“If you would just give us a chance to prove
WHAT WE CAN DO
We’ll blow them away with the impact we’ll make.”
-Stick to Your Guns
Some of the best parts about living in the down-town part of the city is that I live walking distance to the church, to the square, to the coffee shop, to the old school barber shop with bitter old men talking about politics and sports, and next to all of my friends. I live with three amazing men, next to a house of encouraging and men I can look up to (in how they love each other, others and their women), our neighbors are awesome and most of my friends in this city live within short bicycle ride.
Everyone knows where everyone else lives.
Which can be awesome and fun. But, as a lot of you in Denton boy houses know, people can often just barge in or come over late hours of the night uninvited. Most of us, including my house, have an open door policy where if someone is home you are more than welcome to pop by for a surprise visit. This leads to a culture of community, friendship and love. I am so thankful for our neighborhood and the Village Church being apart of my life.
Thank you for being there and being welcoming, awesome, supportive, encouraging and joyful.
I have been hurt by more church people than anyone else on this planet but that’s because we are human. Humans are messy. You put an entire congregation of broken, sinful people in a community together and things are going to get ugly. But then again, things have the opportunity to be reconciled. When relationships are broken, smoldering, suffering, there is hope of restoration. I am so thankful for the men and women who humble themselves, let their pride and flesh die and allow relationship to be rebuilt.
“Sometimes it’s better to be kind than to be right.”
We see this example with Christ. He who knew no sin became sin so that we may have the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21). And God demonstrated his love for us that while we were still sinners he died for us (Romans 5:8). This was the picture perfect example of being the bigger man. This is the Gospel. We were still rejecting and turning way from him, yet despite that he humbled himself to fix things. He was the bigger man. He made a way to restore the relationship because that is more important than being right, or just, or holding pride. What an encouraging example. I’ve been marinating in that for a few days.
When I got home from my morning run I found an envelope in my mail box. Thank you for whoever wrote this. That’s another thing about everyone knowing where everyone lives, anonymity is pretty secure!
Your words were very kind, encouraging and hopeful.
Thank you.
-J
