Messy!

Ministry isn't ministry unless it's messy! Words from a great friend in ministry and the longer I am involved in ministry the more true his words ring!

Why is that? Well, I guess because I'm broken living in a broken world - albeit living with the certain hope of restoration when Jesus returns to set wrong to right!

My kitchen floor needs to be mopped sometime today. It's on my list! The reason it needs to be mopped is because I track in dirt, I spill stuff and so does the other person who lives with me.

My car needs to be detailed - something that hasn't happened in its entire second-hand life - because I use it and stuff happens inside and out!

And relationships - now there's an area to explore! There is conflict and hurt and pain, words spoken intentionally or with oblivion that hurt just the same and more!

There is time misspent so there is not time for anything but the tyranny of the urgent!

And there are all kinds of other examples from my world - and, my guess is, from your world as well! There is eating too much or too little, sleeping too much or too little, spending too much time or too little time with or for someone or something and the list goes on!

In a word - MESSY!

The good news is that the Bible is filled with stories of men and women just like me - people whose story reveals wrong choices and messy relationships. The Bible does not record the stories of people who always do right and make good choices. In fact, the reason men and women like Adam and Eve, King David, Ruth and Esther, Mary Magdeline, Peter and many more speak to my heart is that they look a little or a lot like me! They look so familiar because they are. They look a lot like me - the good, the bad and the ugly!

The BIG difference between MY story and the Bible is that the Bible isn't just a historical record tho' it is that - the Bible is actually God's story. The Bible is the story of how God the Creator and Savior of the World stepped into our time and space (moved into our neighborhood) and even put on our skin. God's story is about love and forgiveness and intentional mercy and grace! And God's story endures despite all my messiness because God's story doesn't depend on me in any way to survive and expand. God's story endures not because I am worthy or faithful but rather because He is! AND He always will be as long as time endures and forever! AND thankfully there is NOTHING I can do to mess that up! Wow!

Broken ... A Good Guy and A Bad Girl!

Her many sins have been forgiven - for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little. Luke 7:47
Jesus was always getting invites to parties. He was the talk of every town - healing lepers and blind men, raising the widow's dead son and lots more. This night it's Big Shot Simon who invited Jesus to dinner. All of a sudden, enter stage left the town's Bad Girl (maybe even a prostitute). She's not still a bad girl but once was a bad girl. It's almost impossible to live that kind of reputation down!
All the dinner guests were lying around on their cushions around the tables. Bad Girl Jesus is invited to Simon's house. She knew all the men know her either by reputation or worse but she came in anyway. She brought a beautiful jar filled with very expensive perfume. It was a valuable essence! She stood at Jesus' feet and began to cry. (We don't know how her story with Jesus began, but she must have known Him to be the Son of God. Why else would she come to worship Him?)
As she quietly cried, her tears fell on Jesus' feet. She knelt, wiped His feet with her hair, kissed them and then poured all that valuable essence on His feet. The jar holding the perfume probably had a long thin neck to keep the essence protected. To pour it out, she probably had to break the neck on the jar. Martin Luther calls her tears heart water. They surely came from her heart. This was her act of thankful worship for the One who had loved her and forgiven her many sins.
Simon was furious. He was really angry that Jesus would even let this woman touch Him. Jesus knew what Simon was thinking. Jesus also knew money was very important to Simon. Jesus talked to Simon about what is really valuable. He told Simon a very short story about two men who owed a debt. One's debt was large; the other small. Both debts were forgiven. Then Jesus asked Simon: Which man will be more grateful? Simon grudgingly answered, Well, I guess the one with the greater debt.
Jesus also pointed out that Simon didn't even bother to have a servant wash Jesus' feet when He arrived. That was a real insult to any guest! So that slight by Simon toward Jesus made the Bad Girl's gift and actions toward Jesus even more loving! Jesus said, She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal. (Luke 7:47)
Simon and Jesus both saw the same woman. Simon saw her for what she was. Jesus saw her heart! Her heart burned with love for Jesus! Simon's heart was frozen. Jesus spoke tender words to the woman, I forgive your sins. (Luke 7:48)
Where is your heart today? Is it frozen or does it burn with love for the One who still forgives sins?
Lord Jesus, help me to see how much You are willing to forgive me. Lord Jesus, may my love for You reflect the greatness of Your forgiveness for my sin. Give me Your love where I walk today. Help me to love others in spite of myself. In Jesus' name. Amen.

