Good Burdens

So I've been reading this book called "Weird--because normal isn't working". You may have heard of it, it's by a man named Craig Groeschel, who lives in Edmond, Oklahoma. Woo-hoo! Oklahoma man!
When I was reading this morning, he was talking about "weird" blessings. A blessing that is unusual; one you wouldn't expect.
He talked of a time when he was a visiting pastor at a run-down church with only a few seniors attending. He remembers walking in, and a lady saying to him excitedly, "You better preach good today, because we're having a visitor!"

Obviously, they didn't get visitors very much.

The visitor had called beforehand, saying that she had hit hard times, and wanted to try church. The woman prayed with her, and said she'd be watching for her on Sunday.
While Craig (the visiting pastor) was talking to the real pastor of the church, Virgil, he saw the lady pull up. She was in a beat up, old and dusty car with a big dent on the drivers side. He watched her get out--she wore tight jeans, and even tighter top with no straps, and was smoking a cigarrete. He tried to geuss what she meant by "hard times"--abusive boyfriend, depression, drug addiction..? He prayed that God would help him say the right words to help her while he would be preaching that day.
The lady walked in, and passed by Craig and the pastor. I assume she was either walking into the sanctuary or about to introduce herself when the pastor said, "Uh, is that you best church outfit?"

Dead silence.

Yes, you read that right.

Then, without another word, the lady walked right back out the church doors, got into her car, and left. Virgil muttered under his breath, "Rebellious."

Craig couldn't find words to speak, and just walked away.
He says it broke his heart to see someone who was hurting turned away just because they didn't look "right".

Here's my question--what makes us "Christians" so much better than the rest of the world? We're still human; we are imperfect and always have room to improve. Why should God give us favor, and not them?

But this isn't the point of my post. Craig went on to say that seeing that made him aware how he, as a pastor and a follower of God, needed to watch himself and make sure he didn't begin to act like Virgil did, turning away sinful people who need the gospel. Just because they're a little "rough around the edges" doesn't mean that they don't have potential for greatness.
Even though it hurt him to see that, that was a blessing in disguise. God gave him that burden to prevent him from potentialy hurting other people.

When something bad happens to you, it's easy to look at it like nothing more than pain. But that's the kind of stuff God uses! Sometimes what feels like a burden is actually good for you, and necessary to mature. Ever heard the term "Growing pains"..?

Thats my two cents for today. Don't forget to check out that book if you haven't read it yet, you should. Like, now. It will totally change your thinking.