Preggers With Grace and Truth

What’s the big deal about the virgin Mary? In my opinion she gets more press than she desrves. It is important to acknowledge that she, as a virgin, did give birth to Jesus, but this didn’t make her sinless or better than anyone else; and it doesn’t set her above Jesus in holiness.

Mary is just like you and me.

Throughout hundreds of years it has been belived that Mary, the mother of God, was full of grace, making her sinless and equipping her to provide others with grace for the salvation of their souls. This is a distortion. Mary played an important role in God’s story of rescue and restoration, but it did not exalt her to the level of perfection above the rest of mankind.

She’s just like you and me.

The idea that Mary is set apart from the rest of humanity is based on a misinterpretation of a verse in the Gospel of Luke. An angel appeared to Mary to reveal the part she would play in God’s plan to redeem humanity and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” And a couple verses later reiterates, ” Mary, you have found favor with God.” It’s understandable that some would interpret this in such a way that would place Mary on a pedestal over and above the rest of mankind. God doesn’t just show up on any ‘ol person’s doorstep claiming that they’re favored by Him, right?

Or does He?

As the story of Jesus’ birth progresses angels show up again, and this time the sky is packed out with them in all their winged and haloed swagger. They appear to a field full of unknown shepherds and sheep singing Handels Messiah and helping Anaheim win the world series. They actually came to make an important announce. Yes, Jesus was born, but this wasn’t the only good news they had for the Shepherds. The angels proclaimed, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

Mary was favored by God and so were a bunch of unnamed shepherds?

So, why don’t these guys get the attention Mary does?

It is because their part in the story wasn’t to give birth to Jesus, but only worship and proclaim His coming instead?

Mary and the shepherds are the same, they were just given different roles to play in God’s story. All they had to do was be faithful to their responsibility. If Mary had said “no” to the angel, God still would have come to earth in human form most likely through another virgin who was willing, but Mary was the one God wanted to use. All she had to was be faithful to the call. But her faithfulness didn’t make her holy, because all people, Mary, shepherds, you, me, criminals, and our enemies are favored by God – we all have been offered grace and truth through Jesus; and a part to play in God’s story of rescue and redemption.

Billy Graham is a world renown name. He has delivered God’s message of grace and truth to millions. He has been esteemed by men and women over the past 50+ years, but he is no more favored by God than anyone of us. He just has been faithful with the role God has set for him to play in His story.

John 1:14 says that Jesus came to earth full of grace and truth. When Jesus filled Mary’s womb she was literally filled with God’s grace and truth for all humanity. Jesus came to reveal the truth about God, the reality of our sin that separates us from Him, and what He’s done to rescue and restore us. And Jesus came to offer the grace of God to a broken and lost people incapable of saving and repairing our lives. When we accept  the truth about God and admit what has damaged our connection with Him we become the recipients of His grace – grace that can’t be earned but can forgive and heal our relationship with Him.

Essentially, when we let Jesus into our lives, we, like Mary, become pregnant with, full of, grace and truth. Our responsibility, then, like Mary, the shepherds, Billy Graham, and the multitude of other unnamed individuals who have told us about Jesus, is to reveal, expose, “give birth” (if you like), and offer the grace and truth of Jesus that we have received, to a world so desperate for the knowledge that everyone is favored by God so much that He would offer us grace and truth. We just have to be faithful with our role in God’s story.

:: The French Pressed Four ::

: Egg Nog :: Don’t hate!

:: Harris YMCA 5-1-5 Basketball Tournament :: Hooping to help the homeless in Charlotte. Well done fellas!

::: Slumdog Millionaire :: Saw it post-hype, and still liked it.

:::: Menno Simons :: A little church history for you to brew on over the weekend.

Grapes+Peas

Have our holidays caused grace and peace to become a powerless household items?

Tis the season to be slightly cynical. Our malls, greeting cards, and coffee cups have been littered with slogans offering grace and peace, but all they have become is a shiny piece of tinsel and wrapping paper to be balled up and thrown away.

They’ve become cliche. They’ve become as unnecessary as a daily dose of grapes and peas.

As American citizen we practically can recite Amazing Grace, from start to finish, better than The Pledge of Allegiance. But do we actually know what we’re singing? Do we actually know the power of the words that cover our presents?

Peace has become a mindless gesture of departure, and an ideal for global harmony that may lead to a cease-fire for a day to honor December 25th. Is it actually attainable through Christmas carols and decor?

Or by the grace of God.

The Apostle Paul, one of the first missionaries of Jesus, wrote a majority of the New Testament in the form of letters to different churches in the Middle East and Mediterranean. In every letter, Paul opens with a variation of, “grace and peace from God the Father, and Christ Jesus our savior.” Are Paul’s words important, or could they be replaced with grapes and peas and hold the same meaning? The phrase is included in each of his letters, it must be important, and therefore deserves a little more attention than a Lexus commercial.

Paul’s mission in life was to proclaim the Good News of God, and grace and peace was the essence of his message. Pastor and author, Rob Bell describes Paul’s grace and peace as “the free expression of love and harmony from God.” It’s the grace of God that leads to peace with God, and all people. It’s the thing everyone wants.

