to God for help after hitting a man while driving drunk. Suddenly an angel appears and begins to spend time with Grace trying to help her straighten out her life.

Before I go any further...I am not endorsing this show. It is laced with profanity and sexual overtones, so if you choose to watch it, you have been warned.

I am, however, stating that it is an interesting collision of the secular and the sacred. My gut is telling me that most Christians would condemn the show; however, in doing so they are also unwittingly condemning Scripture. Let me explain...

Throughout the Bible, we encounter people just like Grace. Think of the woman at the well (John 4:1-42).

We read her story without truly grasping who she was. We sanitize the story to make ourselves feel better. We read that she had five husbands and was living with a man who wasn't even her husband, but we don't dwell on that fact because we prefer to fast-forward to who she was after she encountered Jesus.

That's the way we like our Christianity - clean, safe, and sanitary. Unfortunately, the people who really need to encounter Jesus live messy lives.

We watch shows like Saving Grace and are repulsed by Hunter's character, but we don't stop to think that these are the very people that God loves and wants to embrace the most. Remember Jesus words, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." (Matthew 9:12)

If we are to be a people and a church after God's own heart, then we had better get used to spending time with and getting to know people just like Grace. It will be messy at times, but it is what God desires the most.

Voice from Iraq

I was working in the office today when an IM popped up from a good friend of mine who is serving in the Special Forces over in Iraq. We grew up together back home in Newton, IL. He played a significant part in my accepting Christ, and he was also the best man in my wedding.

We used to have these late night discussions together standing out in his driveway along with his two brothers and some other friends. We would talk through all of the normal stuff of life - school, sports, girls, motorcycles, cars - but we would always end up on the topic of faith. I miss those late-night discussions...

It was great to be able to connect with him even for a short time. He isn't due back until next year, but I am looking forward to getting together with him when he does. Be safe, JQ, and know that I am praying for you. Love you, bro!

Baptizing Charlie

I had the privilege of baptizing Charlie last Sunday during our 10:00am adult service. It was an awesome experience all around!

Charlie and his family are very special to me. His father, Mike, is a member of my Wednesday morning Men's study and one of my whitewater rafting partners. His mother, Suzy, is our Women's Ministry team leader at FVCC. She is so optimistic and keeps me laughing all the time.

Just a couple of months ago, I had the privilege of presenting Charlie with his God & Me award during a Cub Scout ceremony. This was an award for walking through an extensive study of the Christian faith and beliefs. As an Eagle Scout and a Pastor, this was a great experience.

While I would love to take credit for Charlie's faith and spiritual growth, I believe the credit falls to Mike & Suzy for doing an awesome job raising Charlie and his brother in a strong, Christian home. Great parenting, guys!

Donald Miller & David Crowder

I went to Willow Creek Community Church last night with some friends and fellow staff members from FVCC. We went because the David Crowder Band was leading worship and best-selling author, Donald Miller, was speaking (Blue Like Jazz; Searching for God Knows What; Through Painted Deserts; To Own a Dragon).

I've got to tell you... it is so refreshing as a pastor of a church to simply be another face in the crowd during a worship service. I didn't have to worry about people missing their cues. I didn't get anxious when the microphone didn't work (which happened last night; it was really encouraging to all of us pastors to know that happens to them too!). I didn't keep watching the clock wondering if we were going to end on time so we could get people out of this service and in for the next service.

I really appreciated Donald Miller's words last night. Using the story of Joseph, he walked through the elements of a great story - a great protagonist; negative turns in the form of pain, suffering, struggle, and rejection; positive turns in the form of healing, redemption, and acceptance; and a great ending (and it doesn't have to be a positive ending - think Friday Night Lights).

He challenged us to embrace the negative turns in our story...to understand that the challenges and struggles we go through only add to the greatness of our story. As a follower of Christ, we already know the ending of our story. As a result, we have the freedom to embrace the positive and negative turns life throws our way.

One of my favorite illustrations he used last night was from his experience hiking to the great Incan city, Machu Picchu, in Peru. The hike to this UNESCO World Heritage Site takes 3-4 days, covers 26 miles, and crosses three mountain passes. About three miles into the hike, the guide stopped at a fork in the trail.

He stated that if they were to take the trail to the right, they would arrive in Machu Picchu in about six hours. If they took the trail to the left, they would arrive in the city in three days after hiking another 23+ miles. He told them that the Incas only allowed individuals bringing goods into Machu Picchu to take the trail to the right. Everyone else had to take the longer and more challenging trail to the left. The goal was that by experiencing the more arduous journey of the longer trail, the citizens would appreciate the city - the destination - even more.

After hiking the trail to the left and arriving in the city three days later, Miller shared that his appreciation for the city was exponentially deeper than the tourists who took the bus to the famed city. In the same way, we will one day look back on our lives and appreciate the struggles and challenges we experienced because they helped us grow in our faith.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4)