Willy came recently to a men’s Bible study that I was attending and he left early, angry and distraught. I soon followed to find out what was wrong. Willy, a bit intoxicated, started to share how he just couldn’t take it in there anymore --- this Jesus-talk from white men, “another thing you are trying to push on us Native Americans.” It’s not that the Bible study was being led disrespectfully; the leader is a gentle, soft-spoken 70 year old white man. The problem was, this talk of Jesus’ love and sacrifice, and encouragement to get to know Him is often done by white man-church that had persecuted Native Americans and severely disrespected their beautiful culture, certainly in the 19^th century, if not up through today.                    
    Willy and I talked about this. Though my ancestors are white, but immigrants within the last 60 years from Europe, I apologized to Willy on behalf of white man-Americans who severely abused his people then, and who continue to discriminate. As a pastor, I apologized on behalf of the Church. I don’t know if Willy and other embittered Native Americans will ever be able to fully forgive God’s church for the abuse, and for the disrespect, but I told Willy that I hope he can be reconciled to God, to His Creator, who is, no matter who says it, all about grace, but also about justice. (It’s spoken about often in God’s Word, the Bible, including in Psalms 9:16-18, 11:7, 36:6.) I pray that Willy can distinguish between the God of the universe who doesn’t fail, and His Church of human beings who do fail. A good point is made by Pastor Rick Warren --- “Every church could put out a sign, ‘No perfect people need apply. This is a place only for those who admit they are sinners, need grace, and want to grow.’”
    Sincere believers --- those who have personally received the grace of God, especially as shared through Jesus --- should not act like they sometimes do, but we need to remember, they are still humans who sin and are saved by God’s grace. They are on a life-journey with God the Holy Spirit, but they certainly haven’t reached the destination of perfection yet. 
    Still, no excuses, God has given us so much --- forgiveness, promise of heaven, purpose and peace, daily guidance and counsel --- that we shouldn’t act like we do sometimes.
    Willy, I worship the one Great Spirit, Tunkashila, as well. Please don’t let the poor actions of your fellow man to throw you off from a personal relationship with that Life Giver, God, Tunkashila, who will not fail you.         --- by Fred Wilgenburg, www.peacewithinreach.com;  www.u-and-peacewithinreach.com

    Can you say for your life, “the old has gone, the new has come?” Are you on that journey, working through and beyond? If not, then you first need to deal with that if you want to be a role model.
    Here’s some encouragement wherever we are. 99% of the work is God’s. He did the 9.9 out of 10 steps to make us right. Titus 3:5 of the Bible reads, “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.” Fugh. Ahh. We just need to take the 0.1 step of receiving His mercy, his forgiveness.

     Abraham, the ancient man of God in the beginning of the Bible didn’t do everything right to become “the father of many nations” (Romans 4:18 of the Bible). He believed, and it was “credited to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:9 of the Bible).
    Ah, it’s a very real possibility for any of us humans to be relational and transparent, and at the same time a positive role model who is working through and beyond the troubles of life.
    Having this Bible perspective that God loves us and He is merciful, and He does 99% of the meeting with us gives me all kinds of peace, and a purpose and motivation to know more, and to just be a better person. I can do it because He does most of it. I just need to ride along. Is this too good to be true? Yeah, but it is what it is.     --- www.peacewithinreach.com by Fred Wilgenburg
  

    Isn’t that something!? Even murderers can change and they can go to heaven. My friend, Lynn, who’s doing life in prison for crimes he committed, can still go to heaven sometime. No, not by now doing enough good things to erase the bad. That would be hopeless, for each of us.                                                                                          
    Rather, God’s Word says it is all by His grace, His forgiving work in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:10 of the Bible reads, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith --- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” After personally receiving God’s grace, right then the promise of sometime experiencing heaven is ours, and the peace of knowing that God is now in the process of cleaning up our lives, is an added benefit!
    Ah, Heaven! I don’t think we can be exactly sure of what heaven will be like because the Bible doesn’t describe it in complete detail. But, heaven will be a wonderful place where a person is continually in the very presence of God. Jesus described heaven as “paradise.” Revelation 21 of the Bible describes that in heaven, “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” In heaven, sin will not have any effect on our lives --- no illness, no personal stumbling or wrongdoing, no death, and no grief. That’s the place to be! Any questions or comments, please let me know. I’m interested in talking more, and learning more. --- Fred Wilgenburg, www.peacewithinreach.com, www.u-and-peacewithinreach.com