This topic has been in my studies and on my mind for several weeks now. I talked about it on Mother's Day at church with a friend who was party to some of the stories I could tell (don't worry I won't call you out here lol), had the pleasure of teaching it in Sunday School and even sharing with our older crowd at a Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting.
It's a story that many of us have lived, admittedly or not, proudly or not, but nevertheless we have lived it. It's a story of transformation and renewal. If you ask people who know me about the 2018 John Gregory, they will likely tell you many good things. I have a successful career, a happy family, well educated, kind, polite, and serve in various roles in an effort to give back to my community.
But that wasn't always me. Yes, I was one of the "good" kids in high school, college, and even shortly thereafter to some extent. I never committed any major crimes and stayed out of trouble for the most part. But to be fully honest, I have done things that easily could have landed me in jail, or worse, the morgue. I have lied and been lied to, been taken advantage of and taken advantage of the kindness of others, been done wrong and done others wrong. I am not nor have I ever been perfect. But today I am different than I was 5, 10, and 15 years ago.
Why didn't I ever get caught doing something I shouldn't have and wind up with a criminal record? Why didn't I, or someone around me, get injured or killed doing something stupid? The only answer I can even attempt to come up with is GOD'S GRACE.
I know who John Gregory was back then. I know who he was in private, who he was in things didn't go his way. I was not someone that any of you would want to be around, applaud, or ever hope that your kids would grow up to be like. But by GOD'S GRACE, I'm not that person anymore. Quite possibly my new favorite bible verse is this, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come" - 2 Corinthians 5:17.
I could, and should, thank my parents, my wife, my church, and many more people who have helped make me who I am. But before they get any credit, God deserves it first. Verse 18 reads, "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." Yes, all those people and many more helped mold me into who I am, but it started at the top with the Creator, God.
Before we condemn the local high school kids who made a terrible choice last week, let's ask ourselves, "Could this have been me?" Look, I agree that what they did was wrong. But let's be sure that the punishment fits the crime. Let's not take away someone's future for paint or food in the floor ONE time. If there are patterns of destructive behavior, that's a different story. But for some of these kids with very high GPA's, college dreams, and life goals, let's not take that away for getting caught up in the hype of following the crowd ONE time. After all, if you're anything like me, it could have been you too.
It's a story that many of us have lived, admittedly or not, proudly or not, but nevertheless we have lived it. It's a story of transformation and renewal. If you ask people who know me about the 2018 John Gregory, they will likely tell you many good things. I have a successful career, a happy family, well educated, kind, polite, and serve in various roles in an effort to give back to my community.
But that wasn't always me. Yes, I was one of the "good" kids in high school, college, and even shortly thereafter to some extent. I never committed any major crimes and stayed out of trouble for the most part. But to be fully honest, I have done things that easily could have landed me in jail, or worse, the morgue. I have lied and been lied to, been taken advantage of and taken advantage of the kindness of others, been done wrong and done others wrong. I am not nor have I ever been perfect. But today I am different than I was 5, 10, and 15 years ago.
Why didn't I ever get caught doing something I shouldn't have and wind up with a criminal record? Why didn't I, or someone around me, get injured or killed doing something stupid? The only answer I can even attempt to come up with is GOD'S GRACE.
I know who John Gregory was back then. I know who he was in private, who he was in things didn't go his way. I was not someone that any of you would want to be around, applaud, or ever hope that your kids would grow up to be like. But by GOD'S GRACE, I'm not that person anymore. Quite possibly my new favorite bible verse is this, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come" - 2 Corinthians 5:17.
I could, and should, thank my parents, my wife, my church, and many more people who have helped make me who I am. But before they get any credit, God deserves it first. Verse 18 reads, "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." Yes, all those people and many more helped mold me into who I am, but it started at the top with the Creator, God.
Before we condemn the local high school kids who made a terrible choice last week, let's ask ourselves, "Could this have been me?" Look, I agree that what they did was wrong. But let's be sure that the punishment fits the crime. Let's not take away someone's future for paint or food in the floor ONE time. If there are patterns of destructive behavior, that's a different story. But for some of these kids with very high GPA's, college dreams, and life goals, let's not take that away for getting caught up in the hype of following the crowd ONE time. After all, if you're anything like me, it could have been you too.
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