The "Someone Done Me Totally Wrong" Song Ain't a Hill to Die On!

Singing the "someone done me totally wrong" song might be your or my reality today. Life isn't fair and life does not come with a guarantee against betrayal, loss and pain! Sometimes I feel like the perpetrators of the totally wrong stuff get off scott-free and "ride off into the sunset" to do their damage to another unsuspecting target.
It is true; it often seems that way! But that's not my call! I'm just responsible for my end. God promises to take care of the other side of this equation.
What's a gal (or guy) to do when there is seemingly no possibility of repentance and restoration or even closure? Staying stuck in wanting to "take out a contract" on the perpetrator is not a hill to die on. Moving on and asking God to work His restoring grace in my heart is the only path of health and sanity for my own heart!
Choosing the way of revenge or just-can't-forget-and-forgive does absolutely NO harm to the perpetrator but it does irreparable damage to my own heart! So making the terribly difficult but necessary step of forgiveness is actually the path of God's grace and mercy to me even if that grace and mercy seem severely won!
Just askin' ................... think about it!

Forgiveness

Last Sunday my good friend shared during worship that she knew her life is a mess and that she needs to find forgiveness. That's exciting enough but that's not the rest of the story (as Paul Harvey used to say). She is a Buddhist but she comes to A Restoration Church almost every week. She may not understand but I know Jesus is after her heart!
Outside my window snow is pelting down. The ground and trees are covered. There is an old hymn I love:
Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole!
I want You forever to dwell in my soul!
Tear down every idol; Cast out every foe!
Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow!
My heart has been singing that hymn all morning as I look outside at the beautiful falling snow and as I pray for my dear friend! She too longs to be perfectly whole. She too wants - longs - to be washed and forgiven!
I need that too and so do you!
How many "old" believers do you know who would boldly stand in worship and say, "My life is a mess. I don't treat people the way I should. I need and want to be forgiven!"?

Forgiveness Is...OR NOT!

Forgiveness isn't saying, “What u did 2 me is ok.” It's saying, “I’m not going to let what u did 2 me ruin my happiness forever.” --Dr. Jerry Weichman

Sorry, Doc, but you stopped just a bit short of the mark. It IS true that forgiveness is not condoning the wrong that has been done to you! It is true that a part of forgiveness needs to be moving on and not getting stuck in the muck and mire of all the pain and loss! BUT the more part is that forgiveness - principally so that you can move on - is also promising and making the commitment to yourself and to that other person that you will NOT bring that particular offense up again against that person or rehearse it in your own mind and heart. THAT is how to be free, forgiving and forgiven!
What happens if and when the perpetrator does you wrong again? Is your forgiveness this time a "get out of jail free pass" for next time? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Then it's time to reassess and possibly renegotiate with the offender but that may or may not come to pass. For the now, moving on means leaving that pile of crap just where it needs to be left - at the feet of Jesus. He can give you the grace and strength to pick up, forgive from your heart and move on! He knows and understands ALL about what it takes to forgive! That's what He is ALL about!

Forgiveness Leaves NO Regret!

We will NEVER regret doing the hard and heart work of forgiveness.
--Scotty Ward Smith

My Heart's Ready to Forgive, Lord! Don't ask that of me!

Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.
--Corrie Ten Boom

You and I can intentionally decide to forgive and still be struggling with what that needs to be and look like.
You and I can intentionally decide to forgive while we're still working through the pain and hurt.
You and I can intentionally decide to forgive even when we didn't deserve what happened and hate the consequences and the fall-out.

