The Power of Words

I really want to be a good communicator. I think it’s important. I teach students during Awana (A Wednesday Night event for students 6^th and under) teach our youth group Sunday School on Sunday Mornings, I teach our youth group during Sunday Evenings, I preach about once every four months, and I coach wrestling. Those are the direct ways I communicate to others but I also communicate indirectly. In fact, my com101 professor Rich Noble, taught us that most of our communication is non-verbal (how we act: like smiling, the tone of your voice, and stuff like that). I also communicate in how I live my life. And you do too!

You communicate directly (through your words) and indirectly (through your actions) every moment of every day, even when you are a sleep (Psychoanalysis anyone? Haha). 

All of this “communicating” talk comes from a study I am doing with a few local pastors. We took an assessment that evaluated our motivation. You know like why I do what I do? This study isn’t to help us solve our deep psychological issues but certainty can be a starting point in figuring out why certain people are motivated to do certain things. The test gives you certain results and correlates them with colors. You are a complex person and so am I; therefore we have a blend of motivations but this test told us which motivational strategy we would most likely employ. The colors are red, blue, and green. 

“Red people” tend to be more vision oriented. We do things and communicate to the end that people are moving in a certain direction. They want to see people understand a concept and they see that as a “win.”  “Blue people” tend to be more people oriented. They are motivated by wanting people to be in harmony and see growth on a personal level. “Green people” tend to be more detailed-oriented. These are your accountants and treasurers. They are motivated not by people or the vision but my making sure all the ducks are in a row and that all the possibilities have been considered before moving on. There is also the “hub.” These are people that scored similar scores in red, blue, and green. They tend to be motivated by all three factors and hearing input from all angles and P.O.V.

Which color am I? What do you think? Which color are you? What do you think? Of course, all this talk about colors and motivation must led us somewhere and to someone. We need to know individuals motivational behaviors in a deeper way for a variety of reasons. 1) They can help us see the blind spots we are missing. Isn’t that true? A person that is motivated by vision and direction could easily overlook the practical needs that a detailed oriented person could see.  2) They help us see the full picture of God. All people were created in the image in likeness of God. That’s the coolest thing ever, i.mo. When we hang out with people that aren’t like us we get to see more of what God is like through these individuals. 3) We can communicate well to them! Saint Paul told the Church in Corinth that “he has become all things for all people, so that some might be saved.” He is telling us that the Gospel doesn’t change but how he needed to present it to certain individuals needed to in order for them to hear it.

The wonderful thing about God is he already knows how to communicate. In fact, he is the best communicator ever. I mean He did create it, after all.  So, I am interested in how God communicates to us. This list is not all the ways that God can speak to us. I believe he can use any way that he pleases. Who am I to limit what God can do? I have just notice a few that have to do with the word “Word.”

1) We can speak God’s word

Saint James, the half-brother of our Lord Jesus, wrote a letter in the Scriptures. He talks about how good and evil can both come from your tongue. He says it shouldn’t be but it does. We have the power to speak life into other people. How empowering is it to receive an encouraging word from another person when you are having a crappy day? We can also speak revelation. We can see things and have experienced things that others haven’t. We have the ability to speak truth into a situation trusting that God will use it to strengthen that individual. It is important to remember which “color” you are talking to when you speak these words of truth.  For it is our job to communicate well to the other based on how they can receive it best.

2) We can read God’s word

Many times in my life I don’t have the words to say. But I know that God has written (not literally but through chosen individuals) in the collection of books we call the Bible. Need an encouragement for a time of despair? There’s a verse for that. Need the words to praise God? There’s a verse for that. Need a challenge in times of pride? There’s a verse for that. 

The wonderful thing about God’s written word is you don’t need a Master’s in Biblical studies to read it. Studying about the Bible and reading commentaries are incredibly helpful to understand the background of the historical situation but we can trust that God can also speak to us through his Spirit into his written Word.

3) We can remember God’s word

One thing (among many) that I have appreciated about the Alliance (the demo I am serving) is this idea of remembering. What I grew up calling “Sacraments” they call “Ordinances.” This is referring to Holy Baptism and Holy Communion.  The idea of an ordinance is to perform a certain act out of obedience to the One who has commanded it and out of remembrance of Him.  So, they remember Jesus’ death and resurrection through Baptism (dying of one’s sins as they are washed away) and through the elements of bread and wine (replaced by grape juice) remind us that Jesus body and blood was broken and shed for us.

