God of Second Chances

1st Corinthians 15 gives a strong admonition to activate the righteousness of God in our lives so that we may effectively turn away from sin.
34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

It is only through the release of the power of God's Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives that we can live a life pleasing to God.   We overcome sin as we recognize that we have a problem in a particular area and need to change.   If we tolerate or accommodate sin, then we will live in less than what God has ordained for us in Jesus Christ.   Sin has the potential to destroy our walk and our witness if we are unwilling to repent.  It's powerful poison - we must humbly take the steps to walk in freedom!

In Titus 2, we read about the operation of God's grace:
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Let me say right now - I believe that we serve a God of second chances.   We have a Savior who died for our sins, and has offered us a way of redemption from the power of sin, the promise of a new nature, and the ability to experience His forgiveness when we do sin.  

Even when we do heinous things that some would think could not be forgiven, God is still longsuffering with us.   Think of David and his great sin - he lusted after a woman, brought her into his house and committed adultery with her, and arranged to have her husband killed.   But, with a humble and contrite heart, he called upon God, and his relationship with Him was restored.   His life story can be an inspiration to all of us who have missed the mark in some way.

Even a former governor who was a potential Presidential candidate - while a Congressman, he was plugged in to the famous "C Street" group that offers accountability to Christians.   He has spoken evangelical language and attempted to appeal to those who embrace family values.   But, he had what many would term a fatal flaw - he possessed this inability, by his own choices, to be faithful to his wife.   He even disappeared for 5 days a few years ago - he deceived his staff, who said he was hiking the Appalachian Trail, when he was really in Argentina with a woman who was not his wife, with whom he was having an affair.   A woman he intends to marry, now that he is divorced from his wife.

Fast forward now 4 years - in front of the television cameras last night, former South Carolina governor and newly elected Congressman Mark Sanford said this:

I want to acknowledge a God not just of second chances...But a God of third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth chances because that is the reality of our shared humanity.

He used that theme of a "God of second chances" in his first television ad.

I was thinking about whether or not I would pull the lever for Sanford if he were running here.  After the governor admitted his indiscretions, Christian leaders such as Chuck Colson and Al Mohler encouraged Sanford to go home and get his house in order, reconcile with his wife and four sons.   He clearly has not, and will be in court tomorrow answering to a trespassing charge filed by his ex-wife.

And, yes, God is patient and longsuffering with us.   But there is an element of repentance that sometimes gets downplayed if we mischaracterize the grace of God.    The term, "repentance" implies a turning around, going in the other direction, passionately attempting, by God's power to eradicate the sin areas from our lives - it is a process that is precipitated by a choice.   If we make the choice to follow Christ, to please Him, and to turn from sin and allow His righteousness to flow through and energize us, then we can release the overcoming power of the Holy Spirit active in our lives.  

God offers a second chance, and there is great power in redemption, but I do believe there are conditions of the heart that have to be met in order to experience the wholeness in which He desires for us to walk.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/05/07/4833497/mark-sanford-the-new-comback-kid.html#storylink=cpy

Not Just What You Do...

We're told in Colossians chapter 1 that God has desired to make known to His people...
(27) what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

Christ - in us - the One who will mold our character, who has shaped and will shape our lives to be honoring to Him.   He calls us to live from the inside out - recognizing that because we are new creatures, Christ lives in us - we have a new life.   Living from the inside out means that we will be led by the Spirit, that we will do the things that please God, and we will demonstrate to others who He is and what He has done in our lives.   The only way we can live a life that glorifies God is by total dependence on Jesus Christ - and, it's more than performance and trying to do good works, it's how we go about it and how we radiate His nature.

In 1st Timothy chapter 4, the apostle Paul paints a picture of a life that is devoted to doing the will of God:
(10) we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 11 These things command and teach. 12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Forbes has released the list of its most influential athletes.   Care to guess who's #1?   Could it be Lebron James, who just won the NBA's Most Valuable Player?   No, he's ninth.   And this was before the Bulls beat Miami last night. 

How about Olympic sensation Gabby Douglas?   Not even top 5 - she's 7th.  

