Charisa Stories

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  • If You’re Happy and You Know It…Tell Your Face

    If You’re Happy and You Know It…Tell Your Face

    One of my favorite Peanuts comic strips features Charlie Brown’s sister Sally struggling to spread frozen butter on her toast. Finally she exclaims, “Nobody told me life was going to be this hard!” 

    I can understand Sally’s frustration. Life is hard. The Bible is very clear that life will be a journey of struggling to spread frozen butter and worse (that is a paraphrase). Much worse. I am going through one of those frozen butter times right now but I have come to understand that those times are part of the journey. God has given us a wonderful gift that we too often leave unwrapped. The gift of laughter. The following excerpt is from my sporadically selling book “Bring’em Back Alive – A Healing Plan for those Wounded by the Church.” 

    I believe a sense of humor is one of God’s gifts to help get us to the finish line. One of the things I learned from writing When Bad Christians Happen to Good People is well stated by humorist Dave Barry. “No matter what happens,” Barry writes, “somebody will find a way to take it too seriously.” AMEN, Brother Barry! Some people take and took some of my observations way too seriously. One of my core principles is summarized by Mary Hirsch’s observation that, “Humor is a rubber sword – it allows you to make a point without drawing blood.” 

    An examination of the life of Jesus would indicate that He possessed a sense of humor. The writers of Scripture did not set out to author a joke book so you won’t find the phrase “a Sadducee, a Pharisee and a Roman walk into a bar.” Still, you find glimpses of humor in the words of Jesus. For example, I can see the humor in this exchange when the disciples came running up and asked Jesus the following question.

    “Did you know how upset the Pharisees were when they heard what you said?” Matthew 15:12 (MsgB)  

    I can see them looking at Jesus and waiting to hear Him say something like, “Really? I had better go get that straightened out. The Pharisees are some important guys.” I expect the Lord’s answer first stunned and then amused them.

    “Forget them. They are blind men leading blind men. When a blind man leads a blind man, they both end up in the ditch.” Matthew 15:14 (MsgB)  

    You will also note that Jesus was an oft invited guest at weddings and banquets to the point where those appearances drew the ire of the Pharisees. Think about it. If Jesus was a holier than thou, uptight religious, suck the air out of the room sourpuss would you want Him at your wedding party? A deadly serious, stuffy theologian type would likely not be an “A” list party invitee either. Jesus must have been able to laugh and enjoy the common fellowship of others and he was obviously welcome and desired at the festivities.

    I am not trying to be flippant (this time) but clearly Jesus knew how to party in the good sense of the word. He knew how to interact warmly with others and connect with those around Him. And He knew where to find those who needed the touch of forgiveness the most. 
      
    I also think about the eclectic group of followers that Jesus assembled. They were a fascinating blend of common laborers and professional types. Imagine today if Christ went to the local pier to recruit some fishermen, dropped by the IRS to pick up a follower, then over to the medical clinic and so on. This would be (at least initially) a fairly coarse group. I don’t suspect that the earthy sense of humor possessed by such men was immediately dispatched when they dropped their nets to follow Jesus. Part of any healthy and dynamic group relationship is having fun together. I believe that there were times when Jesus and the twelve told jokes, fish stories and made fun of the Pharisees. I think that Jesus understood that the language and topics of those outside the faith may be a bit uncomfortable. John Wesley once walked through the London market with a young man who desired to join the ministry. The coarse language offended the young man and he clearly wanted to leave. But Wesley told him to, “Stay, and learn to preach.” 

    The wisdom of Proverbs applies here.

    A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit. (Proverbs 15:13, NLT)

    So let’s all join in that familiar Sunday School song…

    If you’re happy and you know it,
    Tell your face,
    If you’re happy and you know it, 
    Tell your face.
    If you’re happy and you know it,
    Then it seems your face should show it.
    If you’re happy and you know it,
    Tell your face.

    A lack of humor in the church apparently this has been a problem for a while now. Teresa of Avila prayed this simple prayer in 1582, “From somber, serious, sullen saints, save us Oh Lord.” 

    Amen…and Amen.

  • How To Shine Your Light For Everyone To See

    How To Shine Your Light For Everyone To See

    Even in my rock and roll days I loved the music of Glen Campbell. His final gift before his death was a moving and deeply personal look at how Alzheimer’s affects a family in the documentary “I’ll Be Me”.  

    Glen Campbell

    One of my favorite Glen Campbell songs, “Try a Little Kindness”, is a message that we desperately need to hear and heed in our current societal climate.

