Characters Welcome is a trademark of USA Network, so yes, I’m borrowing. The USA channel’s characters are often engaging and quirky. All the things we like in an entertaining show. Now they’re not all good and this is a not a blanket endorsement of the network, but I’d like to introduce you to one of USA’s characters, Adrian Monk. As part of the show, Monk, Adrian helps the San Francisco Police Department solve some of their toughest cases. His obsessive compulsive behavior, rather than being a disorder, is an aid in cracking the toughest of cases. And it makes for enjoyable humor.
Peruse through their site and you’ll come across “American Characters” and “The Character Project.” Both are attempts to identify and celebrate the true characters of our nation. Real people living real lives. American Characters was a photo shoot across the nation using some of the best photographers in the country. The images are stunning. Now available as a book for purchase, the money raised will help “USA’s pro-social initiative dedicated to combating intolerance and promoting acceptance and understanding.” Not a bad idea. People are valuable – every single character. Now I may not agree with USA’s understanding of how apply this concept, but I applaud the principle.
God has made some characters! I’m one of them. Quirky, tall, skinny, nearsighted, geeky computer guy that loves riding a mountain bike more than watching NFL. And God made me to be unique. Read Psalms 139:13-15 “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.”
I want people to accept me as I am. I want to accept others as they are. But who are the people God accepts? Who are the characters God worked through in history? I want to discover what was so special about them that God would say: Character you are welcome in my Kingdom!
So here’s the plan, for the next six weeks at Fusion (Sept. 22 – Oct. 27) we’ll look at some interesting characters from the Bible: Esther, Hezekiah, Gideon, Ezra, Josiah and Ruth. We’ll see what burned inside of them that cause them to be welcome in God’s eyes. And who knows maybe it will inspire you to be the character you are AND welcome before God!
Who are some characters you know?