Garbage collectors

Years ago, I picked up a book by Jerry Cook entitled simply, "Love, Acceptance and Forgiveness."

Some of the pages are torn and faded - I've had it so long.

Within the chapters of that book, Pastor Cook talks about the power of love, acceptance and forgiveness in our churches.

He states, "when love, acceptance and forgiveness characterize our lives and our churches, the Lord will send us people who need to be made whole."

He writes about a pastor friend of us who called him one day - very upset with the church that he (Jerry Cook) pastored.

Pastor Cook said that it was a friend that he liked and respected (and still does) - so he listened with great interest and concern.

This friend was irritated because some of his family had started coming to the church.

At one point this friend said, "You know what you are out there (speaking of the church)?  You're nothing but a bunch of garbage collectors."

Jerry Cook writes, "As I thought about it, I realize he was telling the truth.  That's exactly what we are, garbage collectors.  What were we before Jesus found us?  Weren't we all just garbage?  Jesus finds us and recycles us."

He goes on to write, "I mentioned this in church one Sunday and afterward a man who owns a garbage collection agency came floating up the aisle, all excited.  "That super," he said.  "Let me tell you something about garbage.  There's a landfill near here.  For 10 years we used it as a place to dump trash and garbage.  Know what's there now?  A beautiful park."

Good stuff.

Can I tell you something today? 

I have seen human garbage become beautiful as well. 

I have seen the stench of our sin turned into the fragrance of the Holy Spirit.

At Stone Church, we can't worry about what critics think or say.

Where is God going to send the "garbage" for recycling if He can't put it on our doorstep?

He will find a place. 

My desire is that we be THAT PLACE.

My desire is that we be used by God. 

And - when love, acceptance and forgiveness prevail, the church, God's church, the church of Jesus Christ becomes what Jesus wants us to be:  a center of love created for the healing of broken people - and a force for God.

Just a thought for a Wednesday.