My Love Unmasked at Calvary

Instead, I'm pretty sure I was warmly greeted, handed a little bulletin and ushered in. I lurked in the very back row to the left. All the way in the back as far away from the pulpit as possible.

I'm not sure what I was expecting: dancing with snakes, tamborines,
people holy-rolling like crazies mumbling gibberish,
a preacher wearing an Armani suit…
maybe a gold-capped tooth or two…
who would say "Jesus" with three syllables…
'Jee-zuz-ah'…
who would guilt trip me into wanting to sign over my bank account to the church.
A bunch of hypocrites.

I was expecting the worst,
but God gave me His best that day.
 

 As I looked around, albeit no one else was in pajamas, I saw a lot of jeans and t-shirts.
Something so simple disarmed me.
As crazy as it seemed, no one asked me for money or passed anything around to collect.
I couldn't believe I wasn't going to get ripped off…

And then I heard Rick & Mendy leading worship, the music almost compelled me to chill out.
(But I wanted to stay angry.)
 

I wondered what would cause people to sing out with such love…
 

and then Pastor Rick Franks came up.
I noticed 3 things that I found alarming & striking to my misperceptions:

1. He was not wearing an Armani suit & had no gold teeth. He looked like an "ol' surfer dude…kinda dressed up."
2. He stood up there meekly, and never once shouted.
3. When he taught the Word of God with love & authority, I could not help but listen to the teaching.

And then…
the Gospel was preached.
The full Gospel.

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My eyes were opened. My ears heard.
My heart stirred.
Something in my soul cried out.

 It was Pastor Rick's voice, but it was God's call I heard…

 

"Everyone, let's bow our heads and pray…if you're here today, and you don't know Jesus…"
 

…he began…
(and I felt tears pouring down my face)
I wanted to pray too — but would God have me?
 

So when the opportunity came…
 

"Yes, I see your hand up back there. All the way in the back…"
Jesus saw me. He found me.

---

I was expecting the worst,
and God gave me His best.
[John 3:16]
Love changes everything.

 

 

And that was just the beginning of eternity for me.
 

Calvary Chapel Mountain View, you have fed me the Word, prayed for me, loved me through thick & thin, patiently discipled me with grace & truth, and have given me a place to grow in Christ and exercise my gifts. (And I would contend that we have some of the best huggers in the world at this place too!)

 Thank you for being a soul-winning, Gospel-preaching, bible-teaching, Jesus-exalting,
amazing & loving church home!
 

I love you all.

I'm going on mission — but you're coming with me in my heart and in my prayers.

xoxo,
your Missionary Mel