Sometimes we all make Mistakes.

My mistake of the day was going to the Warsaw Times Union Website to read the Letters to the Editor. This is what i found:

It was here that as soon as I walked in the doors over five years ago (in the Lakeview auditorium), I could actually feel God's love around me.

Yes, as a church we are accused of being the "feel good church" or "friends of sinners," but those are completely ignorant statements for anyone to make.

First off, wouldn't you rather feel good leaving on a Sunday morning than walk out of church envisioning God as a hammer and you as a nail being pounded into a board? As far as friends of sinners - aren't we all sinners? When did God tell us that it's OK to shun people who get divorced? When did he say it's OK to shun people because they (insert sin here)? When did God place tiers on sin to tell us what is bad and what is worse?

Warsaw and the surrounding area are notorious for being very ungracious. I would like to thank WCC for teaching grace and forgiveness. It is a place where you can leave your spiritual baggage at the foot of the cross and leave standing up straight exclaiming, "I am free!"

I am comfortable in my life knowing that God loves me unconditionally and will extend me love and grace when I need it. I'm glad to know that if I get upset with my wife (Gasp! You do that!) He is willing to forgive me and extend grace to me (and my wife is willing to as well). I am happy to know that if I extend a "California hello" to someone who cuts me off (Gasp! You do that!) on my morning commute that God still loves me, and will extend me grace.

No, this is not an excuse to sin and do those things or any other "not so nice" things, as that is not pleasing to God. But God is not a hammer, and we are not nails. God does not exist to pound us into oblivion every time we make a mistake.

Wake up, Warsaw! The Bible does not teach boredom, anger, hate and bondage. It teaches grace, love, truth and forgiveness. If your church does not teach these things, and reiterate it over and over, maybe you need to start spending your Sunday mornings in a different church.

So, the next time you feel like making a negative comment about Tom Metzger, how about you pray for him instead? Next time you want to talk about God's wrath setting forest fires and flooding towns, how about you talk about His saving grace instead?

By Bobbie Stump