 God’s word is Jesus. In fact that is what Saint John calls him to begin his Gospel. What the Greeks called “logos” The way, the understanding of the universe, the way things work: John calls Jesus that. And is translated into our Bibles as “Word.” He shocks the Greek world when he says, “the Word (I.E. this Jesus who has always been and always will be, the way we understand the universe) became flesh and dwelt among us.

God speaks to us through Jesus. Through his birth, life, death, and resurrection. Jesus spoke parables (stories about people who embraced this “heavenly mindset.”) His life, his sacrifice, his example, his power over demons and death itself, is a testimony of God speaking to us.

4) We can experience God’s word

 The God who spoke many years ago through creating the earth, who spoke to us through Jesus, who speaks to us through the Scriptures, speaks to us today. His Spirit is alive and draws us to Himself. The Father who desires more than anything an intimate relationship with His children chooses to do so in the present age through the Spirit of Jesus that lives in and among God’s chosen people.

We can hear him speak to us. Through dreams. Through visions. Through the whispers of his voice.  This is where many Christians tend to check out because it is unsafe and uncontrollable but where we should want to sign-up! It takes faith to listen and trust that the God who knows you best will speak to you.

I have encountered God speak to me through all of these ways. Sometimes it is more evident than other times but as I learn to hear from Him I realize it’s a process. There are certain ways in different seasons of my life that I have heard God speak in different ways.  Currently, I am seeing certain words jump off the pages of Scripture as I follow the church calendar through the Bible readings.

The Spirit and the Word always work together.  May we not have a limited view of the “Word of God.” For the Word is Jesus himself. The Father, who sent his Son, sends his Spirit to reveal all truth in and through us and for us, who believe in the One and Only Triune God. This is awesome. And to this regard, I proclaim, “HECK YEA!” Come Lord Jesus, Come. 

Fill up

Well, two days into the New Year and I already got to experience my word in a profound way/ 

For those of you who do not understand read my previous blog, "2015: A year of being stuck." 

This morning on my way to the office my car got stuck, literally, on Main Street Ridgway, PA. I shifted into neutral, jumped out of my car, and started pushing my car up the street. (Luckily I live in the sticks and there wasn't too much traffic). As I needed to turn my car three guys came and help me push it right next to a parking spot on South Broad. 

What the heck?!? Frustration overwhelmed me. This was not the first car problems I have had in my life but I knew that God could be teaching me something through this tough time. He is good like that. 

Grateful that my boss is graceful when I told him I was going to be late for our 11am staff meeting even though I planned on getting there before 9am. 

As a man, I tried to figure out what happened, as I decided to call (and btw had to renew my Triple A card). How could my car just stop randomally. Was it my engine? My alternator? Flat tire?

Wait, I was out of gas. Really? How does that happen?

The gauge for my gas tank was not working. In fact, it usually doesn't and so I log my information in a notebook. I like to keep track of my miles, miles per gallon, when I get my oil changed (I actually have in my notebook all the way back through 2011). But being busy with Christmas and New Year I neglected to check on my miles. 

I usually get good miles per gallon but didn't this time. (I was mostly driving in town). So i waited and waited and waited until finally a guy pulled up surprised that I was stupid enough to run out of gas but nonetheless graciously gave me two gallons. He instructed that I go to the gas station and fill all the way up.

So the moral of the story? Don't be stupid like JEFF

Well, its deeper meaning. 

Many of us do this with our spiritual life. Think about it. We run on empty all week. And we breakdown. Luckily Sunday is around the corner. We expect our pastor to fill us up. 

What if I noticed I was running out of gas? I would have went to the gas station and filled up. 

This is true in our walk with God. He can go to Him at any moment to be filled with his Spirit. But many times we are too busy and as a result are drained and are of no use in the world. 

The irony here is many of us get stuck but we don't get stuck in the goodness of God. We get stuck because we are drained from over working ourselves. Instead of resting as a reaction to being tired it makes more sense to rest in order to work. 

As you read this, my prayer for you is you get stuck. You get stuck in the presence of God. I pray that you remember him and that you ask him to fill you up with more of Himself. May you not breakdown but be victorious in all you do. 

2015: A year of being stuck

Before I begin I have a joke.

Question: "What did Adam say to his wife on the last day of the year?"
Answer: "Happy New Years, 'Eve'"

I know. I know. Don't quit your day job.

So, its been awhile since my last blog but felt the urge to get back into it. Maybe that should be my New Year's Resolution?

