A Fool's Cry

Through a stained glass window

2009-07-10T19:26:00.001-07:00

One of the hardest things for me, as a follower of Jesus the Christ is
to be transparent. My natural, default setting is put up walls. I
worked hard my whole life at keeping people out, or at the very least
at a safe distance.

I juxtaposed this with my verbal proclaimation that I was in fact a
Christ follower. I kept everything in darkness even though Christ
compells us to the light.

I became adept at superficial forms of intimacy, I knew how to care
deeply for others but often refused them that same privilege.
Relationally I could and often was described as emotionally
unavailable. I would deny people transparency and justify it by saying
I'm merely comfortable with silence.

Then Jesus came along and wrecked everything.

He knocked over my house of cards with a simple question.

If you don't let people see you, how will they see me?

And with that the cards began to flutter to the floor.

Now the cool thing about Jesus is, he doesn't destroy our paradigms
and leave us with nothing, instead he restores them.

You see, if you were to spend your whole life, all your savings, sold
everything you had to build an art gallery and bring in exquisite and
beautiful prices. Would you then spend as much effort as possible
boarding up windows and bricking the door shut, and continue to tell
people about your wonderful gallery?

Sometimes this is what we do with Jesus. We keep him inside our/my
bricked up houses with stainglass windows(see how I tied that in
there, pretty clever) that may look really good, but no one knows
what's going on inside.

Jesus showed me that's what I was doing. He also reccommeded that I
stop. I figured what the heck, I'm not the carpenter here.

Matthew 5:14

14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be
hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.
Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in
the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that
they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven

Sent from my iPhone

How are you?

2009-07-07T14:35:00.000-07:00

A common enough phrase is it not. In fact if I were a betting man, i would suspect that 93.827 of all conversations begin with some form of this inquiry. These oft understated words are actually farore significant perhaps than we realize.
It is in the moments immeaditely following these words that define not only the rest of the conversation but also reveals several other things as well.
For instance during those few seconds we quickly evaluate several things, such as:

How honest do I feel like being?

Do I trust them?

Do I even like them?

Do they still smell funny?

Do they really want to know?

How we respond defines our transparency for the rest of the conversation. Many of us deflect (guilty) we respond sometimes curtly and almost always briely with a word or two.

I'm fine. Or everythings great.

I know I do this all the time. Sometimes we even need to do it, certain situations dictate us to limit our transparency. Many times however I do it to keep people away. God on his never leaving, never forsaking kind if way reminds me, showse that transparency is critical to my faith. The Holy Spirit often needs to push me reminding my life is God's andy grasp on it has been forefit since the cross.

Galatians 6.2 We are exhorted to help bear each others burdens.

In our culture autonomy(a fancy way of saying our desire to do things our own way and not to be confused with anatomy) is incredibly important. We value independance, it is seen as being strong, While asking for help is a sign of weakness.

This is not the way Jesus had planned for us. It's a tactic of the enemy, to separate us from the body of Christ, convincing us we would fare better on our own, that no one would understand, or that some how the loads we carry are toxic and we had better keep it inside less we infect others as well.

God continues to challenge me in this way and i find it quite scary. But it is something I need to do and fortunately God always finishes what he starts, I'm glad one of us does.

I robbed a man the other day

2009-07-05T17:52:00.001-07:00

So, a friend of mine and I were doing security for a car show here in
Moose Jaw this past weekend when something interesting happened. It
was late, after midnight I believe and we were out roaming the parking
lot ensuring no locals were out shopping for after hours hood
ornaments. We had just turned the cornet past the last row of cars,
just past the 1944 Rolls Royce I see a man sitting on the bench where
we put our stuff. I watched as he began to go through our bags. So I
called my friend over and we began to make small talk with the man
circa few minutes before taking off to do another round of the parking
lot. We walked approximately 100 feet before turning around, and he
was gone. Along with our stuff. I couldn't help but laugh because
really our stuff was just food and some drinks no big deal.

As we continued to walk I was accosted by that still small voice that
can only be compared to when your mom uses your middle name because
she knows.

