Thoughts On Gospel Truth
The Gospel is bad news before it is good news.
It is the news that man is a sinner, to use the old word, that he is evil in the imagination of his heart, that when he looks in the mirror all in a lather what he sees is at least eight parts chicken, phony, slob.
That is the tragedy.
But it is also the news that he is loved anyway, cherished, forgiven, bleeding to be sure, but also bled for.
That is the comedy.
And yet, so what? So what if even in his sin the slob is loved and forgiven when the very mark and 
substance of his sin and of his slobbery is that he keeps turning down the love and forgiveness because he either doesn’t believe them or doesn’t want them or just doesn’t give a damn?
In answer, the news of the Gospel is that extraordinary things happen to him just as in fairy tales extraordinary things happen.
Henry Ward Beecher cheats on his wife, his God, himself, but manages to keep on bringing the Gospel to life for people anyway, maybe even for himself. Lear goes berserk on a heath but comes out of it for a few brief hours every inch a king.
Zaccheus climbs up a sycamore tree a crook and climbs down a saint.
Paul sets out a hatchet man for the Pharisees and comes back a fool for Christ.
It is impossible for anybody to leave behind the darkness of the world he carries on his back like a snail, but for God all things are possible.
That is the fairy tale.
All together they are the truth.
(taken from Frederick Beuchner’s Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy and Fairy Tale…find it for FREE here)
As everything slowed down we were forced to relax—and have fun! We went to Sevier Park (12 Ave S) to go sledding. Of course we walked there—the four-wheel drive went out on my Suburban on Friday. Bummer! I had no idea what I would find when we crested the hill there at the park.
They used cardboard, large woks, poster frames, kid pools, wakeboards, surfboards, actual sleds (imagine that!), and even casket lids—that was very strange but highly effective and creative! They were all so very happy. No one was without a smile. Why?—the absence of work related stress and the presence of sheer, childlike pleasure. The people of Nashville had fun together, in community.
storage and trailer! A big THANK YOU is in order for those faithful friends who have sacrificed their trunks, back seats and rear view mirrors!
Two weeks ago as we were setting up for our gathering, I noticed a man sitting on the park picnic tables. Let me be very honest here and say that we are very white so far at The Axis (this is humbling to confess). We pray each week during our core training for other races to be drawn to The Axis and that they partner with us. In our urban context, we must have other races…MUST. This man was from west Africa. He has his undergrad degree and seemed to be very genuine. He wasn’t interested in showing up that night.
under the circumstances and my manly example of a bear, I consider it OK). I said, “What happened bro? I heard something about you.” He said, “I am owned by Jesus.” I said, “Yes you are my friend.” He said, “I want to be apart of your family here.” I said, “Gilbert, you are already apart of our family. We are going to eat together, drink together, watch UFC together, sing together—all sorts of things that families do, we will do together.” Tonight Jacob is picking him up and taking him to supper then on to our men’s Bible study at 8pm.