Coach’s Corner

Yesterday morning, I had an encounter that really rocked me.  And I think it’s a hint from God about the ministry that is ahead of our church.

We have two cars, and Zach takes Lesley’s car to work every morning at 5:30.  So that leaves us with one vehicle for most of the day.  Mine is a stick-shift that Lesley is not comfortable driving, so that means during the summer months, I have to be a bit of an errand boy to get Lesley to where she needs to be.  Yesterday morning we went to Cub Foods because we were almost completely out of groceries.  We NEVER shop at Cub, but we were given a gift card  to Cub, so we went there.  (hint… I think God ordained what I am about to tell you through the actions of several other people)

After we finished, we took our groceries out to the car and I was putting the buggy (southern for shopping cart) in its place out in the parking lot when a man asked me to give him $10 for food.  Many of you know that my mercy gift is missing (it’s a 2 on a scale of 15), so normally I would blow this off.  But for some reason God urged me to pay attention.  As I listened, I offered to go with him inside, allow him to get what he wanted, and I would pay at the register.  Finally, he got honest and said that he was hurting and needed a drink badly.  He was visibly shaky.  Lesley came over from the car and began to express genuine love, care and compassion to this man.  His name was Todd… and he was lost and in need of Jesus.

All during this encounter, I (mr. no mercy) couldn’t get the parable of the Good Samaritan out of my head.  In Luke 10:25-37 Jesus told the story of a badly beaten man that was ignored by the “religious” guys and was ultimately helped by someone who would normally be considered an enemy.  I kept thinking is Jesus calling me to get on with my work, (you know — all the stuff that has to get done on your schedule) or do I become a Samaritan to this guy.  He needs Jesus, but he needed physical help too.  I called Marvin (our favorite policeman) to ask some advice.  As I talked to Marvin, I discovered that this man has 2 warrants out for his arrest including an “armed and dangerous” notation.  But there was something that God was speaking to me about second chances that I just couldn’t get past.  After about 30 minutes in the parking lot (with food thawing out in the back of the Saturn) he finally agreed to allow us to take him to St Francis hospital.  As I put this man in the back seat of my car, I knew that I was taking a risk.  But I prayed for God’s protection over Lesley and me, and off we went.

St Francis did accept him in and he will probably be there for a couple of days.  I provided my phone number and asked him to call me later.  As the nurse came out of the room where they took him, she walked up to me, put her arm around me, and with tears in her eyes, said…”Thank you for being Jesus today!”

THAT ROCKED ME TO THE CORE!

Lesley had remained in the car, and as I walked out of the ER, I had to pause to gather myself.  I cannot express what that did for me.  There is no higher complement that can ever be paid someone than that we resemble Jesus in some way.   I didn’t feel worthy of that comment…. but boy did it humble me and lift me at the same time.

I want more of that!  I want people to see Jesus not only in the words I speak, but in the actions I take.  I want our church to be that church.  I want our people to be those people.  I want all of you to experience the sheer joy of someone saying that you remind them of Jesus.

I think God is telling me that a church about Second Chances isn’t always going to be clean and pretty.  It’s going to be messy.  But that’s exactly the sort of ministry Jesus was all about.  It’s where he hung out.  It’s the people he reached out too.  I’ve still got a long way to go to really be like Jesus, but I know I want more of it.  And I believe God is about to bring it.

It’s time to open our eyes and put our work boots on!