Would you believe that the top 4 are not even actively competing?   That's right; the top 4 are Derek Jeter of the Yankees, who's rehabbing, runner Usain Bolt at 3, swimmer Michael Phelps - #2, and the most influential athlete, according to Forbes - wait for it, wait for it...Tim Tebow.

That's right, the unemployed former Florida Gator Heisman sensation still has a lot of pull...and just yesterday, he made news in several ways.   He received an endorsement from NFL coaching great Mike Ditka, who agrees with me that Tebow could play quarterback in the NFL - he basically said a team would just have to tweak its offense to highlight Tim's skills.   Could that team be the Jacksonville Jaguars?   New GM David Caldwell says no, but a group of fans disagree, and put a petition on the White House's "We the People" website asking the President to get involved.   Listen to this, taken from Yahoo! Sports:

...If the Jaguars sign & START Tebow, home games will be sold out, sales will spike, the team will win and the fans will be happy.  Mr. Caldwell is ignoring lots of facts about the misunderstood Tim Tebow while in Denver: Passer rating of 125.6 is highest ever in Broncos postseason history. Most yards per completion (31.6) in NFL playoff history. 100.5 QB rating is best ever for a Broncos QB in his first start. Third most passing yards in a game by a Bronco rookie QB. (308, in his 2nd start), First 15+ point comeback in the final 3 minutes of an NFL game since the merger, 7 game winning drives in just 16 games!

The White House has removed the petition because it violated the site's terms of service policy.   So, they wanted Obama to make the Jaguars sign Tebow?   I don't think you want the President getting involved in matters of sports and business - doesn't seem most Americans want him in health care, either, but that's another story.

The mystique continues - and we, as a society, love Tebow...some don't, but most still pay attention to him.   There was much rejoicing when the Jets cut him last week, but he's not off the radar screen, by any means?   Why?   Well, I think he embodies that it's not just what you do, but it's who you are.  

Character counts - we saw that last week in the Hitchcock awards...here are young people making a difference, some of them successful on the athletic field, but their lives are trending toward success of another sort - they possess a component of Christlike character and a caring spirit - and that draws people.  Many of them, it appears, are involved in community service, and perhaps they are not doing it by force, but by choice.   Tim Tebow is an example of this - he's a genuine nice guy, a caring person, he is a man of conviction, and he radiates the love of Christ.   I think in these days of pro athletes who are not necessarily your basic role models, there's something about him that connects with many people, who are drawn to a life of meaning.   This can be a challenge to all of us as Christians as we seek to live from the "inside out", allowing the character of Christ to compel other people to come to Him.

Last year, Tim was one of the featured speakers on the Chick-Fil-A Leadercast from Atlanta.   This year, another stellar lineup will share leadership principles and draw business people into churches and other venues across America.  Andy Stanley returns, and he'll be joined by another Olympic participant, Sanya Richards-Ross, as well as Coach K from the sports world, plus Henry Cloud and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.  In the Faith Radio area, Vaughn Forest Church will be hosting.

And, you can hear Tim Tebow in person in Birmingham June 14-15 at the Gridiron Men's Conference, sponsored by Phil Waldrep Ministries - also speaking will be Chick-Fil-A head Dan Cathy, Southern Baptist President Fred Luter, and noted author and apologist Josh McDowell.

Oh, Those Technicalities

Ephesians 4 gives some insight on how to respond when we think that life is not fair:
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.
There are going to be instances in our lives when things don't go our way, and we even feel that we are treated unfairly.   And, there is a place to make an appeal, utilizing a Christ-centered tone.   But, if we allow ourselves to become bitter about life's injustices or we find ourselves complaining more than we should, it becomes spiritually counterproductive.   Just because life doesn't seem fair sometimes doesn't exempt us from displaying Christlike character.   The Bible warns against bitterness, and we are not justified to allow resentment or anger to build up, even when we think we've been wronged.
In James chapter 1, we see that God has a purpose even in the midst of life's technicalities that could distract or derail our spiritual walk:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Recently, a Texas high school track team won a relay race by seven yards, but lost out on the opportunity to advance to the state championships after officials disqualified the team because one of their runners “put his hand by his ear and … pointed to the heavens," according to a report on ChristianNews.net. The father of runner Derrick Hayes, K.C. Hayes, said:  “You cross a finish line and you’ve accomplished a goal, and within seconds it’s gone...To see four kids — What does that tell them about the rest of their lives? You’re going to do what’s right, work extra hard and have it ripped away from you?”