Almost every year we come to Dec 31 and we realize we completely neglected our New Year's Resolution from the year before. So, we make an oath that this year we will do better. Or Go to the Gym more. Or Eat less snacks. Or Drink less pop. Or Read my Bible more. Or Be a nicer person. Or whatever.

I want to suggest a new way of doing this.
Instead of trying to come up with things you need to do better or things you need to give up I want us to focus on one thing.

Actually, one word.

Ask God to give you one word for your new year. No matter how simple or silly that word might be that's your word. Don't try and negotiate with him. It usually doesn't work. We can ask God for a word because he actually knows us better than we know ourselves.

So go ahead try it. Even if you aren't religious. Even if you don't believe in a god, just humor me. God speaks to and loves even those who don't believe in Him.

The rest of this blog will be dedicated to my word: My word is "Stuck"

On the surface this looks like a very depressing word but I love it! King David from the Bible tells us to "Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pastures. Take Delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:3-4)


David is an easy person to relate to. He has incredible passion for God but sometimes he loses his focus and falls short of perfection. That sounds like me, sounds like you. But there is some redeeming qualities to the life of this shepherd boy turned King. He had "a heart after God's own heart." In other words he loved God and didn't care who else knows.

In fact the more I study David the best word to find to describe him is: Stuck. He gets stuck in the grace of God. He gets stuck in the love of God. He gets stuck as a sheep.

David, formerly a shepherd knew how much sheep needed to rely on the Shepherd. David calls the Lord "His Shepherd" in the famous 23rd Psalm.

I want this word stuck to consume my life this year. When I'm reading my Bible I want to be stuck on words and not be able to continue. When I'm preaching I want to be stuck  in awe of the one I am preaching about. When I am coaching I want to be stuck when I realize that God has been so Good to bless me with the ability to be an influence on these kids lives.When I'm eating I want to be stuck when I realize how good food tastes. That my God would create taste buds for me.

This is a just a start but how cool is it that on this journey we call life that God has designed places for us to get stuck. To reflect. To be thankful. To inspire. To be well human.

Above all, may I get stuck in the overwhelming grace of Jesus Christ. Who has called me to himself before the foundations of the world.

If you desire, you may just my word. I think it's a good one. But I want to challenge you to ask God for yourself. What word is he giving you for this new year. May God slow you down. May he open your ears to hear from him so that you may truly be changed by the one who made, knows, and loves you.

Judge not?

A common phrase in today's lingo is: "Don't Judge me. Only God can judge me." This type of thinking is most often stated because one is either completely ashamed by their actions or they acknowledge the fact that God is infinite and wise while we are finite and often foolish.

But the phrase "Only God can Judge me" should scare individuals if they do not have a relationship with him. Think about it for a moment. God is holy. You are not. God is wise. You are not. God is perfect. You are not. Without the sacrificial act of Jesus dying for our sins we would still be regarded as enemies of God. Once you have place your trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus it changes everything. You have now become a friend of God.

But does that give us the right to judge?

This is a tough subject to approach. And I am going to admit, I don't have all of the answers. But I think this is a topic that is worth wrestling with in today's culture.

We live in a day of Postmodernism. Historians have placed the start of this era and the death of modernism on Sept 11, 2001. Regardless of where you place the beginning of this time period, the fact remains that it is driven mostly by one distorted worldview of Relativism.

Relativism is the idea that there are no absolutes. (Stating that there are no absolutes kinda defeats its purpose yet this idea remains for the majority of people in the twenty-first century). Religions that teach there is exclusivism are rejected by the population as a whole. "How can you tell me what I ought to believe?"

This idea becomes even more scary when it is coupled in with morals. Moral Relativism is the concept that my morals and beliefs are private and each individual is entitled to his or her one belief system. One is allow to do and believe whatever he or she wants as long as it does not interfere with the freedom of another. (this is where the subject becomes very tough to interpret because how can you tell if it is really interfering with another's freedom.)

Yet, in the midst of Moral Relativism many in the Western world still believe in a "god." This God may or not be a real person but it brings many individuals much comfort to believe there is someone out there that has his or her best interest in mind. And he is the only one that can judge them.

Who is God? I believe that Jesus Christ is God. Why? He said he was. My case does not rest simply in the fact of that he claimed to be God for many have suffered psychological delusions of grander where they believe they are a divine being. I believe Jesus is God because he predicted his own death and resurrection and was right about it.