Grace is offering forgiveness and hope to those who don’t deserve it. Grace is making the first move. Grace is favoring the unfavored. Grace is understanding that we too were broken, filthy, shameful, and cold.

Peace is every type of good. Peace is harmony. Peace is contentment in grace. Peace is freedom from trying to earn love by our own effort. Peace is rest. Peace is not obtained through war.

The reason we’re always at war with our enemies, other people, and ourselves is ultimately because we’re at war with God. God retaliates with love made evident through His grace offered through the sacrifice of Jesus, which, when received, leads to peace with God. If we can be at peace with God, then peace with man is possible.

Peace will spread when grace is given. Grace is the only gift the world can’t give. And it’s the only gift man can receive that will bring about peace.

Paul began EVERY LETTER with “grace and peace”. Essentially he entered every church he wrote to with the free expression of the love and harmony of God.

What if we entered everywhere we went with grace and peace?

Our offices. Our Schools.

Our homes. Our churches.

Our conversations. Our enemy’s territory.

Jesus entered enemy territory so we could enter into a relationship with God.

And, that’s more powerful than wrapping paper.

:: The French Pressed Four ::

: April Walker :: Thanks for showing Katy Grace+Peace!

:: MuteMath :: I’m willing to give the Muse status.

::: John Mayer :: Battle Studies

:::: Howard Chadwick :: A life well lived!

What do you take wherever you go?

Jesus gets a bad rap.

Some of the reasons for this are Christians, suffering, and misinterpretations. These reasons keep people from giving Jesus – His message and life a shot.

The Bible says in the book of John that Jesus came to earth with grace and truth. He came with grace – the love and forgiveness of God offered to all people, and He came with truth – the way to God out of sin.

Are these the things that give Jesus a bad name? Or is it the things we, who go in His name, bring to earth?

What do you bring wherever you go?

I’m going to the Dominican Republic as we speak. If I don’t go with the grace and truth of Jesus than I inevitably go forth with the bad news of Todd – pride, selfishness, and fear.

When you enter your office what do you bring? As the summer gets rolling what will you bring to it? When you wake up what will you bring to the day?

Go forth with the grace and truth of Jesus. The world is already full of enough bad news we don’t need yours and mine too.

I’ve Given Up On You

I was in Atlanta this past week for a conference with some friends. The first session – a knock out session at that – concluded with communion, the Lord’s Supper, the Eucharist, the Bread and Wine .

I’ve received communion for years and served communion 7,559 times (you’re not supposed to keep track?). As I sat in the midst of thousands of people holding the piece of bread I tried reflecting on the representation and significance of the moment. Over and over the phrase, “broken for my brokenness,” filled my thoughts.

I’ve got a random mind that can make random connections in seconds. It happens all the time, when I’m praying, brainstorming, or reflecting on something. I can be pondering something I read which may remind me of a interaction I had in college about a textbook which leads to a memory about over texting on my cellphone which brought about the wrath of my dad that I not only experienced as he poured over the phone bill but also that one time I tore all my mom’s bushes up to make a trapped door which lead to my trapped door getting paddled. Random, I know.

It’s not a rare occurrence that while reflecting on the elements of communion that my mind moves away from the symbolism to my growling stomach or thoughts about French Toast. This time was different. I didn’t ‘brain dream’ my way away from the thoughts I had but a conflicting thought come to mind. As I let, “broken for my brokenness,” repeat the notion, “yeah, big deal, you’ve heard this before, let’s move on…there’s nothing like a tiny cup of grape juice,” barged in.

Something important was happening.

I wasn’t supposed to miss the idea, “broken for my brokenness.” But apathy, distraction, and discomfort wanted their way.

The juice tray disrupted my thoughts so I quickly popped the bread in my mouth and grabbed one of those cute cups that always leave you thirsty for more.

I entered back into reflection mode, this time it was on the importance and representation of the juice. In the stillness it came to my attention that something about me needed to be covered, forgiven, and removed. As I wrestled through what, who, when, or where it finally came to my attention: I give up on people.

Dang! That’s hard to write.

Faces filled my mind of those I’ve lost hope for and let go their way. It’s a killer to be a pastor and have God bring to your attention that I’ve given up on those I’m not supposed to give up on.

I get tired of caring for people and at times I’ll let frustration and self-centeredness throw in the towel, abandon hope, and let them go their way.

I’m sorry.

I know I can’t save anyone or I’m not expected to but as I sat among the crowd holding the mini cup of grape juice I was clued in to a reason why the church serves communion nonstop. We haven’t been given up on.

I haven’t been given up on.

Those I give up on haven’t been given up on.

You haven’t been given up on.

And in the midst of my deteriorating hope, hope peaked. If I’ve never been given up on than it’s possible that I can give up on people less. If I’ve never been given up on,  instead of giving up I can let others know they haven’t been given up on either.

For those I’ve given up on, I’m sorry. I haven’t been given up on, you haven’t either and I hope you know this more as I give up less.

:: The French Pressed Four ::

: Communion :: Our reminder that forgiveness and cleansing is available through Jesus.

:: Uncle Julio’s :: Great TexMex in Atlanta

::: Lebron James :: He’s nasty!

:::: Cafe Disco