The University Interscholastic League released a statement saying, “The meet official indicated the athlete crossed the finish line and gestured upward with his arm and finger and behaved disrespectfully toward meet officials, in their opinion...In the judgment of the official, this was a violation of NFHS track & field rule 4-6-1.  The regional meet referee concurred with this decision and the student was subsequently disqualified.”   The decision cannot be appealed.

So you do the work, complete it well, and it is thrown out on a technicality.   It can be rather maddening, can't it?   And, we've all been there.    NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne was there Saturday night at Talladega - he crossed the finish line first, but just before that, a wreck occurred, the caution flag was brought out just before the end of the race, and it was determined that Regan Smith was leading at that moment - race goes to Smith.   A technicality.

These "technicalities" definitely take place in the realm of the technical, too.  A major project or a portion of it that has to be redone because you failed to save your work.   A computer hard drive crash that results in hours of restoring data.   The audio file that doesn't record quite right.

Life is full of technicalities - and we encounter instances where we think things are just not fair.   Two questions for us as we begin our week:  1) how do we respond to what we perceive as injustice?  and 2) how can God use those moments to strengthen our faith and build character?  

I certainly don't believe anger and frustration are the proper responses, or allowing ourselves to become mired in disappointment or despondency.   I wouldn't blame Mr. Hayes if he took the track matter to court, but if it becomes an overwhelming, all-consuming passion that is not directed by the Lord and becomes a distraction, then perhaps another course could be chosen. 

And, even in the midst of life's technicalities, we remember the trying of our faith brings patience.  And, that God works everything for the good of those who love Him.   So, even when we think life is not fair, we have to look to a higher purpose and respond with anticipation of what He wants to bring out of those discouraging circumstances. 

Something in the Air!

There is a battle going on all around us, as spiritual forces are at work, waging war for supremacy.  Ephesians 2 says:
(1) you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, We have to look beyond ourselves and recognize the influence of these forces, and realize that we have powerful weapons in order to combat evil.   Greater is He who is in us than He that is in the world.   We all have access to God's power, and as we pray, we release that power into the heavenlies to thwart the work of the enemy.   Multitudes did it yesterday on the National Day of Prayer, and we trust that observance would rekindle an awareness in our hearts that we need to pray, great things happen when we pray, and the trajectory of our nation's morality can be dramatically altered as we pray.   Thousands united together beyond the finite realm of time and space to compose one large prayer army that can bring dramatic change.

In Ephesians 6, we get a sense of the "big picture" regarding not only the spiritual forces that are present with us each day, but the amazing power of God that we can access each day as we engage in this spiritual warfare:
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

According to the National Day of Prayer website, there was a concentrated effort for planes to fly over every single state capital in America in observance of the day.   Just weeks ago, it was announced that a group of pilots called PrayerFlight would provide 100% coverage for their “50 Capitals” National Day of Prayer – PrayerFlight.

The post said that:

More than any time before, our nation needs prayer. As our Mission Verse proclaims, we depend on God to heal our land for in fact there is no other way...

God has continued to work expanding this ‘prayer in the air’. Reports each year from participants have reflected that this aerial view of schools to workplaces, transportation routes to churches, military bases to capitols, neighborhoods and more provided heightened awareness of the array of needs in each place. When I flew with Colorado Prayer Flight several years ago, I felt the Lord directing our prayers as we flew over our capitol, the Denver Mint, downtown metro skyline, universities and then back over rural lands of ranches, forests and fields. Elevation can help bridge the gap between our micro view and God’s complete perspective.

I like that thought about elevation.   So often we get caught in that earthly perspective and we lose out on getting a sense of the big picture.

But, this notion of prayer flights also reminds us that prayer is multi-dimensional.   While members of the Faith Radio team were "spanning the globe" yesterday, in a single instance, on location in 3 cities in our coverage area, we were part of prayer gatherings across America that were offering petitions to our God.  Our prayers and their effectiveness are not bound by physical location. 

