Grace Has No Regrets!

Former NFL NY Giants star receiver Plaxico Burress walked out of a prison today after serving 20 months on gun charges. According to the NY Daily News, Burress stopped briefly to talk to the media outside of the Oneida Correctional Facility:

"It's a beautiful day," Burress said as he left the medium-security Oneida Correctional Facility in upstate Rome. "It's a beautiful day to be reunited with my family. I want to go home and spend some quality time with them."

Wearing shades, Burress thanked God and "all my fans all around the world for the thousands of letters, for their unwavering support."

Asked about a possible return to pro football, Burress answered, "If and when everything gets settled, when they get back on the field, I'll be ready."

To be fair Plaxico did not use a gun in the commission of a felony toward someone else. However, he still unlawfully possessed a handgun in a NYC night club when it discharged in his pants. At best it was poor judgment that potentially endangered others, and at worse it was a total disregard for the law. New York's handgun laws are very stringent and you would have to be living on another planet to know otherwise. His actions give lawful, responsible and trained handgun owners a really bad image. The only thing he needs to carry in the future is an Ipod.

This wasn't Plaxico's first brush with the legal system. He has faced several civil lawsuits since he was drafted, and twice had temporary restraining orders filed against him in connection with domestic violence, but both were dismissed by the courts. However, like Michael Vick the former star player has served his time.

My friend Craig Loscalzo is known for saying, "You never regret extending grace." If you are a Christ-follower think about the implications of that statement in the context of Jesus' counsel to forgive and pray for our enemies, as well as Paul's reminder that we are to be reconciler's because we have been reconciled unto God by Jesus Christ. Reconciled people should be models of reconciliation toward others, even those we don't like, or those who have hurt us!

With that in mind I say welcome back to free society Plaxico! You have served your time and earned your release. I hope you have learned the lessons of gratitude, humility, responsibility, and serving others while in prison. Prove the naysayer's and cynics wrong by modeling a life of integrity, character and responsibility. Give back to the game and its fans who made you wealthy. Resist the temptation to talk about yourself in the 3rd person as so many celebrities and athletes are prone to do these days. Don't start tweeting and avoid YouTube posts. Ask Ben Roethlisberger about those. You've been away from cameras and microphones for nearly two years, I would advise that you continue to avoid them until you can talk about others, or your team more than yourself. I would also suggest you let your work in the training room and on the field (whenever the lockout ends) speak for you while saving most of your conversation for your loved ones and family.

Welcome back Plaxico! I wish you and your family well. It's not going to be easy, but you can do it! As someone with deep flaws I can attest to the power of forgiveness and humility. As a beneficiary of grace, I have learned the importance of extending it toward others. May you find grace too!

A Much Needed Prayer

As a minister's child and pastor I believe I have a deep and unique appreciation for the prayers on behalf of our spiritual leaders. As a child I was a beneficiary of those who prayed for my pastor father. As an adult layman, I knew the difference our prayers made in the life of our pastor, David and his wife, Amy many, many years ago. Now 20+ years later I can testify to the immeasurable strength, hope, healing, humility and support the prayers of the faithful bring upon those who lead. Prayer is probably the most under utilized and underestimated action those in the faith community can practice on behalf of their spiritual leaders. Prayer is the foundational support for those in ministry whether pastoral staff, elders, deacons, small group, or other leaders in the local church.

Dr. Richard Foster offers the following prayer for spiritual leaders. Let me encourage you to pray this over your pastor, small group leader, or a deacon in your church. They will be absolutely blown away, I promise!

I pray, dear God, for our spiritual leaders.

• Increase in them the charism (spiritual grace) of faith that they might preach the Word of God with boldness.
• Increase in them the charism of wisdom that they might always lead us with compassion and strength.

I intercede, O Lord for our spiritual leaders.

• Grow in them the fruit of gentleness that they might understand our frailty.
• Grow in them the fruit of peace that they might be free of manipulation.
• Grow in them the fruit of love that they might always serve out of a divine well spring.

I plead, gracious Father, for our spiritual leaders.

• Protect them from the attacks of the evil One.
• Protect them from the distractions that render their work ineffective.
• Protect them from the criticism of well-meaning people.

All these thanks I ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Memorial Day

Remember the fallen and the families of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our freedoms!

Perspective

Recent tornadoes and flooding in the South and Midwest remind us that life is indeed fragile, precious and fleeting. Nature has violently interrupted the "normal routine" of thousands and taken the lives of hundreds of others. It's much more than an inconvenience when you lose your home, possessions and town or neighborhood.

