Well, most of the 49er nation was as well, and many took to the old faithful death threat against the player who made the mistake.  So sad.

But Friday, I received an email about a 7 year old 49er fan, and his reaction to the fumble that effective cost the 49er’s a trip to the Super Bowl.  You can read more about it here ( and you should read it, as it has more background information that is, well pretty amazing. and a picture of the letter!). Essentially after some consultation with his father, he wrote this letter to Mr Williams.

Dear Mr. Williams:

We just watched the Playoff game. I feel really bad for you but I wanted to tell you that you had a great season. you sould be very proud, so I wanted to say thank you.

I am your #1 FAN!

Owen Shure
Los Angeles, CA

p.s. your awsome

I love it. I love seeing grace through the eyes of a 7 year old.

And then this was attached to the email I received  from a twenty-something friend of mine

Who am I? Who am I to cut someone off? Who am I to tell someone, ‘way to mess that one up…” Who am I to deny someone their redemption? Sometimes it takes the tiny tender heart of a child to make us see when we’re not being true to what we preach. Everybody messes up. Everybody makes mistakes. Those guys on that field are no different from you and me. I’ve seen the best of them make the dumbest mistakes. Everyone deserves a second chance. Everyone deserves a redemption song. I hope he gets his.

Hm, the power of grace. It’s so fun to watch others receive it. But are you willing to give it out today?

31-32 Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 The Message (MSG)

Speaking of second chances, I found this really cool website last week.   It’s call the People of The Second Chance, and its tag line is Overthrow Judgment, Liberate Love.  It’s a very interesting site that focuses on new beginnings and forgiveness.  I especially like their current campaign that’s asks the question ” Who would you give a second chance?” and shows this picture:

That’s a really great question, and one that unfortunately we all probably could answer like this -  “Everyone!, Except this person ______ (fill in the blank).”  But that is the challenge for us, isn’t it?  We all like second chances.  But sometimes, we don’t like to allow others to have them.

Take a moment to explore that site, and check out their blog – there is a lot of good content over there, but most importantly, stop and think about the way you dispense forgiveness, grace and mercy.

 ²¹ Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”  ²²Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:21-23New International Version (NIV)

I was a little unsure what bit of wisdom and morsel of goodness to pass on to you today, when I was reminded this morning of something I read last night.  This quote from C.S. Lewis is pretty thought-provoking.

To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. – C.S. Lewis

It comes from his “Essay on Forgiveness” that I found published here.  The whole thought that is wrapped up in that sentence is really pretty expansive. 

I mean really, just imagine if we could actually extend forgiveness and mercy in the same way God has extended it to us.  Hm, it sure seems we may drastically change our behaviors and they way we interact with others when we stop and remember the healthy dose of forgiveness that we take directly from the Creator each day.  The inexcusable excused.  It’s quite remarkable, really!

¹² And forgive us our debts,
   as we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:12  New International Version (NIV)

So just a few simple thoughts today, as my online time is a bit limited right now.

First of all there’s the bittersweet news from the war zone – Bin Laden has been killed. When I read that on Facebook on my tiresome Windows Mobile phone last night, I was surprised on my reaction last night – which was sort of “oh well”. I was a little more surprised by the  joyous celebrations of others. I am just not convinced that is the right reaction. Yes, its a good thing, but it is also a somber event.

   Saying 28

 ¹⁷ Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
   when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,
¹⁸ or the LORD will see and disapprove
   and turn his wrath away from them. (Proverbs 24:17-18, New International Version, ©2011)

I sort of like The Message on this one as well:

 ^17-18 Don’t laugh when your enemy falls;
   don’t crow over his collapse.
God might see, and become very provoked,
   and then take pity on his plight. (Proverbs 24:17-18, The Message)

And then there is this. After putting in our volunteer time at the Corn Bread Festival in South Pittsburg yesterday we decided to be “Lookie Lous” and come home through Trenton and Flinstone to see the damage. Let me just say that pictures do not do it justice. The devastation in those areas is enormous from just the little bit we were able to see. If you can help, in any way please do so. There are so many ways to help from money, to giving blood to moving debris, to cooking food.

Really, do all you can to be a light for those in these communities that have been hit so very hard with damage.