And, the Bible reminds us that we are engaged in spiritual warfare in the air.   Our unity as believers crying out to God is not limited to physical location; indeed, we are engaged in an activity that transcends space and time.  

In radio, we also have the opportunity, through the airwaves, to communicate God's truth and presence - and last night, all around the country on 500 radio stations, those various stations could help to facilitate spiritual unity and effective prayer through the OneCry Prayer Summit.   That was huge in a national sense, and daily we reflect on how listeners from Chilton County to I-10, from Selma to Opelika, can all be hearing the same message and being strengthened in their spiritual lives.   I am thankful that I can participate in God's unlimited methodology of uniting and strengthening His people.

We are part of a bigger picture and we serve a multidimensional God, who is not limited in His power and greatness, who calls us to partner with Him in prayer, a powerful tool that He will use to change hearts, and something we desperately need to change a nation that is drifting off course from the foundational principles upon which it was founded.  

Thankfulness from West

When we were saved, God didn't just bring us into His kingdom, call us His child, and leave us to fend for ourselves.   We have been called into a relationship with Him.   And, He will make Himself known to us, consistently, by His Holy Spirit.  Here is what Jesus said in John 16:
(13) when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
So, we have to train ourselves to hear from the Lord, to be sensitive to His promptings.   He will give us wisdom when choices need to be made - that's a promise from James 1.  And I believe that He will "nudge" us in the right direction in various situations; sometimes we will experience an impulse in which the Lord is giving us a push in a particular direction.   We can sensitize ourselves and learn to recognize His voice - not audible, but within our spirits - Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice".  We can be challenged to discern the leadership of the Lord, which will always be consistent with His Word.

In John 14, Jesus promises His disciples a spiritual helper, the Holy Spirit:
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Two weeks ago today, an explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas, took the lives of 15 people, injured 200, and 60 are believed to be still missing.  The Austin Disaster Relief Network, consisting of Austin-area churches, reports that over 150 ministries have visited or given relief to West families, over 48 18-wheelers have dropped off in-kind donations, 20 18-wheelers of water, 100,000 square feet of warehouse space filled with donated items along with smaller locations over-flowing with goods, and ADRN has been able to debrief/provide emotional care for an estimated 600 traumatized individuals and provide $35,000 in gift cards to meet immediate needs through the loving hands of 203 volunteers!  There have been approximately 273 "sponsor a family forms" turned in by families specifically asking for churches to walk with them through this process.

When the need is great, we recognize we serve a great God!!   Now, a coalition of Waco-area churches have begun to form a network to minister to the victims of the tragedy, with a goal of sponsoring every family that has asked for help.   The response is amazing, and we can give God the praise for His work to heal and restore!

And, in the aftermath of a crisis, you hear the survival stories.   The Austin network reported on one particular family to whom they ministered.   At the time of the explosion, a family was parked in front of an apartment complex.  The father and grown son were outside the car taking pictures of the fire.  The mother, another grown son, a daughter-in-law and 10-month-old grandchild were inside the car.  

The grandmother instinctively threw the baby in the floorboard and dove down herself to cover the baby with her own body.  After the explosion, she scooped up the baby and began to run through the thick black smoke for medical care.  Her husband and son, who had been outside the car, were nowhere in site, having been thrown away from the car by the blast. 

She heard her daughter-in-law scream, and as the smoke began to clear some, she looked back to see the car on fire and her daughter-in-law trapped inside.   Her son rescued the daughter-in-law, pulling her from the burning car.  Miraculously all six of them survived!

The mother, who only spoke Spanish,  said that before this incident she was not a woman of strong faith.  But she repeated to the chaplain over and over, "Yo creo!  Yo creo!" - I believe, I believe. 

She said there is no way her family survived without the direct intervention from God.   He must have some purpose for us to carry out here on earth if He went to such lengths to keep us alive.

When the need is great, we recognize we serve a great God!!   This grandmother didn't know how or why, but she was impressed to try to protect her 10-month-old granddaughter.   As a result of her response to a nudge or impulse, two lives were saved.   And, she acknowledged God's direct intervention, leading to a deeper faith in God.   "Yo creo!" - I believe.