    You got to try a little kindness
    Yes show a little kindness
    Just shine your light for everyone to see
    And if you try a little kindness
    Then you’ll overlook the blindness
    Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets

    I think it is fair to say that we have an abundance of narrow minded people loudly making their presence felt. People so narrow minded they could look through a peephole with both eyes. The lyrics of Try a Little Kindness seem like a simple and even naive sentiment. I would argue this little chorus is one of the most important and doable things that we as followers of Jesus can do to shine a little light. And we have been given that assignment by our Lord.

    “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

    Matthew 5:14-16, NLT

    I wrote a chapter about the power of kindness in my new book, Waking Up Slowly. Here is a brief portion of that chapter.

    The amazing thing about God’s grace is that He is not a God of a second chance. He is a God of chance after chance after chance ad infinitum. We are never outside God’s redeeming grace, no matter how much or how often we blow it.

    How is that even possible? We write off people after one or two offenses. How can God keep forgiving us after countless offenses? It doesn’t make sense. That is because grace does not make sense in our accounting system. So how does that work in our relationships with our community? The apostle Paul pulls it all together perfectly in his letter to the church in Ephesus:

    Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

    Ephesians 4:32, NLT

    Kindness should be contagious because the God of the universe has been kind to us. That is part and parcel of the love story of the gospel.

    Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

    Romans 2:4, NLT

    I used to be impressed by talent and prestige. Now I find that I am more impressed by kindness. Billy Graham observed how we all—especially children—benefit from a little kindness: “Often the only thing a child can remember about an adult in later years, when he or she is grown, is whether or not that person was kind.” I find that to be so true when I run down the list of adults from my childhood. I filter them by that very trait. They were either kind or unkind.

    Paul recognized the importance of this contagious gift in his instructions to the church at Colossae:

    Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

    Colossians 3:12-15, NLT

    I have often said that if the church lived according to those four verses alone, there would be a spiritual awakening in the land. If we simply loved one another as Jesus commanded we could spark a revival. That is my job as a follower of Christ.

    Frederick Buechner captured the idea brilliantly: “If you want to be holy, be kind.”

    (Excerpted from Waking Up Slowly with permission of Tyndale Publishing)

    Today I remember Glen Campbell by determining to follow his advice.

    If you see your brother standing by the road
    With a heavy load from the seeds he’s sowed
    And if you see your sister falling by the way
    Just stop and say, you’re going the wrong way

    Everyone of us can be kind. Give it a try. When you do your light will shine.

    One act of kindness would be to donate to the Alzheimer’s Association to help find a cure for this cruel disease.

  • Remember Your Name!

    Remember Your Name!

    Ten years ago we adopted an abandoned dog after we said goodbye to our beloved canine friend Hannah. The new puppie’s foster name “Savannah” was just too close to Hannah so we began brainstorming other possibilities. After some debate we settled on Maggie.

    There was only one problem with the new moniker. Our puppy would not respond to her new name. It wasn’t unexpected. After all, she had been dubbed Savannah by the adoption center. Perhaps she had a different name before she found herself lost in the Texas countryside. Now we were trying to saddle her with a third name in less than a year of life. No wonder she was confused!

    We concentrated on teaching the puppy her new name. “Maggie, come!” We gave her treats when she came when called and praised her profusely. We did all the things the dog training websites suggest to introduce a rescued puppy into a new environment. No matter what we tried, Maggie seemed to choose if, and when, she would respond to her name. It was frustrating to see her look in our direction when we called her and, a moment later, wander off with apparent disinterest.


    Later I realized I had just learned my first lesson from my new canine mentor that I wrote about in Stay: Lessons My Dogs Taught Me about Life, Loss, and Grace. I realized I sometimes do the same thing with God. I was given a new name and identity when I put my faith in Jesus as my Savior. My new identity, mentioned several times in the New Testament, is “child of God.”

    But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
    (1 John 1:12, NLT)

    For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

    So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. (Romans 8:1-16, NLT)

    You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26, NLT)

    Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. (1 John 5:1, NLT)



    So who am I? Former Texas Ranger’s TV director? Author of modestly successful books? Husband of Joni? Longtime church goer? Father of three outstanding men? Ridiculously proud grandfather? Executive Member of Costco? Perpetually frustrated Cleveland Browns fan? All those things define me to some degree. But the one thing that should define me but I easily forget is that I am a child of God. Just like Maggie, sometimes I respond to my new identity and sometimes I just wander off thinking He must not be talking about me.

    There is power in believing in a name. We rescued an abandoned puppy and gave her a new name. Jesus rescued me and the Father gave me a new name.

