Agnes - Happy Birthday - January 25, 2012
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Agnes - Happy Birthday
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10
Late one night while travelling in an unfamiliar city, Tony Campolo wandered into a cafe where the only other customers were a group of prostitutes. He overheard one of them say that tomorrow was her birthday. So the next night he came back with a cake and a sign that read, 'Happy Birthday, Agnes.' Campolo says, 'The door swung open and in came Agnes...never have I seen a person so flabbergasted. Her eyes moistened...and she started to cry. Not knowing what else to do I said, "What do you say we pray?" Looking back...it seems more than strange for a sociologist to be leading a prayer meeting with a bunch of prostitutes in a cafe! But it felt like the right thing to do. I prayed for Agnes: for her salvation, that her life would be changed. That God would be good to her. When I finished, the man behind the counter said, "What kinda church do you belong to anyway?" I replied, "The kind that throws birthday parties for prostitutes." He waited a moment, and then answered, "No you do not. There's no church like that. If there was, I'd join!"'
But that is the kind of church Jesus came to build. Grace is the one thing it offers that cannot be found anywhere else. He 'came to find lost people and save them,' because He loves to salvage and recycle the hurting, the throw-aways, the left-out, the used-up and the put-down. And that is news they are waiting to hear outside the church doors!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, renew that fire within me to go to seek and to save those who are lonely and lost – by sharing your Mercy, Your Compassion, Your Presence. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Tim,
LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT! Good for Tony. That's what it's all about.
Jesus just keeps putting opportunities for me to share with people in the 12-Step programs I belong to. I can't directly share about Christ, unless I find out they are a Christian, but I share HIS love and give them hope through the knowledge and experience of the BB of Alcoholics Anonymous (for eating issues) and through Al-Anon literature.
Joyously, people have asked me if I'm a Christian by the joy in my voice, my gentleness (meek and gentle spirit that I strive for), woo too!
And then there's my dear husband, John, gotta love, love, love him. I'm truly blessed to have that man as my soulmate in Christ. God sure knew what HE was doing when HE freaked me out soon after John and I met when I went to HIM and asked HIM if John was the one HE wanted me to marry.
Gratefully I've had many an experience like that ever since.
Oh, bless HIS name forever, HE is SO good.
Kathy
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Bless you, Pastor, for these beautiful heart-rending portraits of our mighty Lord and Savior. If only we could find mercy, forgiveness and healing among our fellow Christians, at work, at play, we would see a sweeter world. With God's help, I am going to try to do my part.
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Hi Tim,
Hope you had a good birthday, albeit hectic at the workfront!
Lately because of fighting emotionally, still, the extreme hurt I was dealt (never did like church politics, or participated in them) I feel like one of them 'outside the door' lately. Needed this message a LOT!
I pray, and I do regulararly for LCC, for God to continue to bless all of you and your work there.
Blessings,
Kath
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