$#!%

Sunday at church I had a very interesting conversation with a gentleman. This is an individual that I've never counseled personally; just handshakes, and small chat here and there as he has been attending church regularly. He approached me before the second service began shook my hand and said, "Hey, I just want to thank you for your help in my life. You've helped me avoid a lot of illegal $#!%; thanks man."

I'm not sure how some "religious" people would respond when they hear the word, "$#!%" in the sanctuary; I know what I did - I thanked God for the opportunity to reach out to a man who obviously had/has some troubling circumstances. I thanked God for the privilege of being able to speak into his life and to begin to point him to the Source of all hope and life. 

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Matthew 9:10-13