    His child.

    For an embarrassingly long time I reminded God of what I used to be and all that was wrong about me. I told Him I didn’t deserve to by His adopted child. But Jesus patiently reminded me that my spiritual DNA had been rewritten. That I was a new creation in Him. That I am holy. A saint. That I am a flawless child of God. Not because of anything I have done, am doing, or will ever do. It is because of what Jesus did for me on the Cross. When I believe what Jesus says is true about me, it dramatically changes how I live my life.

    Maggie eventually learned her name with repetition, praise, and rewards. Our dog trainer gave us a great tip. “Never use her name for shaming or punishment. When you call Maggie, she should expect to play, get a treat, or to be loved. Every time she hears ‘Maggie’ it should be a party.”

    I love that imagery for my journey with Jesus. When He calls my name, it is a party of grace, not of shaming or punishment. I am His beloved child. When He calls me it is for my good.
    Dave Burchett is known in Heaven as a “child of God.” And I am finally putting my full weight on that truth.

  • Remember How it Feels to be Rescued?

    Remember How it Feels to be Rescued?

    You don’t have to dig too deep into my writings to know that I am a dog lover. For some reason I seem to gain spiritual insight from these wonderful creatures. On social media I follow lots of organizations that rescue dogs.

    This photo touched my heart.

    The photo on the left shows two sweet dogs one hour before they were rescued and adopted. Look at their faces and body language. On the left you see fear and sadness.

    After the miracle of rescue you see a total change. They are new creatures full of joy and excitement.

    The picture reminded me that I sometimes forget that I was once trapped in that place of fear and sadness. And then I heard the Good News of the Gospel. That Jesus came to forgive me, adopt, and rescue me. My initial photo after having that weight lifted would have resembled those joyful faces on the right. But something happens if we are not careful. We lose the joy of being rescued. We forget what God has done for us and focus on what we want Him to do for us now or get angry about something He didn’t do.

    When I do that I am forgetting the miracle and joy of being rescued. God did not have to rescue me. He chose to out of love. And He didn’t just say you are forgiven, good luck, and go on your way. He gave me the mind-boggling promise that I am now His child.

    For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

    So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. (Romans 8:14-17, NLT)

    Are you kidding me? Do we really comprehend the magnitude of that text? We aren’t put in a foster home with the hope someone might come along to rescue us. We are adopted as His own child and become heirs to God’s glory. That hope is my guiding light as I endure the sadness and trials of this world. God’s amazing promise is also framed with honesty about living in a fallen and sinful world. The last part of verse 17 gives us a reality check.

    But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

    Satan comes along and tries to make us focus only on the suffering. He tells us that if God really loved you this wouldn’t be happening. Or how can a loving Father treat His child this way?

    Sorry not sorry Satan. Your lies are completely destroyed by the next promise from our Father in Heaven.

    Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.

    Our rescue is eternal. Our hope is assured. Whatever difficulties I have to navigate until I make it to my eternal home will be nothing compared to the glory that awaits.

    Remind yourself of where you once were and how Jesus came along to rescue you. That should shift your attitude toward gratitude.

  • Bring a “To Go” Box to Church

    Bring a “To Go” Box to Church

    I am a big fan of restaurant to go boxes. When I am full I can pack up the leftovers and be nourished again later. Recently I have adopted the “to go box” strategy when I go to church.

    I very intentionally pray for something I can pack away and take home that will nourish me spiritually and emotionally for the rest of the week. It is fascinating how God has honored that prayer by giving me something to put in my spiritual to go box each week.

    This week my to go box got filled during adult Bible class. We are going through the Old Testament book of 1st Samuel and the story of Hannah was discussed.

    Hannah was the wife of Elkanah who was married to a second wife named Peninnah. Elkanah seemed to emotionally favor Hannah but there was a problem. She was unable to bear children. That was a crushing burden to bear and especially when Peninnah openly taunted Hannah for being barren. Some thought that not being able to bear a child meant God was punishing that women for some sin. You can only imagine the hurtfulness of the comments from Peninnah.

    The story of Hannah is so rich and full of things to put in the to go box. The fact that Hannah did not quit worshiping and going to the Temple in spite of her circumstances is amazing. Even as she went to the Tabernacle Penninah would taunt her. How many Christians quit going to church in much less stressful settings? But she persevered.

    Hannah also recognized that she could not change things herself. While the text clearly stated that she was saddened by Penninah’s ugly comments there is no record of her responding in kind. Instead Hannah trusted God to hear her cries. Finally she reached a point of desperation that she channeled into dependence on God.