Nancy Rue talked on my show about "nudges" from God - and I believe that God is trying to get messages across to us each day.  And, as we respond to His promptings, it can result in a deepening or strengthening of our faith, and produce thanksgiving in our hearts.   This grandmother experienced it in the heat of the moment, and I believe that the Lord will work in those times, but in the everyday ebb and flow of life, I think that He is present with us, and we have to be sensitive to learn when He is speaking or nudging.   It could be a life-saving nudge or, more commonly, a life-giving, life-transforming nudge.   And, when you experience it, respond, and see the end result - give God the praise!

Starting a Conversation

Romans 12 can help us strike a balance between being convicted in our beliefs and compassionate in our behavior:
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
Earlier in the chapter we read about being transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we can know God's will.  So, as we set our course to follow Him and to walk in holiness, we have Scriptural admonition about walking with God in a culture where you encounter people who do not embrace Christ and even will denigrate you for holding Biblical beliefs.  Later in Romans 12, it says:   17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

We are called to pursue a path of peace, but that does not mean we tolerate what God has called sinful.  And, it doesn't mean that we put down people who are practicing sinful behavior.   We all struggle in various areas, we are sinners, but we have a great Savior, and He gives us the ability to boldly proclaim strong moral principles, but also to be known for our compassion for others.

1st Peter 3 gives us some encouragement when we are faced with criticism or even persecution for our faith:
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.

It's well-known news by now in the sports world - Jason Collins, center for the Washington Wizards,  announced that he is gay, in an article published in Sports Illustrated.    Collins is being touted as the first player in a major men's sport to make such a declaration.

Collins is quoted as saying that,“I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay...I didn’t set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I’m happy to start the conversation.”

He related about his Christian upbringing and said, "I take the teachings of Jesus seriously, particularly the ones that touch on tolerance and understanding.”

So, Jason has, as he says, started the conversation.   Well, he has to realize that those who are pushing the gay rights agenda in America are not interested in a "conversation".  Jason has a right to his opinion and his practice, but by "coming out" in such a public way, he's playing right into the agenda of those who want to force people of faith and others to accept behavior that they view as morally objectionable.  He could have, and has, kept his beliefs private - why is it important that he make that declaration?

And, we know that you express an opinion that is not supportive, you risk being labeled as bigoted or homophobic.  Just ask ESPN analyst Chris Broussard.  Here's what he said, and of course you know what the reaction might be:

Personally, I don't believe that you can live an openly homosexual lifestyle or an openly premarital sex between heterosexuals, if you're openly living that type of lifestyle, then the Bible says you know them by their fruits, it says that's a sin. If you're openly living in unrepentant sin, whatever it may be, not just homosexuality, adultery, fornication, premarital sex between heterosexuals, whatever it may be, I believe that's walking in open rebellion to God and to Jesus Christ..."

And, he made a very strong statement about the fruit of someone claiming to be a believer in Christ:

"I would not characterize that person as a Christian because I do not think the Bible would characterize them as a Christian."

He has a point, even though I might not have gone there in that context.   I do appreciate how he not only singled out homosexual practice, but also other forms of sexual immorality which are taught against in Scripture.  And, he joined the ranks of Christians in the NBA to which he referred who disagree with the lifestyle - he said that they do not want to be called bigoted or intolerant, which of course he is being called and more.


The Manhattan Declaration Facebook page gave this statement:

ESPN basketball analyst Chris Broussard was asked about Jason Collins' faith claims following his revelation that he is gay. Broussard, a man of faith and conviction, shared what the Bible says with patience and humility. As you can imagine, he's being attacked viciously for his views. Join me in sending a note to Chris thanking him for his courage!

Be aware - here's the agenda - if you believe homosexuality is a sin, you will certainly face criticism from those who do not agree with you.  Your right to disagree is no longer honored.   Jason Collins wants to start a conversation, but if you don't agree with him and those who support his decision to "come out", calling it "courageous", then there are those who think you need to keep your opinions to yourself.   Dan Cathy has experienced that, but that didn't keep him from developing a friendship with someone whose lifestyle he disagreed with.   And, thousands across America stood with him and Chick-Fil-A on the subject of gay marriage.