Jesus said, He is the way, the Truth, and the Life. And that people could only come to God through Him. He wasn't stopping people from coming to know God but allowing himself to be a bridge between our fallen humanity and the holiness of God.

So, with all that being said........ what about judging others. Did Jesus even speak on this topic? YES!

"Do not judge."- Jesus

He actually said those three words. Do NOT JUDGE. The problem for all of us who want to take this as a license to disobey God is Jesus didn't stop there!

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way that you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."- Jesus

These words were given by Jesus not because he wants you to avoid judging each other but because he wants you to be careful on how you judge.

Jesus says, Before you start going around acting like the Righteous Police and trying to get everyone to clean up their lives to take a deep breath and think about it. To examine oneself. What are your motives? Are you calling this person out because you generally care about their well being or are you doing it because you are in a bad mood, mad at them, or want to see them embarrassed?

If you are a Christian you have been set free from the bondage of sin. What does that mean? The thing (the plank) that you have been struggling with can be set free. Jesus died not just so you can go to heaven one day but so that you can be set free from your addictions and problems today. Allow him to take away your plank. To give you free sight. To set you free!

So, what's this judgement thing about?

Once you have become free you have the capacity to set other people free. As you walk in freedom you will have opportunitie to tell others how Jesus has set you free. As you remove the plank from your own eye you can tell others that God can remove the speck in their eye. You can tell them that He is not mad at them for their mistakes and shortcomings but does want to see them set free from the pain that their sin has caused.

It's okay to call other people out when they are doing something that is harmful to themselves and others. They might not thank you in the moment but looking back they will be glad you were a good friend and told them how them can be set free from the life they are living.

This needs to all be done in love. Jesus, God incarnate, held on the knowledge of the universe. Yet not everyone believed and trusted in what He had to say. Yet he knew when to speak and when not to. He showed us how knowledge empowered but love becomes the most powerful force in the universe.

Divine Relationships

The goal of any relationship is to leave someone better off than when we found them.

This is true of friendship, romantic relationships, marital relationships, and family relationships. 

This blatantly spits in the face of the value of our culture. In 21st Century America we are all about instant gratification. What can I get out of it? How can this benefit me now?  

I wish I knew this concept earlier in my life because when you grasp it. When you get it. It wrecks you. You can't stay the same. 

For example, in a dating relationship between a boy and girl. Many cases they are in the relationship for purely selfish reasons. She is cute. He is athletic. I am lonely.  I have a low self-esteem. I I I. 

We take our brokenness and take it to another broken person to not feel broken. Its the blind leading the blind. 2000 years ago Jesus said, "The two shall be one." This implies the reality that the two whole people shall be united together to become one whole person. (Not 1/2 person +3/8 person= One person)

Not perfect by any means of the word but whole. 

To be whole means to be holy. These two words actually come from the same word in the Greek. It is when "all the parts are present and working as they were designed."

To be whole or holy means to have one's identity fixated on the fact that because of Jesus's Actions on the cross we have incredible value in the eyes of God. We are valued no longer as sinners but as saints. We are valued no longer as distant from God but as people who have been bought near. We are valued no longer as servants but as Kings and Queens. With Authority. With dignity. With honor. 

When one brings himself/herself to a dating relationship he or she must be whole. They enter into the relationship to offer themselves to the other. 

This same truth ought to be apply to any and all relationships we have. We bring ourselves to others not to get something from them but to give ourselves. To leave every and any situation with them being better off because you were in their presence. 

There are two possible things that can occur to dating relationships. This is the fact that they can end up being engaged and then married or have a breakup. As child of the king a breakup should not look like it does in the "world." 

Yes, hurt shall come and pain will arise. But if you were whole before the relationship and if you were in it to give of yourself and not merely to receive, (There is a purpose in receiving from others but it ironically only occurs when you give) things will be okay. 

Why?

Because your goal weather you ended up marrying the person or not was to leave them better than you found them. 

I write this blog a few days before I get married. What an exciting time in my life. But what also a scary time. Not scary in the sense that I am afraid but in the sense of the unknown. What does it look like to love and be loved and give of myself wholly and fully?

I do know at least one thing. My goal and purpose in marriage cannot be about myself.  It needs to and has to be about the other. My purpose fixates on the idea that I will leave her better off each day. Not in a controlling and trying to fix any and all things kind of manner but in the "I really do care about your best interest" kind of way. 

Jesus knew who he was. He was a whole person. He was a holy person. He brought himself to every relationship. He never care what people thought about him because life wasn't about himself feeling good. It was about living for others. 

