Woke up this morning and checked my friends' Tweets... It led me to this and I'm glad it did.  I check Deadly Viper often and have read this before but I'm glad it was the first thing I read this morning.

This is me... and I'm thankful.

The People of the Second Chance is a community of individuals who advocate radical grace and second chances. We champion lost causes and think that a second chance is a human right.

1. People of the Second Chance are individuals who are fast to forgive. In a culture that believes in revenge and payback, we rebel with grace.

2. People of the Second Chance receive second chances in their own life. When we have experienced personal, professional, or relational failure, we refuse to be defined by our mistakes. We learn, we grow, and we have the courage to move on.

3. People of the Second Chance serve in places where people need second chances. We advocate for the vulnerable and fight for equality for the poor, the prisoner, and the voiceless.

These three values can be simply summed up by:
Give, Receive & Be the Second Chance.

Reblog from the Levite Chronicles ... 

I picked up a book that was close at hand this morning. The author, John Ortberg, wrote about talking with a friend, looking for spiritual direction. After describing telling the friend what was happening in his life, John writes,

What did I need to do, I asked him, to be spiritually healthy?

Long pause.

“You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life,” he said at last.

As I was thinking about that response, I laid the book down and began to laugh at the cover of the book. According to the sticker, I could get the life I’ve always wanted for 30% off.

I wish that was true. I would rather not have to think about 100% effort, 100% attention, 100% devotion. I would love to have the life I’ve always wanted at a discount. But I think it doesn’t happen that way.

The challenge for me, for today, is that I have had three separate prompts this morning about slowing down. And just like getting things done takes 110% effort, the process of slowing down takes 100% effort. It takes ruthless elimination. And that’s hard on a day that I have to spend out of the office, with a meeting in the evening, and a project for Hope. And I know that I should give you an amazon link to the book, which would come by adding it to my store.

But you can find it yourself if you want.

Because I need to eliminate something today.

Happy Monday

Comment there.

In reading God on Mute, I feel as though I'm reading myself... 

There is faith for life, and then there is a darker faith for death.  There is faith for miracles, but also for pain.  There is faith for God's will when it's our will too, but there is also the grace to trust God when His will is not what we would choose.  I don't pretend it is any easier for us than it was for Christ to exercise this darker trust.  It may be one of the most painful prayers of our life... but it may also be one of the most powerful.

I'm ashamed to admit that, in my Gethsemane, I failed to relenquish control.  It's something I've subsequently had to pray about, and I can only tell you that I've sensed the Father's love and grace.  I guess Jesus, more than anyone else in heaven and on Earth, understands how hard it is for a human being to surrender to the Father's will.  I do not feel condemend by my own petulance, but I do feel humbled, provoked and inspired by those friends of God who manage to choose His will instead of their own--even when every part of their heart and soul is screaming no!

Thoughts?

Maybe your problems are less obviously painful... [maybe] some of your prayers simply aren't working and you want to know why.  Maybe God seems a million miles away.  Maybe you took a risk, stepped out of the boat, and sank.  Maybe miracles happen to everyone else, but never to you.  Maybe someone you love is rejecting God, no matter how hard you pray.  Maybe you need a word from heaven, but God is on mute and the remote is lost down the back of some cosmic sofa. - God On Mute