Interesting that Tim Tebow's dismissal from the NFL happened on the same day - Collins replace Tim as the top sports story; however, Tebow was trending #1 overall on Google this morning.   He has experienced being severely chastised for aligning himself with a church that teaches the traditional, mainstream Biblical view on sexuality.    Greg Laurie, renowned and respected pastor and honorary chair of the National Day of Prayer this year, is facing criticism as being "anti-gay" because of his embracing of the Biblical view of homosexuality - and there are those who want to remove him from his leadership position, including participation in a Pentagon prayer breakfast. 

And, we continue to be on the receiving end of an intentional effort to force beliefs on culture that run contrary to the teachings of the Bible.   Even though the Boy Scouts do not ask what a potential member's sexual orientation is, those pushing for the Scouts to admit openly gay members - and even leaders - would like the practice of homosexuality to be open within the ranks of Scouting.   So, it's not a private matter, as some would contend - there are people who want to force you to accept it.   So who's really being tolerant here?

What's a Christian to do?   Well, I do believe that we stand with and support those who express a Biblical opinion in the public square.  

And, we continue to embrace Biblical truth on matters of sexuality.   We have to be clear that this behavior is Scripturally unacceptable, but we also have to do so in a manner that wins and does not repel.   We can start and engage in conversations and realize that in the course of dialogue, we can speak truth - in love.   And, we live our lives in a manner that draws everyone to Jesus.

Who Are the "Missing Persons"?

In Matthew 22, Jesus told a parable about a great wedding feast, a tremendous banquet:
2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. We're told he sent other servants, and they were rejected and their lives were taken.      8 Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.' And, there were many brought to the banquet, but those without the right garments were thrown out.   We've been invited to Christ's table, to His wedding feast, and the price of admission, sort of speak, is your life - the right garments involve being clothed with or in Christ.   Chuck Colson spoke of a great banquet, and we're reminded that the church should be inviting to all to come to Him.   No person is beyond the touch of God - every person is a candidate for the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.   Each heart has the potential to be changed. 

Revelation 19 describes what is called the "marriage supper of the Lamb", and those who are invited are there because of their decision to follow Christ - not because of appearance, social status, or other outward expressions, but because of a change of heart:
(6) I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."

A new initiative from In Touch Ministries has a pretty cool name and an excellent premise.   The ministry announced:

This month we kick off The Missing Persons Project, an ongoing series of special reports about the people missing from our local church bodies—men, women, and children who are necessary to the health of our congregations but often go overlooked...

There are 5 areas of people who are being concentrated upon:  the disabled, widows and orphans, prisoners, the needy, and searchers.   In the first installment on the InTouch.org website, the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16 is highlighted, where you have two men:  the rich man, who chose not to see Lazarus as a brother or fellow human being, and who was compensated with torment for his sumptuous lifestyle and overwhelming apathy.   Lazarus was finally comforted in God’s everlasting kingdom.  The piece says that the MacArthur Bible Commentary gives us 
a way to interpret this passage—that “Lazarus was given a place of high honor, reclining next to Abraham at the heavenly banquet.” 

That banquet is described in Revelation 19, also known as the marriage supper of the Lamb, and there will be all kinds of people at 
that marriage feast—men and women, rich and poor, prisoners, those who endured
 a lifetime of illness, others who labored to spread the gospel, and folks just like Lazarus.

The ministry states that:

What we’re faced with is an image that stands in stark contrast to the way our present world often works—including our churches. It’s time for a difficult question: What compels a Christian to see a fellow human being as unnecessary to the body of Christ? What makes him treat someone like a project—or worse, causes him to ignore his neighbor altogether? To be human is to see and be seen; to hear and be heard; to love and be loved. See, hear, love. This is the Christian’s anthem, in both theory and practice. We are charged to see, hear, and love our neighbor as we ourselves are seen, heard, and loved by God.

We are encouraged to reach out to these "missing persons" who are sometimes not recognized and esteemed.  God has placed people in our lives, and we have to be sensitized to their needs, then mobilized individually and collectively to reach out in the name of Jesus and display His love.  Who is the "Lazarus" that we may encounter today?   Who can we invite to the wedding supper of the Lamb, where all are accepted, not because of social status or physical appearance, but because of the presence of Jesus Christ?