The Freedom of Repentance

Well, the summer is almost here and I can feel something in my soul shifting and longing for a more laid back rhythm. Not a new and novel rhythm, but one I inhabit around this time of year, every year time out of mind. In times past it was more pronounced because it was a relief not to scramble every day, day in and day out, to move six children to school. Now, I wonder what my new rhythms will be like as my last child graduates tomorrow. Teri and I were laying in bed this morning talking about stuff. She had been up for hours and much of that time pondering this new chapter in our lives where all our children are out of the house! Speaking of graduating seniors, this Sunday we will recognize them in worship and bless them to go out and see what they will make of the world.Also this Sunday after worship we have our annual Congregational Meeting to approve our Operating Budget. It is hard to believe that in just three years it has gone from just over six hundred thousand to now over a million dollars! That, of course, is not an indication that we are faithful to our mission, but I do know this - money does follow vision and we are truly blessed by God’s generosity to us, which translates into rich generosity to God’s Mission here at St. Patrick. I am amazed and humbled at what a generous community of folk we have at St. Patrick. I encourage you to stay around after morning worship as we not only approve the budget but also talk about some exciting building plans coming up later this year.Finally, this Sunday we are talking about the freedom that comes with confession and repentance. If there is one thing I know it is this, we can’t know true freedom until we learn that an authentic Christian life is one of continual confession and repentance. While the cross saves us and removes all condemnation from us, we still are sinful and live in a fallen world, and as Job says, “…but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.” So how do we walk in the light? How do we live a life of integrity? We have to lead a life of continual repentance. We have to candidly admit that we are not that good even on our best day and be quick to run to Jesus for grace in our brokenness.Hope to see you this Sunday. Do keep our seniors in your prayers. They are not very smart, though they think they are. They are graduating, some are staying up all night with "Project Graduation," they are feeling immortal, and sometimes they do not exercise the best judgement. So pray God will be gracious to them and bring them joy in doing the next right thing!Blessings,Jim