"what did he lose?"

huh? (as you can see, I'm pretty quick)

"what did he lose?"

hmmm well I don't suppose he'll Lose any sleep that's for sure.

"what did you take from him?"

Cue the defense mechanisms.
What? What did I take? I just gave my food supply to a man named
thief, so I wasn't sure where this is going.

"what did you steal from him?"

Uh oh. This is the point I began to think about it. Did I in fact rob
this man?

"Dignity"

what?

"you took his dignity from him."

oh.

By not freely giving away that which i had in abundance I stripped
away his dignity. How easy would or should have been to just give him,
or share with him. Instead of showing him a simple act of kindness

I walked away.

By sharing with him I could have shown him Jesus if only for that
moment. By denying him this I made him steal what should gave been
freely given. Mercy would have broken a cycle that night but I chose
not to. Had I been keeping in step with the spirit that situation
would have been radically different. What was stolen should have been
given. Because I did not give I became the thief. I denied him not
only bread, but also a chance to engage with the bread of life. In
that moment, I denied Jesus.

Walking like Christ isn't easy, but it is good.
God didn't disown me, but he confronted and reminded me that he loves
that man and desperately wants to reconcile him to himself.

Everyday I try and walk a little more like Jesus. Sometimes I get it
and some dats I don't. Yet God remains faithful and he always finishes
the good works he starts in us.

in his foosteps.

2009-07-02T15:18:00.000-07:00

Never dull, life is always interesting. The constant change exprienced in our daily lives can often overwhelm our senses, confusing them. We or to be more particular I, often have a difficult time differentiating the profound from the profane. I fill my mind with words spoken from the word and from others who share similar passions as myself. Yet words they remain. Just empty vessels that fail to transfom the reader. I strive for that intinimate relationship with the Lord that David had, that Brother Andrew shared, to practice the prescence of the Lord as Brother Lawerence did. Yet the Scripture that rings true is found in Matthew 7 verse 13

But small is the gate, and narrow is the path that leads to life, and few will find it.

Knowing that this passage commonly refers to eternity, yet wondering if it does not speak also to the abundant life promised to those who walk like Christ? Or perhaps it is one and the same. I don't know.

Here's what I do know that i want to follow Jesus Christ, love his bride, and to walk as Christ walked. I also know, I'm not very good at it. I know, that I can't do it on my own and when I try (because I undoubtably will) and fall on my face, God will be right beside me to pick me up.

I don't want to get consumed by the media driven, self consuming society we pawn off as our culture. I want to be in the world, but sold out and spirit filled. But the question is how? It's not like there's an equation you could follow or a recipe. But then, who really wants to follow an equation or a recipe. Wouldn't you rather follow a man, a revolutionary. Or is our Jesus no longer radical, but a mild mannered evangelical who we can encounter within the confines of our stale sunday morning routine. I hope not, because if it is, we may find out it wasn't Jesus we are following, but an insufficient caricature of ourselves.

This week.....

2009-06-02T21:40:00.000-07:00

I felt challenged again. Reminded may actually be more accurate. God in his grace, reminded me that my life, was really his. But what does that really mean? To me? To anyone? For me, it meant something pretty significant. It meant that my life was God's. All of it. The good, the bad, the mountains and the valley's. All his. The days where I look good, the days where I am a mess are His too. The seasons of freedom, where I am an overcomer, and the times where I find myself wallowing in the trough with the pigs, much like the prodigal son, those days belong to Him. From the times i spent playing soccer back to the times where I spent my nights alone. His. Every time i was strong, His, every time I was weak, I was hurt, they belong to him too. Jesus paid for my life on the cross, bore the shame and punishment of my sin. So I would not have to. But I did anyways. For 20 years. Ever since I was six, I began collecting. Every thoughtless insult, every putdown, everytime I was overlooked or ignored, both real and imagined. I kept them. Everytime my father forgot to call, everytime I was ignored by parents. I wrapped my fingers around them as if i could stop them by shapinig them if i just held on. Growing up without a father. That was mine. Not having a relationship with my mom, i carried that too. I felt that I had broad shoulders so i could carry more, so I did. I picked up every bit of baggage the enemy laid at my feet. Guilt, shame, fear, insecurity. I kept it all. Every hurtful memory kept those too.