Corrie Ten Boom lived that principal out in a most challenging way when she met up - years after she was liberated from Ravensbrook Concentration Camp - with one of the sadistic Nazi guards from Ravensbrook. He came to hear her speak and then came to shake her hand after. She wasn't "ready" to forgive but by a determination of her will she found God's grace sufficient to allow her hand to reach out to grasp the hand of her former enemy who needed SO MUCH forgiveness! Her heart wasn't yet ready to forgive him; but her God was BIG ENOUGH to give her the grace to step out in faith to forgive!
That same grace is still alive and well and accessible for you and me!

Forgiving from the Heart

We live in a very broken world! We are irreparably damaged and broken! Some of us contain the damage so it's less obvious but no less real!
Part of that brokenness is the damage sinners do to one another. Sometimes that damage is irreversible and beyond repair!
The only response for a believer whose heart has been changed by the love of Jesus is forgiveness! That's tough - sometimes so painful as to be beyond bearing BUT no less encumbant upon our hearts per God's requirement.

Forgiveness always comes at a cost to the one granting the forgiveness.
--Tim Keller

I'm preaching to my own heart here: When forgiveness is almost beyond bearing to grant, we must - if not for the sake of the one who has done such desperate damage - we MUST forgive for the sake of the One who died that we might be forgiven!

A Dancing Heart!

Wish I had written this but I'm glad I follow Scotty on Twitter so I got to read this:

About Scotty Smith
Scotty Smith is Founding Pastor of Christ Community Church in Franklin, TN and a Council member with The Gospel Coalition. More… Scotty Smith5:01 am CT

A Prayer for a Dancing Heart, and Feet

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever. Ps. 30:11-12

Lord Jesus, was there ever a king more into dancing than King David? His victory over Goliath was the inspiration for singing and dancing by many in Israel (1 Sam. 21:11). When the ark was returned to Jerusalem, he danced before the Lord with all his might, and very little modesty (2 Sam. 6:14). It’s obvious he wrote this psalm as a dancer for other dancers, whose joy at the dedication of the temple was simply uncontainable.

But Jesus, you’re the real Lord of the Dance. Though King David didn’t realize it, his work and joy point to yours. You’re the only monarch who can turn the wails of our sin and brokenness into the dance of hope and joy. You’re the only ruler merciful and mighty enough to replace our hearts of stone with hearts of flesh. By your cross, you’ve removed the filthy garments of unrighteousness that we might be clothed us with the white robe of your own righteousness. Astounding . . . astonishing . . . and so very true.

How can we not sing and make music to you in our hearts? How can we possibly remain silent and still, in response to who you are and everything you’ve done for us, Jesus? Forgive us when we, like the elder brother, remain smugly on the outside of the house of redemption—off the dance floor of your reconciling love (Luke 15:25).Cause us to hear the Father speaking to us right now: “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours” (Luke 15:31).

Indeed, Lord, forgive us for confusing reverence with rigor mortis. Forgive us for giving you ardor-less order when we worship you. Forgive us for living more by our temperament tests, Myers-Briggs profiles, and personality types than by the lyric, music, and dance of the gospel. Free us from giving you a measured response to a measureless gospel.

One day, King Jesus, we will give thanks to you with all our might. All personal inhibitions, cultural limitations, and ecclesiastical prohibitions will be gone. May that great day of liberation have much greater impact on this day’s celebration. So very Amen we pray in your grace-filled and gladsome name.

Forgiveness

Tim Keller tweeted yesterday:
When you forgive, that means you absorb the loss and the debt. You bear it yourself. All forgiveness then is costly.
Of course the cost of forgiveness was most costly for Jesus especially because He forgives with ALL the expense on His side and all the offense on ours! To not see forgiveness as costly for us is to diminish its significance both for us and from our Savior!

