Read Part 1 here if you haven’t already.

SO….Jesus challenges the “stoner people” by holding up a mirror and reminding them of their reality – that they are flawed, torn, ragged, and broken. So what do they do?  They all walk away. Starting with the oldest.  (Oldest = Most Sin?)

But then Jesus does something so beautiful….so reflective of the Father’s heart.

He takes that same mirror that he had just held up to the stoner people…and now holds it up to this woman who had been caught in adultery.  Except the reflection she’s about to see is different than the one the stoner people saw. Why?  Because she knew her condition.  She knew that she was flawed and broken. She knew that she was in a pretty desperate situation.  And she knew that deserved whatever she had coming to her.

John 8:10-11 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” ¹¹She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

You know what Jesus was essentially saying to her?

“Yes, I know about your sin and what you’ve done.  I know you’re broken and flawed.  BUT…..I also know that you are of great value to me.  And I know that I love you and accept you just the way you are – not the way you should be.  Now YOU know.  Now go…and sin no more.“

When God holds up His mirror to our lives we clearly see the reality of our sin and just how desperately in need of God’s grace we really are.  But we also see something much greater – the truth of grace and unconditional love.  We see the truth that we are accepted just as we are – not as as we should be.

But sin didn’t, and doesn’t, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it’s sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. Romans 5:20 (The Message)

Posted in Following Jesus, Mirrors, Storytelling |

I love/hate the story in John chapter 8 about the woman caught in adultery.  In case you don’t know it:

• Jesus is speaking to a crowd of people outside a temple.
• A group of religious teachers (Pharisees) disrupt Jesus by bringing to his attention a woman who has been caught in adultery.
• The Law of Moses says she should be stoned (think rock, not the other kind…).
• So they ask Jesus (trying to trick him): “The Law says we should stone her. What do you say?“

This is where the story starts getting REALLY good.  Jesus brilliantly responds by saying:

“All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.” (John 8:7-8)

I’ll be honest.  I used to read this story and think to myself, “What in the hell was wrong with these people?!  How could they have thought they were so perfect and sinless?”

But the other day it hit me.  I don’t think they necessarily thought they were perfect or sinless…..as much as they were just doing what all of us tend to do whenever we forget just how ragged and torn we really are – they picked up stones.

I do it too. Every time I think of myself as being better or superior to someone else.  Every time I’m quick to judge.  Every time I choose to believe something other than the best about someone.  If I were to look down in those moments, I’m pretty certain I would find a big fat stone being tightly clinched in one of my fists.  Or maybe both.  Not because I think I’m perfect or sinless….but because that’s just what happens when we forget how desperately in need of God’s grace we truly are.

Ouch.

And that’s not even my main point here.  I’ll try to get there tomorrow.

Posted in Following Jesus, Mirrors, My Life, Storytelling |

Love Blaine’s transparency in this recent post.  Reminds me of why his is one of only a handful of blogs I’m adamant about reading on a very regular basis.

My friend, Mike Foster, is in Bangkok with his family for a couple of months.  I’m enjoying his tweets and posts.  But I’m jealous too. 

Finally finished watching Julie and Julia last night.  Watched the first half a couple of weeks ago.  It was a fun movie.  Quick fun fact: I was in NYC when it was being filmed and accidentally walked onto the set.

Video: Octopus Ballet.  Um…wow.  Amazing.

Excited to have the opportunity to work with Jarrett and Jeanne Stevens at this year’s STORY Conference.  I’ve loved getting to know these guys.  There was a solid connection from the moment we all met.  Also loved having them at The Orchard a couple of months ago.  You can download their talk here. BTW…love the direction STORY is headed this year.

Irish Hipster-Theologian, Peter Rollins was at Mars Hill (Rob Bell) this past weekend.  Enjoyed listening to most of Peter and Rob’s conversation.

Innovation Cultivation. It’s the title of this post from The Orchard’s very own Larry Boatright over at the Origins blog.

I’ll be honest.  I’m a sucker for cool hotels.  I especially love finding affordable, non-chain, boutique hotels whenever I travel to major cities. Loved staying at this one on a visit to Austin last year. Speaking of hotels, truth.travel is a great blog from the folks at Conde Nast Traveler.  Great photos too.

That’s it for now.  Thank you for weeding through my A.D.D.  Time for some Adderall. 

Posted in ADD, Beauty, Blogging, Design, Film, Friends, Thailand, The Orchard, Travel |