And you know what?. Every time Jesus hangs out with me I am a better person. He does it. He makes me better. Not by controlling me with guilt and shame but through his loving kindness. 

Jesus, teach me to have divine relationships. Teach me how to respect others above myself. To honor others above myself. Walk with me. Talk with me. Guide me today in this journey. To the end goal that you might be glorified. That you might be praised. Thank Risen King Jesus. 

Powerless

I was reading my bible this morning and I was struck by a sentence. I could no longer continue after I read these words. Have you ever read something and felt so connected to those words that you could no longer continue. Here they are:

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly."

These words are written by Saint Paul to the church in Rome roughly 2000 years ago. The wonderful thing about the words of God is that they never change. We change and we are transformed but His words remain the same.

We can look at the context of the verse and ask what the author was trying to communicate to the orginial audience and then seek counsel through the Spirit of God to the personal application of the day. The wonderful thing is: They are usually the same thing. What God was speaking through Paul 2000 years ago is exactly what we need to hear today.

Paul is writing a letter to the church in Rome explaining the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Good News! That we were created good, have disobeyed God in word and deed, have a redeemer name Jesus that has saved us from hell and for heaven, and that one day Jesus is going to return to earth and restore the world to the way it gets to be.

Reading this verse, this sentence, this thought, made me a little upset. You see, because Im American. I am no powerless. I'm an athlete, I'm not powerless. I have worked hard for everything I have in my life. It's humbling to be called powerless when all we are feed every day is the complete opposite. Pop-culture tells me I'm special (like a snowflake). But powerless, never.

This is a place where one needs to tend lightly. Because I am not taking about low self-esteem. I am not taking about having emotional/psychological issues like depression or the opposite end of narcissism. I am taking about our sense before God awaken us to the truth of who he is!

Maybe the best way to explain what I am trying to say is through a story.....
A few years ago I worked at a summer camp. I was in charge of teaching sailing for a part of the day. I dont know why they chose me considering I have never sailed myself before the one hour orientation I received. But there I was. The camp was for kids ages 8-18. And many younger kids had a difficulty sailing. It is tough. The wind blows fast and without warning.

One day, as two 9 year olds were out of the lake the wind did increase without notice. The students panic and pulled on the rope and they went so fast that the sailboat capsized. Without hesitation, I jumped into the water and went after them. I swam toward them in the heavy winds and waves until I reached them. At this point, I flipped their boat for them and told them to get inside. We dumped as much water out of the boat as we could as I began to swim two 60 pound boys plus the boat to the shore.

They were powerless. They were stuck. Have you ever felt stuck and didn't know what to do? There was nothing they could do. They were waiting and crying for help until their hero came to rescue them.

This is the message of how much God loves us. That when we didn't even know we needed to be saved that Jesus took our place on the cross.

Later in the scriptures we see God call us other words, "Children," "Saints," "Forgiven," "light." But it didn't start with you choosing to be a better person. Moralism only gets you so far. Trying to be a good person only gets you so far. You are powerless to come into a relationship with God. It's only after he awakens you by His spirit that you can follow him.

This sounds like fatalism but it is not. The truth is that it starts and ends with God but it is also about you. God's spirit awakens us to the truth and the fact that Jesus is Lord and in that awakening moment we are brought to crisis moment. Which way are we going to go in life.

I think of Paul's conversion. He sees a light that blinds him. It is Jesus from heaven. He proclaims, "It is I, Jesus, the one whom you are persecuting." He is blind for three days until God sends a man named Ananias to heal him. In that instance Paul is completely healed and can see again. Paul is awoken to the fact that Jesus is the Messiah but Jesus himself but still has a chose to make. Does he follow his leading and lose all he has worked for his whole life?

Paul was powerless. He was blind way before he was physically blind. Ironically, It took him becoming blind physically for him to see spiritually what was happening.

Before, God awakens us to the truth that He is real we are left in a state of blindness. Without power. But he flips on the light switch so that we can see the truth of who he is.

What role do believers have in the role of salvation then? As a believer, your responsibility is to follow Jesus. Fall in love with Jesus. As unbelievers see how your life has become transformed by God they will chose to follow him as well when they are having their next crisis moment.

You see, we had no power but now we have unlimited power from on High. The Holy Spirit has given us the empowerment to follow him and share his love with the world. You were powerless now you are full of power but this power is from God alone. Will you be a person of power of loving others and by laying down your life for the other?