Forgiveness

I am impressed that my friends who don't know Jesus yet don't have a clue about the wonder of forgiveness. It breaks my heart and compels me to model and share the Gospel as God gives me strength and grace!
Martin Luther spoke the truth when he wrote, "To be convinced in our hearts that we have forgiveness of sins and peace with God alone is the hardest thing."
The Gospel is the ONLY hope for the world of hurting people who don't know Jesus and haven't a clue about forgiveness!

Character and Conduct

It seems like a no-brainer - character and conduct! The two should go together like peanut butter and jelly or like green eggs and ham - especially in presidential candidates and actually in all who aspire to lead.

In our post-modern world, we have taken a turn in the road from objective to subjective, from absolute to relative, from truth to whatever works for you and on and on. We have also taken a turn away from foundationally knowing that character matters. We hear and even say or think that a person's private life (even public figures like presidents) is what they do on their own time and is nobody's business. Thus the wedge between character and conduct begins to widen.

Character determines conduct or should! Character is who a person is in the bedrock of their soul. Character is who and person is and what a person does when no one but God is looking. Character is built and developed. Character determines our values and thus guides our actions. Character matters! So does conduct.

The problem is that we (the world of 2008) have divorced the two - character and conduct - so that we minimize the value of character and shut our eyes to conduct that comes from flawed or missing character. After all, if we examine the relationship of character to conduct too closely, then accountibility follows. And accountibility is fundamentally scary!

There is another problem: we demand perfection as in "no dirty laundry" in public figures - at least the ones who don't follow our philosophical base and we tolerate almost anything when the public figure is doing what we champion.

This is twisted thinking and practice! The business of restored hearts demands by very definition that something is wrong and needs restoration. Builders don't restore brand-new houses. There's no need. What God calls us to is restoration, grace, mercy and justice. (Micah 6:8)

The fact is that all our character is flawed and damaged by sin. We are born that way.

It is only in the process of restoration through the truths of the Gospel that God builds His character deeply into our souls. From the inside out we begin to reflect His character and truth rather than the twisted character and lies which constitute who we are from birth because of sin.

God's process of heart restoration is all about His buildling His character - even infusing His character - as He scrapes away all the bad stuff and replaces it with the new. That's what restoration is - getting rid of the old and broken and replacing it with new. God is the Great Restorer!

God knows and cares about character and conduct. God also knows that repentance (followed by forgiveness) is possible and restoration is real when the Gospel begins to work its way into one heart at a time!

Write in Sand or Carve in Stone?

Two friends walk in the desert. As they walk, they talk and eventually argue. One friend got very angry and punched the other in the face.

The friend who got punched winced and then bent to write in the hot sand, "My friend just hit me."

They walk on across the hot sand until they reach an oasis. After quenching their thirst, they decide to take a swim. One friend got stuck in the mud in the bottom of the pool and started to drown. The one stuck was also the one who got punched.

The other friend rescued his friend from the mud and pulled him to safety on the shore. The rescued friend found a chisel and hammer and carved into a stone these words: "Today my good friend rescued me."

The rescuer just had to ask, "I hit you and you wrote in the sand. Now you write on stone. Why?"

The friend responded, "When we experience hurt at the hand of another, we should record our hurt in sand so the winds of forgiveness can blow it away. BUT when someone does something good and kind, then we must engrave that memory in stone where no wind can ever erase it so the memory will remain."

The moral is for us to learn:

• to write our hurts in sand and then blow on the sand with the grace of forgiveness.
• to carve our blessings and joys in stone.

When our blessings are carved in stone, then as one stone stacks upon another in life, we collect remembrances of stone to remind us of God's grace and love toward us. When we know God's grace and love for us, then we can forgive with free and loving hearts! It's the path to restoration!

Renewable Resources

The only time I watch TV is to catch the news or see the weather. I don't even watch all the Steeler games start to finish. That's akin to HERESY in Pittsburgh - big time! This morning I turned on the TV to catch the news and caught an ad for Sea World in Orlando, Florida instead. The first line of the ad was "Fun is a renewable resource."

