Why Forgiveness is Tough At Times...

I read these words from one of my favorite authors, Henri Nouwen, as I was preparing for the message tomorrow. It comes from "Forgiving in The Name of God".

We are all wounded people. Who wounds us? Often those whom we love and those who love us. When we feel rejected, abandoned, abused, manipulated, or violated, it is mostly by people very close to us: our parents, our friends, our spouses, our lovers, our children, our neighbors, our teachers, our pastors. Those who love us wound us too. That's the tragedy of our lives. This is what makes forgiveness from the heart so difficult. It is precisely our hearts that are wounded. We cry out, "You, who I expected to be there for me, you have abandoned me. How can I ever forgive you for that?"

Forgiveness often seems impossible, but nothing is impossible for God. The God who lives within us will give us the grace to go beyond our wounded selves and say, "In the Name of God you are forgiven." Let's pray for that grace.

Really got me thinking...what about you?

Interested in $1000?

Hey! My church is looking for a new position and we could use your help! It could even pay off BIG TIME for you. Check this out:

Dear Worship Pastor,
If “The Six Degrees of Separation from Kevin Bacon-Deal” is true, odds are that you know or know someone who knows our next “Pastor of Worship Expression” at BridgeWay. Of course we’ve listed it on churchstaffing.com, but the best source of great candidates for any staff position is referrals like you. You’re busy and probably WON’T forward this e-mail, but we thought you MIGHT if we paid you $1,000.

Here’s how “$1,000 and Six Degrees of Separation from Kevin Bacon-Deal” works. Forward this e-mail to potential candidates you know asking two questions: 1) Are you a great candidate for this position? 2) Do you know other great candidates for this position? When we make the hire, we will follow the e-mail thread back and PAY EACH person God has used in the referral process $1,000—up to six degrees of separation.

Our top priority is not finding a worship leader (a.k.a. guitar guy) on Sundays, but rather finding a leader of worship who can champion its expression throughout our church 365 days a year. So take a moment to take a look at the attached position profile, then forward it to all the great candidates you know. Trust me, finding right person for is worth MORE than money to us, because at BridgeWay worship MATTERS.

Here's the link to the job profile and how they can turn in their resume:
http://www.bridgewaycc.com/resources/job-opportunities/
Remember, if your lead helps us hire our next Pastor of Worship Expression, we'll pay you $1000!

Melody's Peanut Butter Cookies

My wife's peanut butter cookies remind me of how blessed I am to walk through life with this wondeful woman. We've been on this journey together for almost 20 years now and each day it seems like I discover something else to count as a blessing. We think alike, we enjoy the same things, yet we are different enough to continue to be intrigued by one another. It's amazing how God knew (from eternity past) that she was the perfect girl for me. Everything she does is magic...everything she does just turns me on. Even though my life before was tragic...now it seems like life has just begun!

Why God?

Check out my latest thoughts on what's going on with my sister Dawn at: http://www.bridgewaycc.com/dave-ambrose/why-god/

Humility Embodied

I've had the privilege of spending the week sitting under the spiritual teachings of Father Richard Rohr. It has been so refreshing to interact with a man who is at home with himself, with nothing to prove. He is so humble and teachable and grateful. He doesn't pretend to have life all figured out. He certainly doesn't have all of the answers. He's simply one of the most effective teachers I've ever had the privilege of sitting under. He's a man moving toward full integration with the Non-Dual mind. I only wish more religious leaders were like him...including myself. Lord, give me this kind of humility...so I can humbly serve those you bring across my path.

Rohr Rocks My World

I started my doctoral work toward achieving my D.Min at Fuller Seminary and I'm currently out here in Pasadena taking a class called Action and Contemplation with Father Richard Rohr. Wow...it's mind-blowing! I can't believe all of the new horizons that he has opened up to me using the Scriptures. I can't believe how limited my own dualistic mind can be at times with all of its pre-conceived notions and ideas. It's great to hear another viewpoint. It's wonderful to sit in class with Christ-followers from so many different traditions. It stretches me to think. I love to do that! I love to learn! It reminds me of how important it is to remain humble and teachable because there's always so much more to learn. If this first class is any indication of what the pursuit of this degree is going to be like, I'm super-excited! Now I pray that God gives me the faith (and the finances) to keep going!

Its Been Awhile...

Wow...it's been awhile hasn't it? I guess I got tired of writing online and went back to my pen and journal...I've always been a little Old School. Anyway, I took this week off for vacation and spent time with the fam, in the Word...its been great! Today I'm going to watch my son play in a Marching Band competition. I got online this morning to try and find a church to visit tomorrow morning since I've got the week off and I want to see what some other people are doing out there. Wow, it was enlightening to jump online and see all the different churches in our area and how each one of them have slick websites and great presentations. It struck me how there are so many people in our area trying to reach Pre-Christian people with the Good News of the Kingdom of God. I'm just a small part of that effort. But it also struck me how important it is to simply be yourself...to be real. I can't reach everyone in this community. A lot of them don't even want to be reached, but I know Jesus has a plan for this community and I know that I'm here right now doing what He's asked me to do, so I will continue to take one step forward and allow Him to use me. I can't change the world by myself, I have a hard enough time just changing me. But I believe in a God who is powerful enough to change the world and I trust Him to work in my life today. I trust Him to use me to bring His Good News to everyone I cross paths with. And I can't wait to see what He has in mind. Now with all that said, I don't really have a desire to change the whole world. I just have a desire to be faithful and follow Him. So that's what I'm going to try and do today. I'm going to be faithful, and I'm going to follow. When Jesus was here, He didn't even save everyone...just the ones the Father gave to Him. So Father, give me your eyes to see today...