Then God moved

He reminded me that all of those things were his. Paid for by the blood of his Son. Purchased. I was left with redemption, while he bore my shame.

"Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke it is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11.28-30

In that moment I realized the burden I have been carrying, was not mine. All these years I've let the chains of slavery remain, because I had forgotten that

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery Gal 5.1

I realize now the cost of my sin. I've lost many friendships because I was holding on so tightly to the hurt from my past. I've ruined friendships, relationships because i refused to let people in. Because I didn't want them to see my shame, my weakness. I had come to believe I was toxic, and I thought naively that I could do this on my own. Are there more crippling words than that? That's exactly what Satan does, divide and conquer. Seperate us from the community of faith, and wear us down with lies.

In that moment, it was like Christ had showed me a picture, of Him standing in front of me. It is his body that is scarred. Those wounds belong to him too. The chains, he lifted them off ages ago, all i had to do was let go.

It is for freedom he has set me free.

Amen.

To be set apart.

2009-05-23T17:36:00.000-07:00

1 Peter 1:14-15 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written "Be holy, because I am holy"

Holiness. It means to be set apart for the service of God. It means that what is called for holiness should not be used for the profane.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

How many times do we justify our actions with the words "it is ok, because I can handle it" A violent movie? No problem, I can filter out the bad stuff. A song that glorifies the flesh? It doesn't have any effect on me.

As followers of Jesus Christ we are called out of darkness and into the light (1 peter 2:9)

As we decide to follow Christ, we must embrace the truth found in 2 Cor 5:17 where it is written "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ they are a new creation. The old is gone and the new has come.

So, when we turn to follow Christ, there is a necessary change that must occur in our lives. The old must go. The new must come. Romans 6:11 We must consider ourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Jesus Christ.

In our culture, it seems that we genuinely want to come to Christ, but we tend to also want to take as much of the world with us as possible. Even though we are called to to no longer conform. We do not need to see evil to renounce it. We do not need to look the world to save it.

When we do this, we are living in error. The moment we try and please both the Spirit and the flesh, the flesh wins. The Bible teaches us that a little yeast will work its way through the whole batch of dough. Such it is with the world. We can't live a little for the world and a little for Jesus, scripture also teaches that we cannot serve two masters, we will love one, while we hate the other.

By the grace of God, we are not only being called away from the world, but it is equally a call to something. It is an invitation to draw nearer to Christ. As we remove ourselves from the patterns of the world through Christ living in us, we draw nearer to the Father. As we do this, we begin to live by the spirit, to keep in step with the spirit!

So, what does it look like, to be set apart for use by God? It could look like me turning off facebook and spending more time in prayer, interceding for believers persecuted for following Christ. It could mean applying the word of God as a filter to what media I allow myself to partake in. It may mean fasting from media altogether, from watching sports (ouch), from eating out all the time and giving that money away instead. It should mean praying that the Holy Spirit will guide you in what the Lord wants you to do.

Remember relying on God is a daily choice, a daily struggle. If we truly want to live by the spirit, and put to death our flesh, our sinful nature, then we must be disciplined in mind, and in spirit to do this.

We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.
Phillipians 4:13

Out of Abundance

2009-05-21T08:41:00.000-07:00

We give out of abundance. What we have plenty of we are more willing to give away. If we were to have two copies of the same film, we would likely have no issue giving that copy away to a friend. If we ever cook to much for ourselves or our families, many of us are quick to jump on the phone and see if we can fill a few more spots at the table. Since we have in abundance we also tend to give that which we have much of. Sometimes, even though we are willing, people do not always accept a gift that is free. In Britain, a price comparison company was attempting to give away 5 pound notes. The gentlemen in the above picture stood on two of the busier streets, encountered over 1800 people and only 28 people took the free money. Mind you they had to ask for it, which is probably a significant reason why most didn't. We are ok with giving out of abundance, we are less ok with asking out of need.