Those of us unscathed by these recent disasters simply because of geography need to take stock in our lives. The least we can do is make a financial donation to a relief agency and pray for our sisters and brothers who've been victimized by these natural disasters. The pictures from these locations should be a sobering reminder of the things we often take for granted. Things like:

• A place to live and hold all our "stuff"
• Loved ones whose quirks can drive us crazy
  
• Shingled roof
• Clean and safe water to drink
• Yards, houses and streets without standing, or raging water
• Sitting in traffic in our cars instead of salvaging stuff from debris filled yards and streets
  
• Having a job and a place to work, even one we may not like
  
• Being able to enter our neighborhood that IS NOT blocked off by authorities
• Going to a restaurant of our choice
• Doing laundry in a washing machine that isn't 4 blocks away, or under water
• Going through life and our "normal" routine that is rarely appreciated but often lamented
• Mowing the yard, or tending to flowers and plants that haven't been destroyed
  
• Washing a car
• Reading in your favorite chair
  
• Laughing with a friend, or family member

Too many of us whine, complain, criticize, and lament about life, people, things and situations that victims of disaster would welcome with open arms. When your life is violently disrupted you are grateful for a job you previously hated, a house that needed to be cleaned, or a neighbor's crazy lawn art you disliked. Crisis, tragedy, and trouble tend to frame perspective in ways we previously overlooked, missed, or took for granted.

May God grant us patience and gratitude for the lives we live. And may He fill us with compassion and mercy for those who are hurting, wounded and simply trying to pick up the pieces of their lives. Remind me Lord, every day, even the bad ones is a gift from you!

Words Are Powerful

Have you ever noticed how hard it is for certain words, or phrases to come to us? Think about it. When’s the last time you said to someone:

•I’m sorry
•I was wrong
•It’s my fault
•What can I do to make this right?
•You go first
•I dropped the ball

While these words have grow faint in our culture others seem to be growing:

•I want….
•I won’t bend until she does
•I deserve…..
•He had better apologize
•She is a……
•I hear he has………
•They hurt me…..

Pronouns can help, heal, or hurt:

• I love you
• We hate her
• They are a blessing
• He’s a jerk
• You are amazing
• She is a class act

Words can bless and words can tear down. People with a critical spirit are fluent in poison-tipped words. Humble people use words laced with the love of God. Some words come too easy and others are held hostage by pride and insecurity. I am responsible for my words, but many times my words are irresponsible and lacking in grace. Christ-followers should use words that build up, encourage, support, help and demonstrate humility and grace.

I find it interesting that Jesus’ words in the gospels, even the tough ones bring glory to God and were never self-serving. According to Jesus we had better think twice about the words we use: I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak (Matt. 12:36 ESV).

May God help us with every word we speak, or fail to say!

A Helping Hand

It was late and the waitress had just let out the last customers. I was cleaning up the kitchen and just itching to finish so I could head across the street to see the young blonde waitress who made my heart skip. She still does.

It happened so fast, like those stories you hear from people who survive an earthquake, or a plane crash. Before I knew it, there was a very tall and imposing man pointing a pistol at the waitresses face as she was starting to count out the cash drawer. If you’ve never been confronted at gunpoint it’s hard to explain how you feel. Violated is a good word and a good start.

She started shaking uncontrollably and he was just as nervous. The gun started wobbling as his hand shook. I was only 19, and had been around guns, but nothing like this. Back then there weren’t video games, or television shows with powerful graphics or violent images to anesthetize you to crime like today. Carol Burnette was still making us laugh on the weekends and Jim Rockford was about as violent as it got. So you can imagine what it felt like to have a big, black pistol shoved in your face.

I moved forward to move the frozen waitress, who by this point had lost control of some of her bodily functions and was now standing in a puddle. I wasn’t thinking about the consequences of moving. I just knew that she needed to be moved out of the way if he was going to get what he wanted. As I moved forward, he pointed the gun at me. I explained that I had to move her out of the way to open the cash drawer. Standing on the floor safe I opened the cash drawer as he jumped over the cash register and began to grab one’s, five’s, ten’s and twenty’s. He flew out the door as quickly as he entered.

It wasn’t until a Sheriff’s deputy arrived that we felt safe. I remember seeing his uniform and badge as he came through the door. Victims of natural disasters must feel that way when they see Red Cross volunteers, trucks and helicopters. Your world has been violently interrupted and you need something to restore your faith in humanity. It’s hard to explain if you have never experienced something like it, but a helping hand in crisis is like water in the desert.

We would learn later that four other Pizza Hut's in our city had been hit the same night. We weren’t alone. Crews at other restaurants had experienced the same kind of violation we had. Thankfully, no one decided to play hero and all the employees were safe.

Every day people around the world have their life interrupted by events beyond their control. The people of Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia have had their interrupted by storms. People along the Mississippi River in Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky are battling rising flood waters. And people in Libya and Syria are facing the gunfire of their own military! It may not be that dramatic, but still a car wreck, house fire, cancer, divorce, the death of a loved one, or a job loss can leave us searching for answers and in need of a helping hand.

Hurting, scared, broken, wounded, victimized people everywhere are looking for relief, hope, help and peace. Could it be that each of us has the ability to be the "Sheriff deputy" in the life of someone who is hurting, like the one that entered our restaurant on that scary night? Is there someone your presence can provide calm, confidence, help and hope? Can you be a helping hand? Jesus gives us a role model in Luke 10:

³³ But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ ³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” ³⁷ The expert in the
law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Blog Break!

Taking a break from blogging for the first week of May. Check back the week of the 9th!