Who Will Mend the Garment?

Sometimes I think of the world as a fabric. God created it to be a magnificent garment full of beauty and amazing detail and symmetry. This past week headlines have reminded us how quickly the fabric can be torn. I realize there are always headlines reminding us but this past week with the Colorado massacre and the Penn State penalties handed out it seems more obvious.

I will be honest. Both events have made me very sad. There is a wickedness buried deep within both that hurts my heart.

It’s interesting though. This week also happened to be the first Micah 6:8 weekend at CCC. Micah 6:8 is a call to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly. In short it is a call to mend the torn fabric of our society.

The weekend was designed to allow our people to do that with sheer abandon. The leadership of the church decided that all the offering would go toward the ministries of justice and mercy and the church would forego any operating expense for the week.

Our people leaped at the opportunity. Checks were being written with tears of gratitude at the chance to bring justice to the oppressed. One of the ministries we featured was Destiny Rescue. They rescue children out of the sex trade in Southeast Asia. The workers from Destiny Rescue came up to me after the third service and said, “We have never seen anything like this before.” They were completely overwhelmed.

This coming week I get to give the grand total for the combined giving of the Bike Challenge and the 6:8 weekend. It is phenomenal. You will not want to miss it.

So, in a week where sadness was the predominant emotion it ended with rejoicing. And so it is with the Christian rhythm of life. The cross is followed by the resurrection. As quickly as the fabric of the world is torn by sin, Christians set to work to sew it up with grace.

I don’t know if I’ve ever been more glad to be a Christian than this past week.

Susan Moore

I like that image of the world as a fabric, in that God will one day roll it up as a robe (Hebrews 1). My other favorite part is when you said the evil events of the last week made you very sad, and then later how the grace-filled justice and mercy events made you glad to be a Christian. I’ve been wondering how you do what you do and see all you see and maintain an even keel between great joy and great sorrow. For me that is the hardest part about being a Christian.
I’m also trying to learn how you velvet glove your words. When I shoot from the hip and say it like it is to the non-believers God puts in my life, they seem to get it and take a step towards Christ. When I shoot from the hip to the Christians in my life, they seem to fall over! When I sugar coat my words it feels fake and human. I still have alot to learn.
As someone who came to Christ after being molested times three as a child, the fact that Jesus brought me to this church who supports and cares for abused and exploited children leaves my heart bursting in gratitude, and my voice without words
http://www.facebook.com/paula.k.collins.7 Paula Kechisen Collins

Joe, Our 6th grade Edge Students did much this week to help with Justice and Mercy. Not only did they scrape walls, floors, paint, and build a backyard fence, they also went out within the North Hill neighborhood to hand out flower pots we painted at Door #2 with scripture attached to let the residents know what we were about, that we care, love them, and want them to know about Jesus. The kids took risks; some had doors slammed in their faces, but they still persevered.
I feel so blessed to be a part of CCC. I am overwhelmed at the hearts of the people to give with reckless abandon to help those in need whether it be by riding a bike, giving money, planting a garden, or middle school kids going to Akron to try to make a difference. In the midst of the darkness of this world there are still those who will take the risk to shine the light of Christ.