Watched Ted Haggard's appearances on Oprah and Larry King last week, and he said something that really resonated with me. He talked about seeking God all his life... falling into sin... and then having to be sought by God. It changed the nature of his faith. He experienced grace.
I didn't fall into sin... but when I left the pastorate one year ago, I worried about how it would change my relationship with God. I wondered if I would be "out on my own." I've been surprised. I can now relate to the experience of being sought by God. I have been surprised by the kind of grace and provision that, quite honestly, I didn't think existed.
Saw the Larry King interview. I thought it was great. I'm excited for Ted. I realize he hurt lots and lots of people in very serious ways. But he's owning up to that and asking for forgiveness and trying to make restitution where possible and appropriate, which is all he can do. I'm excited to see that He's seeing the simplicity of just being a follower of Jesus that is messed up but growing closer to Him and becoming more like Him. I think God did a lot through him in spite of his sin the past 20 years or so, but I think if he can keep this attitude, he will be used by God that much more going forward in his complete brokeness before God and others.
Posted by: Drew Clyde | February 03, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Our church has a great CR (Celebrate Recovery) service on Saturday nights. Sometimes I like to go just to hang out with people, in numbers, who have experienced a true tension of being lost, then found... found because He showed up in their lives.
It's a great tangible reminder to me of God's amazing ability to do anything with anyone regardless of who they were or where they are (me included).
Posted by: Daniel Decker | February 03, 2009 at 11:34 PM