Messiness, the sequel

Well, here it is, "tomorrow." I said on Wednesday that "tomorrow" I would share a followup story. Ooops...how time flies. And my friend, John Shaver, reminded me of it. Thanks John.

So anyhow, back in the 90's (I think it was 1998) on a dry, windy March day, I decided to burn the old hollow wooden doors that had graced our New Paris parsonage. Um, that was dumb. Anywho, to make a long story short, I ended up burning 45 acres! Lots of brown fields and forest, there was. And a melted garage... After helping the fire companies to douse the flames for nearly four hours, I headed back down the ridge to our parsonage. There was my loving wife Carla waiting for me. I had done the most stupid thing in my life. I was humiliated and felt so stupid...words don't adequately describe it. I faced my wife...and deserved a good tongue lashing for my stupidity. She came over to me, sweaty and dirty and tired and ashamed, and she hugged me, she kissed me, and she said "Brett, I love you." I couldn't believe my ears. I deserved the worst, but I found grace. My best friend Dick was standing right there and he was amazed. He thought I was going to be chewed out, but he just saw unconditional love from Carla to me.

So it is with God. I come to Him after having done stupid things...dirty and sweaty and tired and ashamed...and even though I deserve the worst, He puts His loving arms around me and says "Brett, I love you." Wow....

And then He says, go and do likewise. And remember, ministry is messy...but it is what I have done for you...