However, I believe we all give out of abundance. In Luke 6:45 we are told that out of the abundance of the heart our mouth speaks. So whether your are preaching from a pulpit, teaching seminars to business people, teaching children, or sitting around having coffee with friends, as you are talking, you are giving out of abundance. The question is, what is it that you have in abundance. When a lame man asked Peter and James for some alms, this is what they said "Silver and gold I have none, but what I do have, I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." Acts 3:6. The disciples had abundance of faith, so they gave away a blessing worth much more than a hot meal or shelter. It would have been easier to give him money, but that did not have an abundance of money but of the Spirit. Do we have an abundance of the spirit? When we speak, and we encouraging each other, or are we more concerned with proving a point, or gossiping, or foolish talk?

So,I say live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature, for the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other so you do not do what you want. Galatians 5.16-18

The Living Water

2009-05-20T10:02:00.000-07:00

How often do I forget that the Bible is God's word. The very breathe of God. How often do I forget that if I want to live by the Spirit, to keep in step with the Spirit, I need to be rooted in the word. How often do I forget the word of God is life. Abundant life. Yet, I fill my time with the meaningless. I forget that I serve the Living God. The same who led the Israelites by a column of fire, who rained mana from heaven, who split the red sea, and who consumed those guilty of bringing a false sacrifice before him. I forget sometimes that my "story" is really God's story. I forget that Jesus Christ is alive in me. Alive. in. me. Maybe it's becaue I have so much stuff, that I believe I can do things on my own strength. Do you remember when the disciples engaged a lame man with the words: Silver and gold i do not have, but what I do have I give you, in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, rise up and walk." Acts 3:6. It's easier for me to give money away because I have money. Somehow I've forgotten that the kingdom of God is not about talk but of power. 1 cor 4.20

When will I wake up and realize what it means to have Christ, living in me. What does it mean to live by the spirit, what does it mean to abide in Christ. All across the world God is moving. Millions of Chinese are coming to Christ, Muslims are coming to believe in Isa, these believers experience Christ in ways I may never understand. For them the word sustains them because it must. For them the Word is life. For us, in North America, the word has become, unpersonified. It is no longer the essence of life, but a subject to be studied, and kept at arms length.

Invisible Hero

2008-03-23T22:33:00.000-07:00

Invisible Hero

She’s the invisible hero,
To the friends she’s never had
She’s the shoulder no one’s cried on,
Because she’s the only one’s who’s sad.

So, she releases her emotions,
like ink spilled upon a page
Her cry for help is silenced
by her life within the cage

A life locked in chains,
laughter missing from the air,
It's easy to be forgotten,
when its simple to despair

The marks hidden on her arm
prove she doesn't know her worth
finding freedom in a moment,
each breath rejects her own birth.

Eyes cast down with downcast I’s
A pretty girl is destroyed by lies

If only she could see,
the beauty behind her tears
If only she could lift her hands
And push against her fears.

Anguished Angel

2008-03-23T22:29:00.001-07:00

This one follows me everywhere I go. Every new book, every site. It's not mine because it was a gift for someone else. Everytime I read it, I think of her struggle, her journey. To a degree I think I've failed her, and if your eyes find this page serendipitously know for that I'm sorry.

Anguished Angel
Far too often she's left waiting for the sun to pierce the darkened sky,
Far too often she feels forgotten, releasing an unheard sigh
Far too often she's left in pieces, left to wonder why
Far too often she's left alone, by herself to cry,

Anguished Angel with broken wings, halo replaced with chains,
Someone's filled your hands with weight, soaked by a thousand rains
Anguished Angel with no hope, freedom stripped away,
Someone's filled your heart with pain; your trust has been betrayed

She's hoping for a future, but feels that chance will be denied,
Hoping for the truth one day, instead of consuming lies.
Battered like a ship at sea, the horizon consumed with storms,
Her body cries for blood bought peace or some power that transforms.

Anguished Angel, with beauty marred, not outside but within,
Someone's taken your hope away, and replaced it with chagrin.
Anguished Angel, your life in flames, afraid of consuming fire,
Someone lashed out against your soul, and stole away your desires.

Anguished Angel, please hold on, even though hope slips away,
Anguished Angel, please press on, after every night there comes a day.
Anguished Angel, please rise up, against the surging tide,
Anguished Angel, please push through, every storm will subside.

