Lest We Forget

My wife & I were on an early morning drive to the Portland Airport a few months ago, as we were catching a flight to Austin, Texas. As it were, the flight was so early, it was dark for most of our drive. Now I'm definitely a night person, not a morning person...but I've found the early pre-dawn hours to be quite amazing, on occasion. It's quiet... peaceful...usually no traffic...kind of relaxing...provided you are awake for the drive with coffee in hand. Now this morning, I "was awake", and my wife & I caught a rare surprise. As the sun rose we caught the amazing sight of Mt. Hood silhouetted against the morning sunrise... WOW! It was awesome. We stopped and had to take a picture. Sometimes life catches you off guard. Sometimes when you least expect it...BAM...a surprise...a memory...an unexpected event. Extra cool if you got a camera to record it. We did...and we did! It makes me think of heaven. Not just the beauty of the moment... but the surprise...the unexpected...the WOW! I am sure we will all be surprised when we get to heaven, in many different ways. One of the craziest things we'll experience is who else is there! As the world mourns the death of several celebrities & sports stars...the "biggest" being Michael Jackson, it seems...I often hear & read of Christians debating whether or not so and so is in heaven? Weird huh? At least I think so. First off...even a casual glance at the bible would tell us the one doing the decision making regarding the after-life ain't you or me...its Jesus! So entering the debate kinda usurps the Decision Maker Himself...so that seems rather bold. But the idea we know what is going on in the heart and soul of anyone is quite bizarre also. I was shocked to see people glad Michael Jackson was dead because he was a sicko, bizarre, weird guy who was a pedophile. Some seemed almost angry at the possibility that MJ may have gotten his life straighten out with God before he died. The facts are, we do not know him...only the cartoon, tabloid characterization of him. He was surrounded by many good believers over the years, and he clearly was a hurting dude, who was spiritually searching for years. You may believe or not believe the rumors. But since when are sicko, bizarre, weird guys... even pedophiles excluded from God's grace? I know it is hard to agree with...but scripture does say it is possible. "Whoever should call on the name of Jesus will be saved." Not whoever is good enough... or normal enough...or sinless enough. If we are to believe in God's canopy of grace that is available to each of us...then anyone is eligible, whether we like it or not. The bible is full of "offenders" who most of us expect to see inside the "Pearly Gates". A lot of messy lives will be covered by God's grace, so get ready. Noah got drunk and slept with his daughters and impregnated them. Moses killed a man. Abraham slept with another woman who was not his wife, and got her pregnant. David not only stole another man's wife, but he had the man killed to cover it up. Isaiah walked through the city streets naked. Hosea married a known prostitute, who continued to ply her "trade". Peter had one heck of a temper problem. Paul was known for aiding and abetting multiple murders. The thief on the cross, who was in his last breaths of execution, was assured by Jesus, he'd be with Him in Paradise. The list goes on and on. God's grace is sufficient for their failings...anyone's failings... even yours and mine. The bible reminds us more than once that "we" (followers of Jesus) were liars, thieves, sexual perverts, idolaters, prideful, adulterers, gossips and the like. It appears that many of us will be "surprised" who our neighbors will be in the Kingdom of God. Many will be there that we never thought "could be"...and many will not be there, that we sure thought "would be". In the end, Jesus is only One making those decisions...so get ready to be amazed... cause His ways are not our ways...thankfully! At ECHO we are so glad God chose to show us multiple people in scripture who were "His" in spite of the stupid, selfish, disgusting, sinful things they did. God in His love, makes His grace available to all who will trust Him...even the "Michael Jackson's" of the world. Even you & me...and that is "good news". May we not be a people that spend more time ridiculing others than we do praying for them. May we not be people that spend more energy in revealing anothers faults and weaknesses, than we do on loving and caring for them. May we spend more time modeling grace than gossip.

May we not forget...His grace is sufficient for us...and them!
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be God's!

Brian O

Lead Pastor dude, ECHO