All Saints (and sinners) Sunday

I gave a message tonight about the kinds of people God uses to tell His story -- the dishonest, the deceptive, the human. It is my story -- dishonest with myself about what I am capable of (usually way more than I give myself credit for!), deceptive in that I put on an air of "having it all together" when I really am a mess inside, and human -- sinner, saint, forgiven, yet struggling mightly with my own desires and tendancies v. what is kingdom focused. In a sense it was freeing -- I loved being able to be honest about the fact that I am a good guy, but good doesn't cut it. I am forgiven -- which gives me freedom to speak about the changing love and power of Jesus and the ability God has to do mighty things with the clay pot that life is.

I am so grateful that the church is not a place full of perfect people -- we all come with our opinions, hang ups, stresses, strengths, failings, agendas -- and find that we are a pretty screwed up lot. I love that in Jesus we find redemption, a resting place for our CRAP (wish I could say what it really is...) and a place where we are shown that we are ALL sinners -- not one of us is good enough to get there on our own -- and we are ALL saints -- made perfect by the blood of One. Saints in the eyes of God, even in our imperfections. While people may not like us (and that happens in church, believe it or not!), He does. So much that He found it worthwhile to save us from our sins and to make for Himself a bunch of saints. And I'm happy tonight that regardless of what anyone else thinks, that is my home. I belong here. So do you. I'm going rest in the love of Jesus this night. May you as well.