A Christianity that has teeth...

I don't have time to wrap context around the story I'm about to share, so you'll have to fill in the blanks. I feel compelled to write just briefly about a moment this morning that gives reason to being. Being alive. Being a human. Being an echo of a greater sound, a reflection of a bigger substance, a taste of a more delicious reality.

On Father's Day (for lack of the time to relay this amazing story), the men of our church rose up and raised $4,500 in two days in order to put "teeth" in the mouth of one of our brothers. This man had been without teeth for a few months and the dentists where telling him they needed more money than originally projected to complete his dentures. He had already taken out a loan for $2000 and didn't have the money to even really do that...so he was up a creek without a paddle. He is a great guy with a huge heart and even though he was going through this incredible ordeal, he still gave a toothless smile and carried on with strength.

Well, this morning, this guy came into my office and showed me his new smile. We embraced and sat down and talked for about an hour about God, life and how amazing it is when you're a part of a community of faith that "puts their money where someone else's mouth is"...ha...I couldn't resist that little play on words! That's what the body of Christ should be, a group of humans captured by the spirit of God and living to make that love a practical and magical reality in other people's lives. The gospel can be summed up in a phrase, "See a need, meet a need." If it's clothes, then give clothes; if it's counsel, then give a listening ear; if it's money, then open your wallet and make a donation; if it's food, then open your cupboard and share the goods; if it's teeth, then for crying out loud...gather a group of wild men together and put teeth in the brother's mouth for the love of God!! And that is what has happened to this man. As I looked upon his face that looked 20 years younger and gazed upon his new smile, I saw the power of the gospel when it's lived instead of talked about.

Scott, enjoy your new smile in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

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