Listening today while prepping for May 3 communion. --- Bridgetown Daily — *Becoming God's Friend*. Strahan Coleman told a story about being seven years old, a stealing club, his dad making him go back and confess, then sending him to his room to pray for forgiveness. He said that moment started a way of praying and understanding God that was primarily *transactional* — "the primary purpose of the cross was forgiveness." He pivots on Colossians 1:19-20. Forgiveness vs. reconciliation. > Forgiveness is the action or process of being forgiven. It's making a wrong right through grace. > > Reconciliation is the restoration of friendly relations. > > Forgiveness says it's fine. I forgive you. Let's let it be. Reconciliation says it's fine. I forgive you. Let's get back to where we began. Let's get back to the embrace. > Communion is our whole self coming into the presence of God's whole self, being seen and known with each other. Dagger to the heart. I said in yesterday's memo that I forgive Evan. This was very convicting. I even feel like I shouldn't be giving communion with this in my heart. Sitting with: is this "I'm unworthy, I shouldn't serve" shame — or "I shouldn't serve until I've reached out" obedience? The second one has a move I can actually make. Matthew 5:23-24. Jesus doesn't say *don't come.* He says *go first, then come.* Ten days until May 3. That's enough time for a call, a coffee, a text. --- Tim Mackie — *Forgiveness, Matthew Part 26* and *The Lord's Prayer, Matthew Part 10*. The nuance I needed: the text doesn't say "struggles to forgive" or "takes time to forgive." It says *refuses.* A refusal to forgive is a sign that someone has not internalized the mercy that has been shown to us. That's different from the slow, painful, human work of forgiveness actually moving through the body. Forgiveness is a one-way street. Reconciliation is two-way. Both matter. The first doesn't wait for the other. --- Preacher audio on Blessed Are the Merciful. Want to hold the whole thing in my chest this week: > Are you merciful? Why? > Because Jesus healed the sick, > because Jesus fed the multitudes, > because Jesus gave legs to the crippled, > because Jesus granted sight to the blind, > because Jesus opened the ears of the deaf, > because Jesus found prostitutes and tax collectors and drew them into the sphere of His love. > Because Jesus touched the untouchable, > and loved the unlovable, > and forgave the unforgivable, > and welcomed the undesirable. > Because Jesus even now saves the otherwise unsavable, why!? > Because they deserve it!? > When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, > He saved us NOT because of works done in righteousness, > NOT because we met Him halfway, > NOT because we took the proper steps forward, > and in good faith have elevated ourselves to the place of the deserving poor, > but according to His MERCY! > We are here because Jesus Christ didn't say with cold indifference, > "Give them what they deserve, they brought it on themselves!" > Jesus Christ IS the Mercy of God! > And seeing us in our misery and need, > He doesn't just feel for us, > He takes the necessary action to relieve our distress. > He leaves the eternal glory of heaven and the perfect fellowship of the Trinity. > He condescends to us, > lives among us, > suffers like us, > dies for us! > Do you understand this!? > Have YOU experienced this!? > How then is it possible to EXPERIENCE it and not DISPLAY it!? > IT ISN'T POSSIBLE!!! > YOU HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED IT IF YOU DON'T DISPLAY IT!! > The evidence of God's mercy in your life isn't determined by how much theology you know, > by how many books you read, > but by your active goodness to people in misery and in need! > Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. "How then is it possible to experience it and not display it." That's the thread running through everything today. McKnight: *eat with me and I will make you clean* — transformation at the table, not admission by it. Strahan: communion as friendship, not transaction. Tim: refusal is the tell. The eulogy preacher: received mercy *is* displayed mercy, or it wasn't received. What I'm carrying toward May 3: - Reach out to Evan before Sunday. Not to resolve — to reach. - Don't let the congregation hear repentance without hearing joy. Luke 15. - The table is where holiness welcomes. Don't split "holy" and "loving." They are one motion. - The veil was torn. Access was granted. But we cannot live in that place without the Spirit.