Copyright ©2007 Brian Anthony

Covenantal Salvation

2008-02-29T13:58:00.001-08:00

The point of my writing is less about answering any significant questions and more focused on struggling through questions. The more I know, the less there seems to be certain.

The idea of covenants is nothing new, and certainly something that most Christians are comfortable with. The Old Testament is saturated with covenantal relationships. God and the people or Israel, God's covenant with Abraham, God's covenant with Moses are just a few of the covenantal examples found in scripture. Many Christians faced with the question that the bible supports polytheism with a different God in each of the Testaments. They will point out that Scripture claims that Christ is the same yesterday today and tomorrow. Some perhaps will point to the first verse of John. "In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God" To point to God's eternal nature. So, if God is in fact the same today, as he was in the both the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. Why do we then act as if there are no covenants?

Often times in my experience, people are more comfortable with the concept of covenantal relationship, but seem to deem it too legalistic for our day and age. Some would point to the new Covenant being under Christ and being a covenant of Grace. However, this is only valid if you neglect to consider the contents of the New Testament. It, much like the Old Testament is saturated with covenantal language. Some of the flagship verses contain this language.

John 15:1-8 "If a man remains in me, and I in him, he will bear much fruit." Verse 7 goes on to say that "if a man remains in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it shall be given to you."

This verse is important that it brings clarification, i believe to the oft misquoted "when two or more are gathered passage" This is the covenant part, if you remain in me. If.You.Remain.In.Me. IF. So, in order for Christ to remain in us, we must remain in him. Let's switch the word remain, to abide. To remain seems to be still, maybe resting but also possibly stagnant. To abide, is to endure without yielding. So, we must abide in Christ, THEN he will abide in us. This should be be confused in thinking that we can accomplish such an act apart from Christ, but the two acts are synonymous.

Often I hear John 8:36 proclaimed, “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Which is true, however, most do not recognize the qualifier of this statement is found a few verses back in verse 31 where it says “IF you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” So, to be set free then, according to verse 31 we first must hold to his teachings, a sign of a disciple, then we will know the truth and accordingly experience freedom.

We clamor about free will, yet act as if we have no responsibility to follow Christ. We concern ourselves with rights and grace, but fail to pay the cost. We verbally yearn for a revival, yet internally are comfortable in our complacency. There are to great commandments in scripture, first, what is known in Judaism as the Shema, which is found in Deut. 3:5, a call to love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” The second is to love your neighbor as yourself” found in Mark 12:28-31. Given the highly narcissistic nature of church society this last one is quite challenging.

The fact is that our salvation with God is covenantal. The New Testament is full of the if/then covenantal language. We cannot, we must not believe that we cannot deny Christ in our actions and think to cling to grace when we stand before him. We will find, on that day, it is not grace we have been clinging to but the coat tails of the father of lies.

Matthew 10:32

Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge them before my father in heaven. But who ever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.

Cost of the Cross.

2008-02-13T14:30:00.000-08:00

When did following Christ become so easy? When did it become so safe? When did the words of Christ "take up your cross and follow me" stop resounding in our ears? When did we move from the idea that the chief end of man is to glorify God to the chief end of God is to glorify man? When did our hearts began only to break for ourselves instead of the lost? Why is our own personal safety and happiness become priority one? How do I continue to justify my materialism in the face of the impoverished? How do I believe to follow Christ, and yet so often his word leaves me unchanged? Do i believe I follow Christ, or am i living as if Christ followed me. When has being a Christian become painless and without sacrifice in North America? Has it ever been different? Is it different now, and my perspective is merely limited by my environment?

Why is everyone seemingly terrified of challenging their brothers and sisters to walk closer with the Lord? Why is o.k. to watch i supposedly care about fret away their salvation in sin? Why are we scared of confrontation? Where is the accountability? Why is our generation so damn therapeutic and obsessed with being politically correct? Christ's closes companions all paid a significant price, socially, physically, and most paid with their lives. Yet, i see people in my generation toting Jesus is my homeboy shirts, who are aghast that following Christ should cost them something personally. Their right, it shouldn't cost something, it will cost them everything.

