Since my 14 1/2 year old Jeep Grand Cherokee with 200,000+ miles finally gave out, I broke down (pardon the pun!) and bought a new truck today. Well, it is not exactly new—a 1999 Land Rover Discovery with 138,000 miles. I love this truck (in the "I really enjoy and can't wait to get 'er off road" kind of love). It's in decent condition (doesn't stall every 2 miles like the Jeep), and the price was so low that I could not pass it up. But it is far from perfect. It has dings in the doors, a cracked bumper, worn leather seats and a drooping ceiling cloth (now you know why is didn't cost too much!). Nevertheless, I really, really am thrilled to have this truck. The lesson for me today: it is possible to cherish something that (and someone who) is not perfect. Marriage is like that. Imperfections are everywhere. It is no great secret that I am terribly and deeply flawed (many flaws which in this life will not be fixed), but my wife still loves me. So do my kids.  What if I could love like that? Love and cherish imperfect people, not just my Land Rover. Romans 6:8 says, "God demonstrates his love for [me] in this, while [I] was yet a sinner, Jesus died for [me]." What is amazing is that he loved me in my imperfect, sinful condition—then gave Jesus to cover my sin, count me as righteous, and reconcile me to himself that I might experience the fullness of his love and affection. God cherishes me? He is thrilled to have me as his own?  Knowing that, and being convinced of that, is the power of grace. It is the kind of grace that affects my heart profoundly, and begins to change me deeply.  

Here is today's message for those in the nursery, those in the children's room, or those providentially hindered from attending. This is the final message is our three-part series preparing us for Creekstone's "Grand Opening" morning service next Sunday, Aug. 22nd. The message may also be downloaded from the Creekstone website's media page media page or the Creekstone page on iTunes.  

Click here to download:

Ambassadors of Grace • 2 Cor. 5_14-21.mp3 (12793 KB)

I've been preaching and teaching for so long that you'd think I'd have it down by now. 'Fraid not. Even tonight, after the message, I went home thinking, "Man, you made a powerful, simple truth way too complicated. You preached far too long. Just make it simple next time, okay?" Okay, I'll try. But no promises. Because preaching is like sanctification. A couple steps forward, then one or two (and sometimes many more) backward. But we learn from those backward steps, don't we? They profit us in some providentially kind, though ironic, way. The fact is that, just like my preaching effectiveness and skill seem to go backwards at times, I will never "have it down" with regard to following Jesus. I will never be the master. Always the disciple. Always learning. And I pray that I will learn from every backstep is just how dependent upon God's grace I was, am and forever will be. Now that is a lesson worth learning... even if it is learned the hard way.

Still want to listen? The message is here.  

Why go to church? Not a bad question, actually. To make the answer reasonably short, we could say that there are two possible options: we go to give or to get. The law says go to church that you may give to God. But the gospel says that we go to church so that we may get from God. The later approach emphasizes God as giver and sinner as recipient. Thus, from a gospel perspective, worship becomes a "means of grace," whereby through the songs, prayers, sacraments and teaching, I am strengthened by the promises of God in the gospel (2 Tim. 2:1). When the law calls me to worship, I feel guilty and burdened. When the gospel calls me to worship, I feel hungry, hopeful and glad. Law demanding worship ("I should go") is like required attendance at a civic club meeting. But gospel inviting worship ("I get to go") is like the banquet following the wedding of a King.

Now, part of the problem is that we who lead churches are not very skilled at preparing banquets of grace (and that in itself reveals a need for heart/grace revival among church leadership- myself being first in line). And so will you pray that those who lead Creekstone will become master chefs, who prepare a feast for the people, so that God will be overflowingly glorified by our gospel-imbibed joy (which is the response to grace that entails the giving on our part).

I want to remember today that I can't change or fix anyone. And neither can anyone change or fix me. That is the role of the Holy Spirit alone. But I can pray. I can ask. In my weakness, I can go to the Father, my strong Abba. He is able to do "immeasurably more than all I can ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20). When I look at myself, I realize that change in my life most definitely will require supernatural intervention. Yet, I need to remember that my desire for change is not that I will be accepted and forgiven if I change, but that because in Jesus I have already been accepted and forgiven before any change ever takes place. "So, in light of the gospel, change me, Father. By the power of your Spirit indwelling me, enable me see my sin for what it is. Enable me to savor your grace. And enable me to love well."

Click here to download:

Grace Flows Downhill • Luke 18_9-14.mp3 (12594 KB)

This is last night's message at Creekstone's Sunday night gathering. Thanks to everyone who helped set up, and to our worship team– wow. Also, please remember to pray for Kira as she awaits her biopsy results following last week's surgery. I love our community, and am grateful to be part of your lives.
- McKay