The ad is intended to entice people to Sea World suggesting that Sea World is where great fun and other positive experiences can be had. The "renewable resource" part is geared to suggest "going green" and "taking care of our planet Earth." I'm not a "greenie" but I think we should all take care of the little patch of earth on which we live (that's another whole blog post).

What the ad started me thinking about is other "renewable resources" of far more value than a visit to Sea World. Restoration, forgiveness, grace, mercy, justice are just a few "renewable resources" that come to my mind this Monday morning.

• What a gift God gives us in that there is no brokenness in life that He cannot heal and restore!
• What a gift God give us and models for us in that forgiveness is always ready and available from our loving heavenly Father! He also calls us to have a ready store of forgiveness for others. We have - after all - received huge forgiveness so we should be ready and willing to forgive the much smaller offenses that come our way!
• What a gift God planned for and gives in that His grace (His favor and smile on us that we can never be good enough to earn but can receive as a free gift because of Jesus) comes in abundant supply over and over again!
• What a gift God gives us in His mercy! We deserve His anger and frown. Instead He gives us His Son to take our punishment (the death for our sin that we deserve to have to take for ourselves). Then His mercy is nenewable from moment to moment every time we stumble, every time we fall, every time we fail. We are all "screw-ups" in God's eyes, and He still loves and gives His mercy in new supply with the dawn of every day.
• What a gift God gives in his renewable justice! We all have hurts in life. We all want life to be fair. LIfe just isn't fair. That's a given. But the good news is that God extends both mercy and justice. God promises to fight our battles for us if we are part of His forever family! That's good news! He can and will do a much better job. He may be slower to work justice but, be sure, He will. It is His promise! God always keeps His promises!
• That's another "renewable resource" - God is always faithful! He does what He says He will do all the time and every time! Our hearts can take hope and comfort from knowing that God's restoration, forgiveness, grace, mercy and justice are only a prayer away and often just given even before we know our need!

If you're looking for restoration, forgiveness, grace, mercy and justice - both for your own heart and in your life as you relate to others - then the invitation (from God) is clear: "Come to Me ... I will give you rest"! (Matthew 11:28)

I'm Sorry!

"I'm sorry ... " - may be the hardest words to say in the English language!

"I'm sorry ... " This short phrase - very hard to say and harder still to do - is perhaps the most significant key to relationships I know.

In 1970 there was a movie "Love Story" (based on a novel) where the line "Love means never having to say you're sorry" is spoken by the leading lady (Ali MacGraw/Jennifer) who dies before the end of the movie and again by the leading man (Ryan O'Neal/Oliver Barrett IV) at the very end of the movie as a kind of eulogy to Jennifer.

"Love means never having to say you're sorry" became a cutesy phrase that gradually worked its way into our cultural sub-conscience. BUT "Love means never having to say you're sorry" isn't cute! It isn't true! It's actually an awful lie straight from the pit of hell!

Even the likes of John Lennon and the ridiculous Simpsons on TV know better. John Lennon said, "Love means having to say you're sorry every fifteen minutes." The Simpsons watch "Love Story" in the episode "Catch 'Em if You Can" and when the line is spoken Lisa objects, "No, it doesn't!" In the movie "What's Up, Doc?" Ryan O'Neal as another character responds to the same line, "That's the dumbest thing I ever heard." Even Warren Ellis's comic Doktor Sleepless knows better when the good Doktor says, "Hate means never having to say you're sorry."

"...never having to say you're sorry" has NO place in a restoration heart! And that's the main thing! It's NOT God's way to live! What distinguishes walking through life with Jesus from any other "faith system" is the "I'm sorry" routine at its best.

Repentance, grace and forgiveness are the heart of the Gospel. The starting point is a heart-meant "I'm sorry"! There is no magic in the words. The cure is in the intent of the heart to repent (turn in another direction away from the sin or offense) and find God's abundant grace first for our own hearts and then our forgiven hearts can extend forgiveness to others. Only God can make our "I'm sorrys" meaningful! Only God can reach into our unsorry hearts and turn them toward the Gospel!