Christ, toted amongst most believers as the example to follow,in Mark 8:34 told his disciples that to follow him, life would require them to deny themselves, take up their cross and follow him. We are not very good at denying ourselves, or taking up our cross. Often it seems, my prayers have been littered with requests for God to get me through the desert, to break some sin in my life, to get me to the end of some particular journey instead of the strength to get there.

Scripture denotes the importances of trials as character defining, and essentially sources of an unfailing hope (Romans 5:3-4, James 1) Regardless, our faith, and our journey will lead us to hear one of two things at the end. It will either be Well done my good and faithful servant (as did the faithful servant in mat 25)or I never knew you, away from me you evildoers.

Christ in me, Christ with me, Christ for me.

An Inconvenient Grace

2008-02-11T10:11:00.000-08:00

Dirty. Dark. Smelly. Awkward. Painful. Disturbing. Costly. Complex.

What do you picture when you hear these words? What do you envision? A homeless man strewn along the sidewalk, rags barely covering his filth stained body? A man trapped by the images he sees on a computer screen? Perhaps a woman,whose arms are shredded with track marks, and face littered with signs of abuse? All of these associations would be accurate visual reactions to the words above; however, these are not what I had in mind.

Ever increasingly these words remind me of Grace. For a long time, when I heard the word grace, it was a clean and shiny concept often accompanied by it's equally smooth and appeasing friend Forgiveness. I thought Grace and Forgiveness to be like spiritual crutches, holding me up despite my weaknesses. I thought by grace God would change my flaws and redeem my inequities. I thought grace was freely given and received. I thought grace existed to free me from my struggles with my own sinfulness. I essentially viewed it as an escape clause for life. I cannot overcome something, oh well that's where grace comes in. I continue to disobey God's law, oh, well there's grace.

I was not alone in this thinking, various people would tell me as I shared my struggles with them, just accept God's grace, walk in it and he will change these things. However, the more time i spend thinking about it, the more I realize that Grace doesn't exist to change my circumstances, it exists to change me. And it's a lot more uncomfortable than I originally thought.

Grace allows me the strength through Christ to challenge my circumstances and overcome them.

Romans 5:3-5
because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

This is a process of Grace and suffering appears to be the cornerstone of this growth.

Grace is Dirty: because the people who need it the most are often unclean, phsyically, emotionally and spiritually. James teaches us not to show favor based on appearances, Christ ministered alone to a Samaritan woman who was surely unclean.

Grace is Dark: because we often don't understand it. It's often more complex than our sitcom-esq expectations. There are often loose ends and brokenness that remains, but hope remains. Christ, as he cast the demons of Legion, he let them go into the pigs instead of banishing them, why?

Grace is Painful: the ultimate expression of Grace is the crucifixion. Cross seems to be a much more pleasant word, we think redemption, savior, freedom. Crucifixion captures the reality, the cost of Grace. Christ endured torture, was beaten beyond recognition, and nailed to pieces of wood. This is Grace. Much different than my original concept of grace.

Grace is Costly: If the ultimate example of grace cost Christ his life, how could I, could we expect grace to cost us nothing? Often our grace is without consequence or repercussion. This grace is often both cheap and insufficient, and further, i believe unappealing to the world.

Grace is Complex: Starving children, the homeless, widows, orphans, the poor,friends, family and neighbors. It is pretty easy to be graceful to them, as it should be, after all it's our biblical mandate to look after them. What about the sexual predator, what about the serial killer or rapist, are these less deserving of God's Grace? Why is it, as Phillip Yancy says in his book "what's so amazing about grace" as he quotes a friend of his, "is it easier for a homosexual to get sex off the street, than a hug in church?"

When Christ ministered to the lepers, he touched them, they had an encounter with Grace. This was more than social justice at work, more than Christ touching the untouchables, although it was that too, it was Christ showing that there are no untouchables. By sacrificing his life, he taught us the cost of Grace, by touching the lepers, he taught us the boundary defying reality of Grace. By touching the leper, Christ shows that there is nothing to beyond his touch, nor should there be of ours.

Grace is dirty, Grace is dark, Grace is costly, but it is sufficient.