Complacency In Ourselves

Page 58 of Ragamuffin:

"The danger with our good works, spiritual investments, and all the rest of it is that we can construct a picture of ourselves in which we situate our self-worth.  Complacency in ourselves then replaces sheer delight in God's unconditional love.  Our doing becomes the very undoing of the ragamuffin gospel."


As much as I try to not be a "human doing" there are times it sneaks in.  Things are starting to get busy in my new  ministry endeavor.  I was so busy yesterday, on my birthday, that I didn't have time to celebrate.  I'm involved in a lot of good stuff but I must remember that my real delight is to be found in God's unconditional love for a ragamuffin.  And ragamuffins can't earn that, they can only accept it and live their lives conscious of the fact that their good works didn't get them to that supreme delight.

And now my fellow ragamuffins, let's hear your response to this quote or my attempt at eloquence!

Fallen Angel Ragmuffin

Since this past New Year's Eve I have been struggling with an injured knee that became staph infected.  I was hastily sent to the hospital for surgery that would need to be followed up with an IV pump for six weeks and numerous physical therapy sessions.  Since I was so focused on my pain and recovery it seemed my other human frailties vanished.  But as my health improved, the old battles returned and I would have to say I have been somewhat disappointed with myself, much like a smoker who quit smoking due to a long hospital stay but later returns to his old habit.

At the bottom of page 31 of THE RAGAMUFFIN GOSPEL, Brennan says:

     "Often I've been asked, 'Brennan, how is it possible that you became an alcoholic after you got saved?'  It is possible because I got battered and bruised by loneliness and failure, because I got discouraged, uncertain, guilt ridden, and took my eyes off of Jesus.  Because the Christ-encounter did not transfigure me into an angel. Because justification by grace through faith means I have been set in right relationship with God, not made the equivalent of a patient etherized on a table."

I guess that makes me a fallen angel ragamuffin.  No, just a plain old every day garden variety ragamuffin.

Making God Laugh

Do you think you ever make God laugh?  Here's a Ragamuffin quote, p. 32:

     "According to an ancient Christian legend, a saint once knelt down and prayed, 'Dear God, I have only one desire in life.  Give me the grace of never offending you again.'
     When God heard this, He started laughing out loud.  'That's what they all ask for.  But if I offered everyone this grace, tell me, whom would I forgive?"

I guess for my sake I'm glad God has a sense of humor!:)  When it comes to my life I'm like the bank robber who practiced his line before he held up the bank, "Don't mess with me, this is a stick up!"  The poor guy was rather nervous when he actually walked up to the teller, pointed the gun and said, "Don't stick with me, this is a mess up!"

I'm grateful for these...That there are people in my life who have the grace to put up with my mess ups and a God who loves me in spite of them.  He truly does loves ragamuffins!