It's fascinating that the likes of John Lennon and Warren Ellis grasp that "... never having to say, I'm sorry" is NOT the right path in life when there are so many Christians who still don't get it! "... never having to say, I'm Sorry" is a denial of the Gospel!

When Paul talks about sorrow related to repentance and the heart of the Gospel in 2 Corinthians 7:9 - 10, he says, "... your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended ... . Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death."

The restoration heart is willing to do the hard work of saying "I'm sorry" and living out the repentance of Godly sorrow! It's the Gospel! It's why Jesus came - to make a way for us to get past our pride to kneel at His cross and say, "I'm sorry" first to Him and then to each other. AND we have to keep saying "I'm sorry" as often as we must to make things right in the restoration process God has begun in our heart. Saying and meaning "I'm sorry" is the only way to make things right in relationship with each other. God's love makes saying and meaning "I'm sorry" possible and necessary!

Where is technology taking us?

Everyone who knows me knows God gave me John so he could shore up my technological weakness (among other things) ! :o)

I love some of the techie gadgets we have to help us. I don’t want to know how to make them – just how to use them – like the computer. I find great pleasure in the internet for email, being in touch with lots of people, researching information with Google, etc. But I was very slow catching on and getting even up to the speed I am.

HOWEVER I saw a news item yesterday that really made me wonder. Fox News was interviewing three young women from somewhere who live together. Apparently they have had unknown and numerous men coming to their house asking for sex because of a sick “joke” being perpetrated on them on the web. Someone put an "ad" with their names, pictures address and bios somewhere on the net saying they would provide “sex on call.” They were just in the beginning stages of trying to navigate through how to stop the unwanted visitors, how to protect their reputations and how to find the perpetrator.

This isn’t the first time someone has played a sick joke over the web. We have an example right here in Pittsburgh in a story we know where someone broke into another person’s email and sent an email as tho’ from that person. The information sent wasn’t true and was defamatory.

Like feathers in the wind, these kinds of things don’t ever go totally away. And there doesn’t have to be any truth or substance to what is said, written or disseminated.

I have more than 20 nieces and nephews most of whom are in the 20 – 30 age range. I have just discovered that most of them (if not all) keep in touch through the net – not email – but “Facebook.” I am a total neophyte about this process, but I would like to be in the communication circle with my nieces and nephews particularly since I have told them for years that I am their favorite aunt and some have even “believed” me. Not all, mind you! There is at least one tenacious hold-out!

I am reminded in my musings of what Joseph told his brothers when he forgave them for their dastardly actions against him – actions which impacted not only the rest of his life but effected the future course of history as God’s story is written across the sands of time. He said, “You meant it (the things they did starting with hatred in their hearts) to me as evil but God meant it for good.”

Evil happens. Evil people use good technology for their own evil purposes. We are called to be salt and light which includes knowing enough to protect ourselves and those around us as much as possible.

The evil is not in the technology. The evil is always in the heart. We don’t need restored technology. We need restored hearts! With a restored heart we can say with Joseph (when others have done great evil to us), “You meant it for evil but (now I know) God meant it for good.”

More About “Dog” (Duane Chapman, Bounty Hunter)

More About “Dog” (Duane Chapman, Bounty Hunter)

“Dog” says he feels terrible, really terrible about what he said. I can only assume that the reason is because he got caught as he’s always talked trashy talk apparently.

“Dog” says he’s sorry, too. Then he promises to try “never, ever, ever to use that words again.”

What he says next is interesting because he starts talking about being “on the hot seat” and not liking it. My translation for all that including the tears is that “Dog” really, really wishes that he had never, ever, ever gotten caught and recorded and especially wishes he hadn’t been exposed to the world. He just wants it all to go away as painlessly as possible, I think.

