JUMP IN! Both feet is just fine....

As we wade into this book together, I want to invite you to join me on a journey, new to some of you, a little more familiar to others. The invitation is to allow the words on the page to challenge you to think outside your box. Again, there may be those of you who have always had a handle on grace, maybe not in perfection, but for sure it's impact has molded you in your walk with Christ.

Regardless of your level of understanding of grace, your acceptance of this invitation will make your heart encouraged, challenged, stretched and by the end of our journey, more like the Christ that we follow.

Here are some thoughts to ponder in these initial pages:

~What to you think of Andy's assertion, "The church is most appealing when the message of grace is most apparent"?

~If you were to have the opportunity to speak to a person whose world view is molded by the words of Dr. Dawkins (below) what would you say?

"The God of the OT arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving, control freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidial, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully." ~Dr. Richard Dawkins

~When Andy states concerning Christianity, "Instead of defining itself in terms of what it stands for, the church often takes the less imaginative and easier path of defining itself in terms of what it it against.", what thoughts come to your mind?

~"In the beginning God created, and this was a marvelous act of grace. But that was just the beginning." Did you think of creation as "grace" before reading this chapter? Do you think creation IS an act of God's grace?

~"Grace is never just enough. Grace is always far more than enough." Take a moment. Write these words down on a sheet of paper and then spend a few minutes reflecting on the thoughts represented by this statement. Now, list the areas where you see God's grace as "enough". Now, write down those areas you feel "Grace" seems to fall short in your life. Be honest. Now, be honest to God and spend a few minutes praying for "grace sufficient" (II Corinthians 12:9) to become a little more understood in your everyday life.

~Have you ever had an issue with grace? For me, there are times when grace seems to "wink" at sin. Have you ever thought this way? This phrase really got my attention in this opening read, "Grace acknowledges the full implication of sin and yet does not condemn."

~"From the beginning God has responded to the sin of humanity with . . . well . . . amazing grace." Do you agree with this claim?

There ya go, the first few pages behind you and a new look at the nature of God's grace began. My hope is that this will begin a new excursion into the depths of God's grace, that you will find the work on the inside to be refreshing and freeing.

Those of who are visiting these pages again, my prayer for you is that this drive through will allow you to see new sights that will enrich the growth you experienced during your first read.

For all of us, I am asking that God would draw our hearts together, to bring our focus and ministry a greater sense of his love. My hope is that our vision/mission will reflect this amazing gift of grace. I am convinced that if we learn this and reflect it in our lives daily and in our corporate ministry, IT WILL CHANGE LIVES. Ours and others.

Thanks for your time...

Till next week...