Radical Grace in Life and Leadership

People of the Second Chance

THE REAL ME: GUEST POST BY NICOLE WICK

We are excited to have Nicole Wick share with the POTSC community. She participated in the #REALME experiment and shares some of her thoughts below.

Guest Post  by Nicole Wick:

A few weeks ago when everyone was showing off their #RealMe on Facebook and Twitter I quietly looked the other way and kept my lovely, professionally shot, and photoshopped profile picture up. The idea of showing my face first thing in the morning, free of make up and hair product didn’t bother me. It isn’t a sin to look tired, or plain, or blotchy. It isn’t even a sin to be ugly.

However, it is a sin to be fat.

And that’s me. I’ve struggled with my weight for years, as long as I can remember really. I grew up on my mom’s southern cooking; fried meats, sweet tea, and home made mac and cheese. I was always able to keep it somewhat under control… that is until I got pregnant. Women? Do you hear me on this one? Yeah, I thought so.

Anyhow, in addition to carrying around 25 extra pounds of post-delivery baby weight I also fell into a part postpartum/part dealing with my husbands porn addiction depression. A deep depression that I attempted to cure the old fashioned way: with food. The ooey, gooey comfort foods I grew up on. And as I “coped” the 25 pounds became 100. Yikes.

So, that’s the #RealMe. And I hate it. As I struggle to eat the right things, exercise, and avoid treating depression with ice cream I need a second chance. A second chance from people who make jokes, or assumptions, or judgements.

But, seriously, more than that I need to give myself a second chance. I need to get ok with me. The #RealMe. I have what sometimes seems like an infinite capacity to show grace to others. No matter what they have done. But I have an incredibly difficult time showing that grace to myself. And I know that I’m not the only one.

This is my second chance.

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WHEN SOMEONE CHEATS ON YOU

Posted by Mike Foster:

When someone is unfaithful in a relationship it can be devastating. Broken trust. Massive hurt. Embarassment. So many things damaged.

Recent statistics show that 28% of married men and 18% of married women have been unfaithful.

Usually their are 2 options in the relationship….Stay or go.

I think both options are understandable and certainly their are no easy answers.

I’ve always told myself if my wife ever cheated on me, I would take her back. (But truthfully its just a “nice idea” until you really have to face that reality.)

So if your spouse were to cheat on you, what would you do? Stay or Go? What if your’re dating and your boyfriend/girlfriend is unfaithful?

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BOOKS STILL CHANGE THE WORLD

Posted by Jud Wilhite:

Here’s my reading list for 2010. I should warn you though—I’m a geek. I read books by dead people for fun and when I don’t, I start to get cranky.

This isn’t exhaustive, but I plan to get through these books.

City of God, Augustine. This is a tomb of a book and I’ve read parts of it. This year I plan to read through all of it, along with some help by Gerard O’Daly and his Augustine’s City of God: A Reader’s Guide. This will likely take me many months as I read multiple books at a time.

The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope, and Love, Augustine. This is a smaller book Augustine wrote to a friend on key belief and practice issues. The term “enchiridion” just means handbook.

Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design, Stephen C. Meyer. This promises to be an interesting look at intelligent design for the general reader.

There Is a God: How the World’s Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind, Anthony Flew. I did doctoral work in philosophy and often turned to Flew’s dictionary of philosophy for help. I’ve wanted to read this since it was released.

Christianity’s Dangerous Idea, Alistair McGrath. I’m halfway through this history of Protestantism and plan to finish it in 2010.

The Christian in Complete Armour, William Gurnall. I hope to work through at least the first of this three volume classic of puritan literature. It is one of those books that I’ve known about for years, but I’ve never really attempted to read it.

I’m also reading through the New Testament on YouVersion with my wife!

Have any of you read these books? Any other great books you’d recommend for the future?

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WHAT IF WE THREW THE BUTS OUT?

Posted by Mike Foster:

You know what frustrates me the most? When I hear the word “BUT” in conversations about second chances.

What does the word “BUT” do:

“BUT” is about caution. “BUT” is about holding back just a little. “BUT” is our escape route. “BUT” is our Plan B.

Plain and simple: IT’S THE WATERING DOWN OF RADICAL GRACE!

Instead of passionately going for it and risking everything we place our trust in the “BUT.”

Tell me if you’ve heard or thought this before about second chances:

“But what if he cheats again?” “But what if they aren’t truly sorry?” “But what if it doesn’t work out?” “But some people say…”

All those “BUTS” have the same predictable result. No real change. No grace revolution. It’s just business as usual. And quite frankly, I’m tired of business as usual!

When I daydream I often wonder what kind of world it would be if we all pushed through our fear, prejudice, and judgment and fully surrendered to a movement of radical grace.

Are you with me? Are you ready to go for it?

The path is clear..The only way we get there is by throwing the “BUTS” out!

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HELP US CHOOSE A POTSC SHIRT DESIGN

We need your help in choosing one of these new tee designs.

The POTSC shirt will be beautifully printed on an American Apparel shirt and be $15. We will have 2 designs available in 2 weeks.

Thoughts and comments appreciated. Vote for 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.

Btw, we have one other design called “Heart Thrower” we will show you soon.

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