Offensive Love

God's love is incredibly offensive. Not in the sense that "The Pirates need to generate more offense" but in the sense that his love is above and beyond our cognitive understanding of what is good and right.

We have unintentionally shape our understanding of God and His love toward us based on our experience and the love we have receive from others. If one wants to judge by this merit he or she will continually underestimate the capacity God has to show favor, grace, and love toward his children.

I am a Christian and believe in the mystery of the Trinity. I believe in One God yet he has revealed himself in three characters. We call this the Father, the Son (Jesus, the Christ), and the Holy Spirit. They are equal in power and authority for there are literally one but they are different in their roles. The Father creates and sustains the world, the Son sacrificed himself showing us the great love of the Father, while the Holy Spirit empowers us for daily living and enlightens us to the truth that Jesus in the Messiah.

Trying to explain God in human terms is very difficult for He (even using gender is incorrect analysis) indescribable. The best one can do to explain and understand the glory of the Father is to look at the Son. The author of Colossians, Saint Paul, show the resurrected Christ seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven in a vision. He says two important things of God: "The Son is the image of the invisible God"  and "God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him."

What's the point. We can fully and truly know God through the character of Jesus Christ. If we have some understanding of God that does not match up with how Jesus acted then we need to repent (change the way we think) at once.

Many of the religious people in the First Century did not like Jesus. They were offended by how he did things. He was offending people before he was born. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. God chose to bring His Son into the world through a teenage Jewish girl who was engaged to be married. Many people would have looked at Jesus and mocked him calling him a bastard child. Neither did Jesus get married. This is more common in today's culture but not in the First Century! In addition, Jesus who was a teacher with much authority, chose disciples that were the rejects of the day. The majority of his followers were fishermen and tax-collectors.

What is this Jesus guy doing? As you read through the Gospels you will see that he continues to offend the religious yet stun the "Sinners" by welcoming them into his life. He breaks down their man-made religion and reveals the true heart of God. "To seek and save the lost."

There is an account of great offense that Jesus brings in Luke's Gospel. Some Pharisees (this was a devout Jewish sect that held morality to a high standard) invited Jesus to have dinner at their home. This was the greatest level of intimacy in the Jewish First Century culture. As they are enjoying their meal and woman who doesn't even get named walks right into the house. She is simply called, "a sinful woman." She does the oldest thing. She falls to the ground at the feet of Jesus, pouring perfume and washing his feet with their kisses and hair.

This event caused the Pharisees not to be mad at the woman but at Jesus. But why? Because he was not offended at the woman. She was unclean. She was unholy. She was unworthy. She was a SINNER. She was a woman. She wasn't one of them. She wasn't a child of Abraham. The Pharisees say about Jesus, "If this man was a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is- that she is a sinner."

Jesus explains why he is not offended with a story (this was pretty common for Him).

"Two people owed money to a certain monelender. One owed him 500 days of wage, and the other 50 days of wage. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?

His rhetorical question was answered correctly by Simon, "The one who had the bigger debt forgiven."

If the Pharisees and many Christians today it is about doing more right than wrong. Life is about achieving perfection; more good deeds than sins. But the thing is no one is perfect. And if we are honest with ourselves trying to achieve perfection is hard and it is tiresome task.

The very fact that God sent His Son Jesus to die in our place is the fact that we could not rescue ourselves. That is
God's
Great
Love.

That he chose to love everyone equally. You might say, "Well, Jeff. Don't we all? No, I don't think so. We might try to love everyone equally and unconditionally but this again is a task that you and I fail.

God's love is offensive because your eternally  status before God is not determine by how you act or what you do. It is totally, 100% in the fact that he loves you and me and us and paved the way for us to have an eternal relationship with Him.

Jesus didn't care that the woman who was at his feet was considered to be a sinful woman. He didn't view people in light of their sin but in light of how much he loved them. To this day, Jesus' love is incredibly offensive to many. It is "too good to be true." We many times believe this because we believe the falsehood that God can only love me by how good of a person  I am. You are not a good person. You are however, a child of God. A prince or princess in God's kingdom. Forever loved and forever cherished simply because you are you.

Because this woman had a huge debt her understanding of God's love was able to increase. Y(our) ability to love others is directly proportional to the love we have received. To those who have received grace in light of their error how much greater has their capacity to show grace increased. 

As you walk through life today, I pray that you know that there is a God and He is madly in love with you. I pray that you can reflect on your life and understand no matter what you have gone through that God is willing to fully forgive you of everything. 

And when He forgives; He forgets.