i found this on a blog from a guy who goes to a church here in charlotte... sounds like God's revealing similar things to him!

So you think you know grace? I thought I did. That was until I
discovered that I had no grace for people with out a revelation of grace.
I get mad at people for clinging to old religious ideas that have nothing to do
with the Good News of Jesus Christ. But what this proves is that I know
very little about the love and grace of God. It shows that I understand an
idea but have a very hard time putting it into practice. The fact is not
every one is going to applaud your revelation on the Gospel. In fact they may
spit on you. But the love of Christ is not offended by people’s offense.
It continues to reach out and reach out and reach out, despite our ugliness and
selfishness and our ignorance. I was blind before I could see and I know
there is much more about God that I have yet to see and in His mercy He loves me
despite the fact that I have nothing together. This is the mercy I’ve
received and freely I am compelled to pass it on. And slowly I am starting
to learn grace.

And his friend responded:

So you think you know grace?

So, so true. The hardest
thing to learn is to not judge - NOT even the judges. Otherwise we become
legalists of grace. What's the difference? That's what so incredible about God's
character. He is not offended by anyone accepting or rejecting him. He simply
came to die for us all, equalized the playing field, and sees you and me no
different from the prostitute on the corner. It’s not our right-works or
righteousness that impresses him, but the righteousness of his Son. Thanks for
the reminder. ;-)

yep, 'nuff said.

ps: here's something to challenge your thinking:

go to http://postsecret.blogspot.com/

if you encountered these people could you love them? could you keep from casting judgements and love them? what would you think if you met this person or that one? we live in a hurting world and i think this site is showing a lot of people without their facade. these are the people that we love with the love only Christ can give. this is who Christ died for just as much as you and me. or maybe you and i can relate to them... it's only by his mercy and grace that i am not a prostitute, thief, unwed mother, or any other thing that our haughty society looks down on. yet before Christ I was just as dead, just as lost, just and destined for hell, yet in His great mercy he rescued me and brought me to new life in him. It's ONLY by His grace.

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