A woman and her grandmother were sitting on their porch discussing a member of the family. "He's just no good," the young woman said. "He's completely untrustworthy, not to mention lazy." "Yes, he's bad,” said the grandmother as she rocked back and forth in her rocker, "but Jesus loves him."

"I'm not so sure of that," the younger woman persisted. "Oh, yes," assured the elderly lady. "Jesus loves him." She rocked and thought for a few more minutes and then added, "Of course, Jesus doesn't know him like we do.”

Of course, Jesus would know him better than anybody—and love him anyway. In the same way that Jesus knows you better than anyone—and loves you anyway. This is called grace. And understanding that grace is essential to understanding God.

Throughout the scriptures, we are reminded that at the foot of the cross, we all stand on equal ground. God shows no partiality: rich/poor, Black/white, Mexican, Asian, American… The truth is we all stand in need of God’s grace. And there is not one of us who is not seen in God’s eyes as a beloved child.

This is at the very heart of our faith. And yet, there is a human tendency to make judgments. Who’s in, who’s out. Who’s acceptable… who’s worthy… who’s worthy of our company, of our compassion, of our love, of our help…

The Irish poet and peacemaker, Pádraig Ó Tuama, brings this home for me. He said, "Yeah. I do love praying. Like ‘prier’ from French, ‘to ask.’ What I love about that word is it doesn’t require belief. It just requires recognition of need. And I think the recognition of need is something that brings us to a deep, common language about what it means to be human. And if you’re not in the situation where you know need, well, then you’re lucky. But you will be.”

We all know what it is like to be in need—in need of healing, in need of forgiveness, in need of love. Every one of us…

It is in our shared humanity, and in our common recognition of our need, that we begin to understand God’s grace.

Let us pray: Holy God, we acknowledge that it is sometimes hard to love people who are different than us. But we trust that your love is extended to all. We thank you for this grace and ask you simply to soften hearts that all may accept and respond to this love. We ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

Some time ago, I was driving back from a hospital visit in Jacksonville and noticed a billboard. It had a picture of Abraham Lincoln with a quote that read, “A House Divided… Cannot Stand.” Then underneath, “Civility is in You. Pass it on.”

Of course, when Abraham Lincoln said, “A house divided cannot stand,” he was quoting Jesus…

I don’t love billboards, but I liked the message. Especially in our day when there is so much junk out there—so much trash—it was inspiring to see a positive message.

In the book of James, we are encouraged, “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger…”

When it comes to political conversations, are we quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger?

With all the problems in the world: poverty, war, injustice, how we communicate with each other may seem insignificant. But the truth is: our words can have a humanizing effect—or they can have a dehumanizing effect. Our words can create relationships, or they can destroy them.

In the book of Ephesians, Paul puts it like this: “Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.” – Ephesians 4:29

May you come to see that you and I have been given a holy and awesome responsibility—to bring healing and hope to the world—even with our words. May you use your words (and your silences) carefully and with love. May you use them to build up and not to tear down. And may your words (your texts, your emails, your Facebook posts) give grace to those who hear.

Let us pray: God of Grace, for your sake, and for the sake of the soul of our communities and our country, empower us to be makers of peace. Amen.

It is no secret that I have a passion for encouraging people to base their life on gratitude. Paul put it like this, "Give thanks in all circumstances." (1 Thessalonians 5:18a).

Let me point out that Paul didn't say to give thanks “for” all circumstances. Obviously, we don't give thanks for cancer or heart attacks, arthritis or blindness, Alzheimer's, or terrorist attacks. But we can give thanks "in" all circumstances because God is with us, come what may. And when we realize that and embrace that and reach out to God in faith, he will give us strength and see us through. We can count on that. And that is cause for great thanksgiving. 

There is an old legend that tells about a man who came one day to the barn where Satan stores the seeds that he scatters across the earth. The man noticed that the two most abundant seeds in the barn were the seeds of bitterness and discouragement. He asked Satan about those seeds. "Oh, yes," came the reply, "bitterness and discouragement; they are, without question, my most effective seeds. Why, these seeds will grow almost anywhere." 

Then, with a solemn look on his face, Satan said, "However, there is one place where the seeds of bitterness and discouragement will not grow." "Oh?" said the man, "and where is that?" Satan answered, "They will not grow in a heart of gratitude." 

Let us pray: God of love, we come to you with hearts full of love, souls full of trust, and minds full of thanksgiving. Your lovingkindness is as far-reaching as the stars, your care for us as deep as the sea. Help us to turn with childlike trust. Open our eyes to the wonders of Your Word and send us on our way with hope and courage. Watch over those traveling. Teach us that we never journey beyond your loving care. Through the amazing grace of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

In the book of Acts, we learn that the early church was called “the Way.” That term “the way” is rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures. It was a technical term used to describe a way of living in harmony with God. It was a path, a way you could choose to follow or not.

Jesus picked up on this when he claimed, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” In essence, he was saying this: If you want to live in harmony with God, if you want to live as God created you to live, if you want to live in a way that will truly allow you to experience life, then I am the way. This is the way. The way that I live.

So the early church was a movement of men and women who were trying to live the way Jesus lived. And we still are.

In his book Velvet Elvis, Rev. Rob Bell put it this way: “As a Christian, I am simply trying to orient myself around living a particular kind of way, the kind of way that Jesus taught is possible… I’m convinced that being generous is a better way to live. I’m convinced forgiving people and not carrying around bitterness is a better way to live. I’m convinced having compassion is a better way to live. I’m convinced that pursuing peace in every situation is a better way to live. I’m convinced being honest with people is a better way to live.”

Today, many of us are still trying to follow the “Way.” We don’t always get it right. But when we do, it is truly beautiful.

Let us pray: God of Grace, we want to live life to the fullest. We want to be healthy and whole. We want to make the most of the time we have—and we know that we need you. Today we thank you for the life and teachings of Jesus. We thank you for a path—for a way of life. We humbly ask your guidance and wisdom as we seek to follow; in Jesus' name. Amen.

There’s an old story about a man who was shipwrecked on an island for 10 years. During that time he kept himself sane by creating an entire town, including a house, a grocery store, a movie theater (with only imaginary movies, of course!), and a church at each end of his Main Street. He did this all out of palm branches.

When he was finally rescued, he was asked why he made two churches. Pointing to the first one he said, “That’s where I went, even though I sat alone, to remind myself that I am part of a body of Christ that extends around the world. That church was my spiritual home, my bedrock, my hope, and my salvation.” Pointing to the other one, he said, “That’s the church I wouldn't be caught dead in!”

Sometimes we do that, don’t we? We divide the world up neatly—determining who’s in and who’s out.

In a way, our theological or even political differences can help us articulate what we do believe and what we stand for. However, they can be sinful when they lead us to deep division, animosity, or hate. Hate corrodes the soul. This type of division can also destroy a sense of neighborhood or community. We see the way it impacts even our nation and the larger world.

In John’s first letter he writes, “Whoever says, ‘I am in the light,’ while hating a brother or a sister, is still in the darkness.”

Later, John continues, “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”

Let us pray: Loving God, sometimes it is hard to love people who see the world differently than we do. Grant us your grace that we might show grace. Keep us from the hate that hardens, and instead help us to be witnesses to your love and mercy. We especially pray today for all those whose love leads them to even sacrifice for the sake of others. We particularly lift up the men and women who are in the military and their families. We pray for peace-keepers and aid workers, for diplomats and ambassadors of all sorts. Protect them and lead them, that even as they serve, they would know your grace and love. We ask in the name of the One who came not to be served, but to serve others. Amen.