Emergence

So today at our second service, a young girl grabbed an older woman’s purse ran out of the building hopped into a car and drove away… welcome to church.  This blog is simply an invitation to the young girl who stole the purse, to ask if she would be willing to sit down and talk, I will not call the cops… and I will match the stolen money.  I realize that is a long shot, but this is what I would like to share with you.

I am a sinner just like you, I can be insensitive, low on mercy, selfish, arrogant and all sorts of other things.  You are a thief, and maybe more… but I do know at the cross the ground is level.  I also know two accounts in the bible about the sin of thieves.

The first account is found in Acts 5, it tells of a husband and wife named Ananias and Sapphira, they steal money from the church and the bad news is God kills them.  He actually strikes them dead, as they withhold the money from God.  Personally, I doubt that will happen to you.  I actually pray it does not.

The second account, is found in the book of Luke in chapter 23.  In this account Jesus is being crucified for the sins of the world, hanging on a cross.  Next to him our two thieves, here is what Luke’s gospel says:

Luke 23:39-43 (NIV)  
    One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
    [40] But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? [41] We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
    [42] Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
    [43] Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

The incredible thing about this thief is that he repented of his sin, and Jesus forgave him.  Jesus promised him today when He and the thief died that Jesus would forgiven him of his sin.  Jesus promised that repentant thief, because of his repentance and no other deed that  he would be allowed in paradise with Jesus forever.  I hope this is the account that comes true in your life… and I would love to talk about it.

I don’t know where you are at… or if you even care… but if you want to come in, and hear about a God who loves and died for thieves and sinners…… come and see.