2nd chances or not?

What's the big deal about 2nd chances?

Why are 2^nd chances so important to me, and why should they be so important to you?

This is a tough topic, but we are obligated to get this right.  I’ll get to that in a minute.

Here are some types of people I’ve observed:

• Some can hold a grudge for a lifetime. 
• Many of us have a hard time with forgiving people that have wronged us, which is understandable. 
• Many of that same group can forgive as long as they weren’t personally affected. 
• There is a group of people that forgives, but are cautious with future trust, so almost with a conditional type of forgiveness, they wait to see how the forgiven behaves in the future. 
• Some people forgive quickly and are ready to move on immediately with full trust restored.

Stories like Lance Armstrong, Michael Vick, Michael English (or pick your politician / TV preacher) tend to reveal where we land on how to treat people that blow it.

Where do you tend to land?  Where does God land about them?  Where did He land about you?

2^nd chances are a big deal to me, because I’ve been a big recipient of them. 

My story is one of foolish, selfish & immature choices, and all while I grew up in a Christian family, and then while serving at a church on staff.  As sin goes, everything came crashing down.  As I travelled to Indiana, went through a divorce, started parenting from afar by sending child support and visiting a few times a year, I was at the bottom and didn’t deserve anything but to stay there.  Nothing turned out like I thought it would.  I had lost everything.  Eventually, I stopped running and took the invitation of a friend to visit a church on the south side of Indy.

A pastor, a church body, new friends, my former pastor, my parents, old friends, the list goes on and on – all rallied around me.  They listened, forgave, prayed, counseled, and overwhelmed me with the concept that my life and my usefulness to God were not over, and over time, I started to believe them.

There were bumps (called consequences), and there will be more, but I’m 10 years past being at “rock bottom” and God has given me a giant 2^nd chance at marriage, parenting, ministry, and relationships with people that could have turned their back on me.

Maybe your story is similar to mine, or maybe its completely different.  Maybe you are in need of a 2^nd chance right now.  If you’ll look closely, there is probably someone in your life who desperately needs you to give him or her a 2^nd chance.

What would God say or do?  Is He sulking or angry?  Is He shocked and surprised that we blew it?  Is He dreaming up our punishment?  Luke 15:11-32 would make a strong case that He is on the “porch” waiting, looking, concerned – ready for a glimpse of us to turn the corner and head towards home.  

There’s a vivid image in my memory of God running at me, diving for my neck, and holding me in the most tender, forgiving hug ever imagined.  He didn’t need an explanation.  It was enough that I had come home.  The tears in my eyes as I write remind me that its hard to forget what He's done for me and how much He loves me.

Here’s why we are obligated to get this right as we look at others – because He has done it for us, time after time.  Even though we hurt Him, rejected Him, thought we knew better, disgraced His name – need me to go on?

As you reflect on your story, you really have no choice but to react exactly like God did when you realized you were at rock bottom, living with the pigs, and you simply wanted to come home. 

We didn’t earn or deserve a 2^nd chance.  What we deserved was to be treated like we treated Him.  Instead, He threw us a party.

2^nd chances are my whole story.  What about you?

Stay Home!!!!

Please don't come to church anymore!

Yep - you are reading that correctly.  We are starting a new campaign for 1,000 people to stay home on Sundays.  Strange?  Unloving?  We still are a church - right?  That is a church that exists to see "people come to Christ and grow in Christ" - right?

All of that is true, and it is actually so important to us, we want you to stay home to help us reach that vision...

On Sunday...

Our Sunday 11:15 am service is packed, so we need you to be 1 of the 1,000 that will start coming on Saturday nights at 5:30 pm.

Did I get you back now?  Are you with me?

This is something you can do to help Emmanuel Church fulfill our vision.  It is fun to be in a packed church service.  A large crowd is exciting, it brings energy to the room, and it can make your personal church experience that much better.  That's true for you and me, because we're already church people.

BUT!!!!! For those who are just coming back to church after being gone for years, it can be intimidating to find a seat and beyond frustrating waiting in lines out in the parking lot.

So we want to create space.  We actually want to create space by taking your space from you.  The way space will be created is for you to attend a different service.

Thanks for doing this - giving up your seat at the most popular service time means someone else can fill it.  Someone with a forever.  Someone's parent, child, co-worker, neighbor, or friend.

Here's Pastor Danny with a message to you about joining the 1,000.

https://vimeo.com/57216788

Best new music...

You tell me, but I don't think its just my opinion when I say "Music makes everything better."

It can change your mood, focus your thoughts, help you relax, or get you through grueling exercise.

So how do you know who to listen to?  I'm so glad you asked - just let me be your guide!

We'll start with a relatively new worship project - alright lets go with two of them.  They are both from North Point Community Church and if you only purchase the title tracks, you'll have two new favorites.

Some are familiar, but some are new and you are absolutely going to be blown away.  Many of these will be used on the weekends at Emmanuel Church, and this will get you ready to worship before you get here on the weekend.

C'mon - go get 'em - you'll be glad you did, I promise.  Buy them for your kids - its an investment in their soul.

Here & Now can be downloaded here from iTunes

No One Higher can be downloaded here from iTunes

Tell everybody you know, and let me know what you think!

Don't miss Andy Stanley's new book!

If you're in the ministry and love new ideas, or if you attend a ministry, or if you're even just mildly interested in how God is still using people and churches to help change lives - the ministry of Andy Stanley at North Point Community Church in the Atlanta area is worth reading about.

Here is the article at CNN.

The name of the book is "Deep & Wide - Creating Churches Unchurched People Love to Attend"

Here is the link to purchase the book - you will learn so much!