But the interview on Hannity and Colmes gets better. Shaun Hannity asks “Dog” - So what are you going to do to make up for this really big, big bad thing you’ve done and said?

The “Dog” responds that he really had hoped that no one would ever know so he wouldn’t have to do anything but just make like sorry. And after he goes on in that vein for awhile, he says the most interesting thing of all so far, “But now I’ve had to clean myself to be able to look at myself in the mirror.”

So he does understand on some level that there’s dirt here that is pretty indelible. Problem now is that the “Dog” doesn’t know what to do to fix the dirt.

Shaun Hannity observes: “You don’t think you’ll be forgiven? … It sounds like you won’t forgive yourself.”

Then, enter stage right, Duane “Dog” Chapman (the bounty hunter) ’s preacher, Tim Storey. He has some things to say, too:

“What you have with Duane — I met him before he was the big Dog the Bounty Hunter, before he had the A&E show. And he's rough around the edges. And, you know, God uses shaky people to do sturdy projects. And when I met him I knew he had trouble. He (the “Dog”) has flaws — flaws, faults, failures in his life.”

[And I guess the massed choir just hummed and sang, “Unh-Uh !” or something.]

Storey continues: “… he does have a big mouth. But I do believe in forgiveness. I believe that you can get forgiven, that God will (forgive) forget, and you can go forward.”

HANNITY: Well, he's said he doesn't think anybody will forget.

STOREY: Yes.

HANNITY (to “Dog”): Do you believe that? Is this — you know, you may lose, and we haven't gotten to the issue of what's up with A&E? Are you going to lose your show?

D. CHAPMAN: I don't know. I'm laid off. I mean, I don't know.

HANNITY: Pastor, you can help out here. He's not Mother Teresa.

STOREY: No.

HANNITY: I mean his whole show, there's a lot of bleep bleep bleep bleep bleeps in the show.

STOREY: You know what's amazing, Sean, is a lot of people, they want mercy but they're not willing to give it out.

D. CHAPMAN: I need forgiveness way before I need my job.

HANNITY: Do you believe that he's capable of now saying he's going to change his life and not curse anymore?

STOREY: Not on his own. I believe that God can help him.

HANNITY: And that will be a miracle …

What a classic pattern of all of our hearts! Thanks, "Dog," for this lesson in sin and need, failure and flaws, repentance and forgiveness leading to restoration!

Now, I don't know where "Dog" will go or what he will do with his own flawed heart but there are some things I do know:

• I know that we all have flawed hearts.
• I know we all see dirt when we look in the mirror.
• I know we all want to clean up ("fix") the dirt especially when we get caught with the dirt.
• I know that we can't clean up a broken, dirty, flawed heart! No way, no how!
• I know we ALL need forgiveness!
• I know that the only source of forgiveness is Jesus Christ. He died to take care of flawed, dirty hearts. He makes the terrible trade (for Him) of giving us His cleanness and He takes our dirt! WOW!

It is a miracle! Only God can take care of heart problems like "Dog" 's and mine. God is the only source for forgiveness. He provided His Son Jesus to accomplish what we could never do for ourselves - find forgiveness.

And I know the massed choir is singing in grand harmony, "Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah - Glory !" Jesus said so, ... there's more joy in heaven over one sinner's rescued life than over others who don't think they have any need of rescue. (Luke 15:7, The Message)

• I also know that just about everyone wants "mercy, but they're not willing to give it out."
• And it is for sure that "God uses shaky people to do sturdy projects" !

It is a matter of getting the order of the process right. There is nothing but futile frustration in trying to clean up my own dirt (or you trying to clean up yours) !

The good news is that God is in the dirt cleaning, heart restoring and forgiving business 24/7! And it is a huge miracle! I'm not Mother Teresa either. But from this being restored heart, I'm so thankful that "God uses shaky people to do sturdy projects" because that means he can use me! He can even use me to give out His mercy to other flawed dirty hearts like mine!