Welcome to the Human Race

Lately, I have been thinking about about our church - a lot.  I am not talking just about St. Andrew's rather, I am thinking about the church in the so-called "Western Civilization"... if we can call it that.  I talk about messy lives and I am concerned for people who lead messy lives.  But this also includes a great number of people who go to church regularly and lead quiet, well-hidden, messy lives.  I once made the mistake of making a comment to a Pastor in our denomination (this was during a time that I was attending Theological Studies in Montreal - about 4 or 5 years ago), and I said; "all to often we spend too much time preaching to the converted."  This Pastor told me that there are too many in our churches who simply come because "that's what they have always done" and have no real idea who God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, or how it all fits together.  Now, that's messy.  Just recently I read a chapter out of a book "The Christian Atheist; Believing In God but Living as if He doesn't Exist" by Craig Groeschel.  If there was ever a title that spelled out the messy situation we find ourselves in, this is it.  It all comes together for me, now.  I always knew that we have a great, awesome God, and I have always tried to live in a way that reflects my understanding of God (and I must admit, I still fall grossly short of what I even expect of my self).  I guess - Welcome to the human race. Our lives are all about being broken and failing time and again.  It is our human nature.  However, we do seek God and the Help of the Holy Spirit to get us through this messy world.  I am so glad that God can see beyond our human nature and still sees something within humanity worth saving - we simply have to ask and to receive that Grace from Him; His action to move towards us through Jesus Christ and the Cross.  Thank you God for helping me through the mess of my life - even still, today.