I am a privileged man, i.e. "not subject to the usual rules or penalties because of some special circumstance". What's the special circumstance? I'm talking about being a family member of an extravagant, caring church. Yes, I'm talking about Central Assembly. I love being in a family. Families accept, love, embrace, care, listen, dialogue, teach, sympathize, and congratulate. I've been the lucky recipient of all the above at Central Assembly.
But my main reason for making this claim does not hinge on what I've received, although I consider myself extremely blessed; it's what the family does for others who have not made up the life at Central in the past. That's how I'm privileged. Actually, it's incredible. Every week there are tens, if not hundreds of people living outside the physical walls of their church building who are given food, encouraged in their battle against life-controlling hang-ups, personally mentored, helped with chores around their neighborhood home, given a free oil-change as a single mom, prayed with, and hugged!
In Steve Sjogren's book, Conspiracy of Kindness, (1993, 2003) he writes that "God is looking for people who are willing to participate in acts of love and kindness to those outside of their present circle. He is looking for people who believe that a humble demonstration of love plants seeds of eternity in the hearts of others that will blossom into faith in Christ. The strategy of this conspiracy operates on the premise that God is passionately in love with unbelievers. As dynamic seeds of kindness are planted in their hearts, the Holy Spirit will pursue them. We are the sowers of those seeds of love. God is the farmer who oversees the entire process."
So is this a "special circumstance" as initially claimed? Fortunately, in the life of American churches, it's becoming the norm. I want to be part of this great wake-up Christian movement.