    After a sacrificial meal at Shiloh she left and went to pray because she was too upset to eat. Eli the priest was stationed in his customary spot by the entrance of the Tabernacle. He apparently had a front row seat to watch Hannah’s anguished prayer. She begged God to give her a son and promised to give that child back to the service of the Lord. Hannah poured out her heart and feelings to God with such deep emotions that Eli thought she must be drinking. In fact the text records that the Priest told her to throw away her wine!

    I think I might have gotten a bit defensive (okay, a lot defensive) if a religious leader accused me of being a drunk when I was honestly pouring out my heart to God. But once again Hannah showed grace.

    15 But Hannah replied, “Not so, my lord! I am a woman under a great deal of stress. I haven’t drunk wine or beer. But I have poured out my soul before the Lord. 16 Don’t consider your servant a wicked woman. It’s just that, to this point, I have spoken from my deep pain and anguish.”

    17 Eli replied, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the request that you have asked of him.” 18 She said, “May I, your servant, find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and got something to eat. Her face no longer looked sad.[

    Hannah prayed. She asked God to intervene. She trusted Him to hear her. But she not know if that request would be granted. She had years and years of sorrow weighing down her soul.

    What I packed in my “to go box” this week was Hannah’s response. She had poured out her heart. She trusted God. She decided that only He could change her situation and she had communicated honestly. After that moment of complete transparency Hannah recognized she had done all she could. She went back and began to eat again. And Scripture says her face no longer looked sad.

    There are many things I ask of God. Sometimes I ask with great anguish for those prayers to be answered the way I am asking. Hannah showed me a great response. When I honestly pray and lay those requests at the altar I can walk away with my face not showing sadness but gratitude for a God who listens. John writes these words.

    And this is the confidence that we have before him: that whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (1 John 5:14, NET)

    Hannah’s faith was rewarded with a son named Samuel. God heard her petition. I am convinced He hears my petitions and especially when I tear down the walls of self-dependence. My desire may not be His will but I believe with all of my heart that God hears me and He will answer.

    Here are the contents of my to go box this week.

    1. Bring my requests to God with honesty.
    2. Leave them at the altar with a trusting heart.
    3. Walk away with a happy countenance knowing God can be trusted to hear and answer according to His will.

    Sometimes the answer is not what I want. But here is what I have learned in five decades of following Jesus. He is faithful.

    So I am asking you to take your to go box to church next week. I would love to hear what you pack in there!

  • A Life Lesson from My Labrador

    A Life Lesson from My Labrador

    One of the most valuable spiritual lessons from my rescued Labrador Hannah was the genesis of my book Stay.

    I had just stumbled through the back door from an all-night flight in the spring of 2011 when I noticed something was amiss with Hannah. Normally she would celebrate my arrival with a wild, exuberant, spinning dance accompanied by a vibrating, thumping tail. This time, her greeting was subdued, her gait slow, and her soulful eyes dull. 

    Joni and I immediately knew that something was wrong. Even though she seemed slightly better as the day wore on, we made an appointment with the vet just to make sure. 

    A suspicious growth on her spleen and fluid in her stomach signaled a grim prognosis. On Monday morning, we went to a specialist who confirmed the diagnosis. Dr. Carmenn Woolley explained the sad options we faced. Hannah had a splenic tumor which, given her age, would likely be malignant. 

    Our choices were less than optimal. Without surgery, Hannah’s tumor would rupture and bleed out and she would likely die within days or even sooner. With the surgery, she would still face an uncertain future, especially if the tumor was malignant. We could be talking a matter of weeks. The surgery was very expensive with no guarantees. 

    Still, a recent tax refund had given us the rare luxury of money to spend as we wished. Joni had a list of projects far more extensive than the refund would cover, and she had been trying to decide which project topped the list. That night we discussed the new reality. We could just try to keep our canine friend comfortable, or we could use the refund for Hannah’s surgery and give her a fighting chance. 

    Two days later, I picked her up from the Lake Ray Hubbard Emergency Pet Care Center after a successful surgery. So much for the new furniture, house painting, or landscaping. In place of those things, we got a dog friend with a twelve-inch incision on her belly and the hope of some sweet time to say good-bye. 

