Hey Guys,
I may have really just embarrassed myself in the biggest way, but all I have to say is that if I did, it’s because Jeanne made me! HAHAHAHA!
She sent me a link to this conversation on the Washington Post asking who Jesus is. Here is a link to the post. (CLICK HERE)
Just below you will find my post. I have to tell you, I HAD to do it. My heart is racing in my chest. I feel like back in the day when I used to preach in the middle of the open air of UNC Campus. It’s time to write the message as we live it. So, writers, get your pens ready. I have just jumped into the arena.
Blessings!
pd
Washington Post Question:
“Who Is Jesus.”
“I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
– Mohandas “Mahatma” Gandhi
Can I just take a moment to apologize? My name is Dustin Hedrick and I pastor the Tapestry Church in Rockville, Maryland. I simply want to take a moment to apologize.
I want to apologize for the church that all of you know. I want to apologize for every pastor you have ever come into contact with. I want to say I AM SORRY.
I truly believe that the question that needs to be asked today is not, “Who was Jesus,” but why did the church ever stop demonstrating HIS life daily?
Your posts affected me today! I want to say thank you. Thank you for all of your critique, for your examination, for your responses and many of you sharing your pain and story. This is the kind of thing I need to hear and read. You guys are VERY honest. Sometimes I am not honest enough with myself.
Today I am faced with a brutal reality. And that is of my failure as a believer in this person called Jesus and his continued life as my Lord and GOD, because oftentimes my life is in stark contrast to HIS teachings.
You know, I believe that if I had spent the last 32 years of my life, living the message rather than simply speaking the message, things might have been a little different.
So, thank you. I am going to live different. I need to get some time alone today and think on these things and really dig into waht you all have said. I needed this.
You know what, the New Year is coming. This year, I am going to make my resolution to SHOW Jesus’ teachings and life more than SAY them. It’s time for my best message not to be my words spoken, but my life lived.
This year it’s time to give back, share more, love more, laugh a lot, encourage more people, care for the hurting, show kindness to those who need it, actually help the poor, visit, pray for and help the sick, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, beleive for more miracles, be kind, turn the other cheek, listen more, talk less, run from crowds, pray alone, meditate, KNOW the Father daily, share wisdom, yet in humility, learn more, read HIS words daily in order to get to know His thoughts and ideas better, conserve more, consume less, help the homeless, not just give them stuff, but really care about them, smile, touch, care, weep with the broken, pray that the sick are healed, tell others about the Father and His love, fight for the underdog, visit the aged, help the widow, do more humanitarian aid around the world, spend more time in nature, sing, dance, shout, praise, take time to be with the disenfranchised, the outcast, the unwanted, love the unlovelies, hold babies.
I have so forgotten what it means when the story tellers of Jesus’ birth say, “he is Immanuel.” It means “God Comes Near.” he walked with us, talked with us, wept with us, felt our pain, lived with us, was tempted with us, stood firm for us, died for us and now lives daily knowing our trials, hurts, pains, fears and brokenness. He lived so that He could have compassion for us. That’s what this season is about. That’s what I have a forgotten. That the God of all creation would step out of the riches of glory to spend His first few human nights on earth with the stench of manure and the last few human hours on earth in utter agony. Not simply for the FUTURE that everyone says of going to an ethereal place called heaven, but to KNOW me. To understand me. GOD had come to be and feel with us. And the reason it’s important that He still lives, is because He is STILL WITH US! So, I am not alone. Never alone. You are not alone!
That’s Good News! Have you ever felt alone? He knows.
And now, the challenge that you all have given me today, the thing I have failed at for the last 13 years of my ministry apparently is to one person at a time, show this jesus through my life.
Thank you. I want to be the door for Immanuel today.
I really want to say thank you!
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Kwanzaa and have a wonderful Chanukah DC,
Blessings!
pd
dustin hedrick
tapestrychurch.net
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