Grace Notes: New Grace from New Friends

Good Morning Friends,

[Quick prayer request: Please be praying for our church family, theBridge. This weekend (on Saturday) we are having a “walk through” for our church members and attendees of the church building we are attempting to purchase. We have a Membership Meeting to vote on purchasing the building and securing the loan on Sunday. Simultaneously, we’ve submitted our paperwork to secure a loan for this property with two different local banks. In short, it’s one of several “crunch times” we will face in this process of buying this building. We truly appreciate your prayers in this season. Thanks!]

Just this week, Susan and I had the privilege to meet some “new friends” who began to feel like “old friends” almost immediately. Have you ever noticed how that happens? Especially among those who follow Christ, there is a sense of family and connection that rapidly takes place – even upon a first or second meeting. Ron and Judy are pastors in Las Vegas, NV and were like a breath of fresh grace blowing into our lives.

Through our denominational family, this couple happened to be in our area of the country for a few days and we were able to meet for two extended times together. There was no high-level agenda, no strategizing a cutting edge plan, no posturing or self-promotion. Rather, what we experienced with this dear couple was a simple and genuine love for God and His people.

(Being with our new friends, I was reminded of the Word that the Lord has laid upon my heart for this season in theBridge’s life. “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths where the good way is, and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6:16a ESV) I have this sense that the Lord is taking us to new places in Him this year. Like Elijah in 1 Kings 19, we are a people who are being given new direction, new assignments, and new encouragement, but the manner in which we’ll receive these “new” things is by the “ancient paths.” In this season, God is showing to us a bit of His mysterious nature; He is historic and prophetic, He is ancient and future – all at once.)

Ron and Judy are very normal and yet very different in a refreshing way. Before me sat a couple, at least a few years older than me, completely without pretention and as tender toward the Lord as any folks I’ve ever met. We talked of marriage, family, and of ministry with its joys and sorrows. I was left with two impressions that really touched my heart.

First, this couple is passionate about helping others to find themselves in ministry. They serve as church planting coaches and have an undeniable zeal to see others “shepherd the flock of God.” Their passion for raising up new pastors was exciting. Rather than embracing a “one size fits all” mentality for churning out new pastors, their perspectives were much more organic. Their philosophy (and apparently the emerging paradigm for church planting within our movement, praise the Lord!) was one of helping new leaders “find their own way” using their gifts, strengths, and perspectives while being guided and coached by others who are more interested in having the new pastor be “comfortable with how God crafted him/her” than with creating a clone of a successful minister / pastor. It was thrilling to be with others who are committed to helping believers be who God has designed them to be.

Second, Ron and Judy are folks who walk an “ancient path” that I myself hope to never leave. In the midst of our conversations, several times they would tear up talking about the great love of God for the lost, the wonder of His grace, or the heart of Christ for their community. I cannot express fully how refreshed I was by this.

Many times, good, well-meaning people press their agendas and ideas on their pastors and other spiritual leaders. They don’t necessarily mean to try and overtly steer the church toward their priorities, but the comments, e-mails, and attendance patterns, in effect, do just that. While I’ve gained victory in my own journey in Christ that has largely freed me from the need to “jump through the hoops people set up for me,” the sting of disapproval and judgment will most likely always linger.

Listening to Ron and Judy buoyed my heart. After decades of ministry, it was the love, acceptance, and forgiveness of God that continues to matter most. It’s not the conferences, the TV preachers, the latest trends, or the new guy in the area promising the “fire of God will fall each week” at his church that last. Grace lasts. Mercy is unending. Relationships are vital. Love conquers all.

At one point in our time together, Ron said, in a very sage-like way: “What are the unchangeable elements? ‘Go and make disciples of all nations…’ (Mt.28:19-20), ‘The harvest is plentiful, the laborers are few…’ (Lk.10:2), “Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself…” (Mt. 22:37-39).” I agree. These are permanent. This is what will not, cannot, and must not change. From these we must not deviate.

Needless to say, my time with my new friends left me feeling more in love with Jesus and more in love with the assignment He’s given for my life. That made me think: Do others feel more connected to God after being around me? Do they have a greater sense of His grace working in their lives by their conversation with me? I hope so. I want them to. It makes me think of the words of the council in Acts 4 about Peter and John: “They recognized that they had been with Jesus.” (v.13). May that be the testimony of those who contact any of us who name the Name.

Friends, embrace the new things the Spirit is leading you into. Be passionate and enthusiastic as you run the new race before you, but remember, the course follows ancient paths that will not change. Take encouragement with me from some veterans of the faith who’s hearts remain pliable and sweet. Hold close the unchangeable and find life!

May “the grace of the Lord Jesus and the love of God and the fellowship of the Spirit be with you all.” (2 Cor. 13:14 ESV)

-Tim