    Even after surgery, Hannah’s diagnosis was ominous. Splenic hemangiosarcoma. It was a horrible-sounding disease with an even worse prognosis. Without chemotherapy, the survival predictions were nineteen to sixty days. Six months would be a miracle. Dr. Woolley showed great compassion as tears welled in my eyes and spilled down my cheeks. The doctor’s eyes grew misty as she shared one of the most painful duties of her job. She handed me a tissue, put her hand on my arm, and quietly said something. Since I was still reeling from the shock of everything that had happened so quickly, her words didn’t sink in until later.  

    “Hannah does not know she is sick. Dogs have no fear of death, so they live in the moment. Enjoy each moment that you have.” 

    I thought about that comment a lot in the days to come.

    Dogs have no fear of death so they live in the moment. Isn’t that a blueprint for how followers of Christ should live on a daily basis? I had been a Christian for more than thirty years and had not figured out such a succinct philosophy of living. Satan wants us to live in regret of the past and fear of the future, preventing us from contentment in the moment with our God and with those we love. 

    I began to learn that part of being content on the journey with Jesus is simply trusting Him one day at a time. You can’t live in regret of the past. It is forgiven. You can’t live in fear of the future. It is in God’s hands. Without regret or fear you are free to live in the moment. Or as C. S. Lewis put it, “Where, except in the present, can the Eternal be met?”

    Jesus proclaimed that exact message in the Gospel of Matthew.

    “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”

    Matthew 6:25-27

    It was true. Worrying would not add a single moment to my life or my sweet canine friend. The treatment gave us many months of extra time. And I began the journey of living in the moment thanks to the example of Hannah.

    It is now my daily pursuit to trust God and savor each precious day.

  • One Sin That Triggered Jesus

    One Sin That Triggered Jesus

    I am fascinated and more than a little convicted when I look at the behaviors that caused Jesus to react with harsh words. Jesus often responded to sinners with grace and no condemnation.

    A woman caught in adultery was dragged before Jesus with the demand that he condone the law that she should be killed for her sin. His reaction? Jesus knelt down, wrote in the sand, and challenged the persons without any sin to hurl the first rock. 

    When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. 
    And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” (John 8, NLT)

    Jesus had compassion on a person who was deeply shamed and in need of forgiveness for sin. He did not excuse her transgression. He commanded her to go and change her behavior but He did not condemn or lecture.


    Jesus dined with people who clearly violated His moral teachings. He recruited a tax collector who had betrayed and financially oppressed his own people. He allowed a woman of questionable reputation to anoint His feet with perfume. He violated every cultural standard by talking to and sharing the hope of salvation with a woman who had lived with multiple men. These acts brought condemnation from the religious leaders who saw religion as a performance based keeping of rules.

    Jesus did not demand groveling repentance before the person was worthy to win forgiveness. He looked on the heart of the person in sin and responded with healing grace. 

    But one sin did trigger Jesus on a consistent basis. The most harsh words from Jesus were usually directed at hypocrites.

    The word hypocrite comes from the Greek word hyprokrites, meaning one who plays a part, an actor. Probably no word is more destructively used in describing Christians than hypocrite. André Gide once defined a true hypocrite as the “one who ceases to perceive his deception, the one who lies with sincerity.”

    One of Christ’s severest rebukes concerned the hypocrisy of the Pharisees (Matthew 6). These religious leaders liked to be seen and heard when praying, recognized when giving, and pitied when fasting.

    “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too. 

    “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness. (All texts from NLT)

    Is it any wonder that Jesus was so reviled by the religious establishment? Jesus came to fulfill the law and provide a way for me (and you) to be reconciled to God. Jesus provides the opportunity for a relationship with God through faith and grace. The Pharisees, like many of the religious leaders that our culture criticizes, controlled by demanding legalistic works and by fear of punishment. 
    Today the church condemns those who live immoral lives while we churchgoers too often engage in gossip and selfishness and bigotry. The unchurched stand by in amazed, bemused, cynical, or angry observance of our hypocrisy. And they lose respect for our message. 

    So why don’t the followers of Jesus communicate the grace of God more effectively? That is too often the heartbreaking shortcoming of the church. 

    Tim Keller writes brilliantly about how we confuse righteousness with moralism.

    “Sin and evil are self-centeredness and pride that lead to oppression against others, but there are two forms of this. One form is being very bad and breaking all the rules, and the other form is being very good and keeping all the rules and becoming self-righteous.”

    My righteousness can only be because of Christ. I am sobered that Jesus was consistently triggered by hypocrisy. If I am going to be a light to others I need to focus on my heart and allow the Holy Spirit to illuminate my areas of hypocrisy. I don’t want to just look good on the outside. I want my heart to be clean by the redeeming power of God’s gift of redemptive grace.