Today, I have the privilege of speaking at the funeral of a man who has been larger than life here in Corpus Christi – a successful business man and entrepreneur – a philanthropist and generous supporter of the community.
I had the opportunity to meet Dusty Durrill a couple of months ago. He knew his days were becoming limited and he wanted to find peace with God. He admitted to me that he had never doubted the existence of God, but he had not followed him with his life. In fact, he had never had much use for religion and the church.
I appreciated his honesty and authenticity. But through our conversation, after he had grilled me as to my intentions, he found his peace with God and that is a morning I will never forget.
But as I have reflected on his life and his story – I have become more and more convicted and concerned. How many other people have that story and that perception of the church? I wish I could say the perception of the church being filled with hypocrites is a false perception. But sadly, just being honest, it is not.
Now before you stop reading, let me say, there is not a place on earth that is not filled with hypocrites. If there are people – there are hypocrites. So to shun the church because she is filled with hypocrites is just an excuse.
But my conviction is this – shouldn’t we strive to be authentic and real? Shouldn’t people find a place where they can be themselves when they come to church?
God loves us just as we are but he also loves us too much to let us stay that way.
So today, be REAL. Let others know you are human but that you are striving to live like Jesus. The world needs real believers being real.
Be real today!
This morning, I had the opportunity to meet some men for breakfast – just to spend some time together and get to know one another better. I had no agenda – just community.
Yesterday was Resurrection Sunday. We celebrated an empty tomb. We praised God because Jesus is alive! We reflected on the new life that is made available to us through Jesus giving up his and being raised three days later. I pray you celebrated in grand fashion with your church family. Around here, we pulled out all the stops and had an amazing time of worship.
Jesus used this time as yet another teaching moment. He knew what was coming and he wanted his followers to be ready. He explained that the life of a follower is a life of humble service. There is no place for wanting to be first in God’s Kingdom. He demonstrated this important lesson by going to each disciple and washing his feet. The point he was making was that even he came to serve and not be served. As the path led out of that room, into a garden and then on into a mock trial and crucifixion, the lesson became even more clear. He came to serve all of humanity with the ultimate sacrifice.
d’s grace on our own.
We now begin one of the most – if not THE most – special weeks of the year. Holy Week shows us God’s plan spelled out.
l of gravity, it will. If there is the slightest vulnerability in a roof, water will capitalize on it.
