I Am the Movement

So you’ve seen the posters and the stories.

You’ve heard me promote POTSC constantly, and if you’re a friend of mine in “real life” then you’re probably sick of me talking about them.

So what’s all the fuss about?

Here’s a list of our blogs for People of the Second Chance

1. Never Beyond: Who is Worth a Second Chance?
2. The Biggest Loser? I Don’t Think So!
3. Darth Vader and My BFF
4. Taught
5. Steve’s Story: Jesus Died for Child Molesters
6. Steve’s Story, Labeled: People Pleaser and Sex Expert
7. I am Osama…and Worse
8. Joe Paterno: Protecting a Predator
9. “You’re a rotter, Mr. Grinch!  You’re the King of Sinful Sots!”

It’s quotes like this one from Mike Foster, “We proudly pump up second, third and fourth chances around here. Maybe 70 x 7 if we get REALLY RADICAL! But God says billions upon billions. Again and again and again I forgive you…so do the same for each other.”

Here’s the deal:

There are plenty of folks out there promoting the “rules” of Christianity. There are masses of traditional, dead, boring churches telling all the do’s and dont’s to get to Heaven.

I am not that guy.

I believe there are standards that have been set for us in the Bible, but I think we’ve created so much extra crap, all in the name of religion and doctrine. We’ve set up this system of beliefs to “get us to Heaven”, but we are miserable as Hell here on earth.

Jesus said, “I have come to give you ABUNDANT LIFE!”

If you’re so stuck on the social norms in your part of the world that you forget to LIVE, by worrying about what your nosy neighbor or Sunday School teacher will think, BE FREE! “How many of you, by worrying, can add a single day to your life?” Jesus came to shatter judgement in your life, to break the chains that bind you, and sometimes those chains aren’t common addictions like drugs, pornography, masturbation, or cigarettes…sometimes the addition is to the church itself (especially in the Southeastern US).

Church never saved anyone, religion never set anyone free.

The only thing that can shatter judgement, break bondages, and blast explosive grace into your life is a personal, intimate encounter with Jesus Christ.

Now chill out, you religious nut: I AM NOT AGAINST CHURCH; however, if church has become your god, you have a problem. You can go to church every time the flippin’ doors are open and die a miserable, empty soul.

WHAT IS PEOPLE OF THE SECOND CHANCE? from PEOPLE OF THE SECOND CHANCE on Vimeo.

People of the Second Chance exists as a movement to overthrow judgement and liberate love. The reason I am so passionate about this partnership we have formed is because Jesus was a Second Chancer. Look at the folks Jesus himself (the only perfect person) hung out with: hookers, drunkards, tax collectors, and cheats. You didn’t see Jesus around the church folks very often. Actually, nearly every time you saw Jesus around religious folks, he was showing them the error of their critical ways, and THEY WERE PLOTTING TO KILL HIM.

The amazing thing about Jesus is that even though He was the only one able to condemn the messed up, beat up, and banged up of society, he chose love instead.

Jesus chose…

…love, not hate.

…mercy, not condemnation.

…radical grace, not judgement.

Here’s a few of my favorites from their site:

1) Emmanuel’s Story

2) Cruelty, Man Cards, and 2nd Chances (Carlos Whitaker)

3) You’d Be Surprised

4) Believe in Something Bigger

5) The Rise of the Grace Extremists

Matthew 9:10, “Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. 11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?*” 12 When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” 13 Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’* For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

I am a POTSC’er because I KNOW I am a sinner.

–Steve