Brennan Manning at the Micah Challenge

...God is relentlessly compassionate and tender toward us just as we are – not in spite of our sins and faults (that would not be acceptance), but with them. Though God does not condone or sanction evil He does not withhold his love because there is evil in us. God calls us to come out of hiding and come openly to him. God weeps over us when shame and self-hatred immobilize us.

Thomas Merton said, 'the reason we never enter into the deepest reality of our relationship with God is that we so seldom acknowledge our utter nothingness before him.' God not only forgives and forgets our shameful deeds but even turns their darkness into light. All things work together for those who love God, 'even,' Augustine of Hippo added 'our sins.' Christians who remain in hiding continue to live a lie. We deny the reality of our sin... If we conceal our wounds out of fear and shame, our inner darkness can nither be illuminated nor become light for others. Brennan Manning

Micah Challenge Edmonton, Friday, June 22- Saturday, June 23, Kings University College