¹³ for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13, New International Version, ©2011)

And well The Message is pretty good here as well:

 ^12-13What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure. (Philippians 2:13, The Message)

Those big nasty horn-worms have invaded my tomato plants.  Yes, the eat everything in sight.  I have already purged 7 or 8 and found the evidence of another one this morning.  So I will be spending the next few days tracking this guy down.

This is so much like our spiritual lives. Sometimes we get those bad habits, or continual sins eat away at our ability to produce fruit.  We need to continually use the power of the spirit to remove those sins from our lives – to remove those big nasty worms that disguise themselves as an important part of our lives, but led to destruction if we leave them alone.

So take a look today at your lives and see if you you need to cut off and destroy some worms.

 ¹³Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. ¹⁴Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (New International Version)

So isn’t it good to know that as followers of the Christ, there is no due date.  Well, there will be a judgement day, and for those not follower the Christ, that will be quite a problem.  But for those who have put on the grace and mercy of Christ, your sins will have been paid in full, and on the due date, your balance due will be a big fat zero!

²³May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (New International Version)

So, doesn’t knowing that you owe nothing and that its been paid for you provide some relief from the anxiety of the day and create a desire to repay that through your actions?  Get out there and impact those around you today.

Its freeeeeeeeeeeee!

Its also interesting to think about this event taking place in South Africa.   A few weeks ago, I took advantage of pay per view to watch Invictus, the story of the South Africa rugby, but really a story about the power of forgiveness.  Its worth the watch, and its a really powerful story of the way people can work together to make things happen, but really it all started with forgiveness.

So as the world comes together today, putting aside their differences today to play futbol, how about taking a look around you and see how forgiveness can change the world around you.

³⁶Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. ³⁷“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. ³⁸Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:36-38 (New International Version)

Oh, and for all you Englanders out there, watch out, the Yanks are coming!

So I sat on the edge of the bed willing myself to get up, looking at Bruce and thinking about our own lives.  I wonder if the joy I felt this morning is similar to the joy that God feels when we willingly give ourselves to him.  And I wonder if the jealously and anger I feel when I see Bruce partaking of the temptation that the crazy cat lady has to offer doesn’t some how parallel to the jealously and anger the God must feel when we decide to strike out on our own and indulge ourselves in our own ways.

For me this had been a bright spot in a morning filled with anxiety as I try to figure out how to accomplish 48 hours worth of activities in 8 hours.  Maybe I should learn something from Bruce, and stretch out on God’s back porch, let him handle the stress and bask in the light of his joy.

⁸Come near to God and he will come near to you.  James 4:8

Have a great Holiday weekend.  Stay close to our God and Savior.

Argh!!! Teenagers!!

It’s absolutely amazing how frustrating and hurtful it is to watch your teenagers continually dismiss your advice and ignore your suggestions.  It’s really a stress creator – it makes you want to put your fist into the wall or tear something up.

Oh but isn’t it interesting that we continually do the same thing to our heavenly Father.  We disregard his advice for living, we ignore the suggestions, we create our own paths, and I am sure he wants to scream ( hm, that might have something to do with the whole Noah deal).

But what is really amazing is he doesn’t.  Check out John 8.  With the woman caught in sin he says

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

And then in Hebrews 10 he adds:

¹⁷…”Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”

So no matter how the day goes today, no matter what befalls, remember these verses, you are forgiven, and that provides quite a lot of strength to deal with the day – even to deal with the teenagers – ARGH!

But really it’s more than that – even though I am working within some pretty Dilbertesque parameters.   Its really more about helping people.  Without going into too many details about the whole thing, let’s just say it could be very easy for me to take a hands off approach, just smile and wave, keep everyone happy and move on.   But I don’t think thats the difference that we are asked to make in peoples lives.  I have been thinking alot ( like all year so far) about living to make those around me better.   It’s been a little silent mantra of mine so far this year at work.  Today is one of those opportunities when it is what the entire day is really about – making those around me better.

Isn’t that really the way we are called to live every day? (Remember the old children’s bible program acronym for JOY – Jesus Others You)  It seems to me that taking that approach everyday is  pretty good.  Check this quote out:

 
“To do something, however small, to make others happier and better, is the highest ambition, the most elevating hope, which can inspire a human being” John Lubbock quotes (English Biologist and Politician, 1834-1913)

And then there’s this little bit of encouragement from Philippians:

 ¹If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:1-4 (New International Version)

So today, go out and make those around you better.  Find ways to encourage those you come in contact with, and look out for their interests, not your own.