Okay, so apparently I'm helping plan a Dockside happy hour! Let me explain . . .

One of our liveaboard neighbors doesn't got off to work in the morning. I suggested that we go grab lunch together one day, and she countered with "How about breakfast?" Interesting and fun lady. It was my first opportunity to really go "deeper" with anyone down at the docks. So, we went to Jimmy's - a local spot in Fells Point. Great conversations about life.

That tumbled into her showing me around some - because I'm still getting to know the neighborhood and she's lived here a long time. She's got a great spirit of hospitality! That led into her taking me to the laundromat she uses to do her laundry. (Honey, got the laundry done!) By noon, we had parted ways happy to know each other ... and looking forward to more down the road, er water.

God has blessed me with simple friendship around simple things.

(Picture a movie setting with a voice over) Later, back at the docks . . . She's back "home" and I'm returning home with sacks in hand. "I really, really had a good time with you today. I was thinking that we should get together all of the liveaboards and have "Happy Hours" on Fridays down here at the docks! What do you think? My husband says I'm an instigator. But it'd be fun! Let's go talk with John (dockmaster)."

Oh God, looks like I'm part of the gang now - planning happy hours down at the docks. Wonder what pastoring at happy hours looks like?

Some would say: "You should stop the notion. Be the killer of happy hours and such." You're right, there is a place for truth about living clean and fresh for God. But I recall Jesus being Jesus at the wedding party in Cana, and creating wine. He created that wine a long time before that scene at Cana, but he kept the joy flowing again at that wedding party. In fact, I believe Jesus approached the world with a "party attitude," always expecting to have fun with people on a daily basis.

He made a point of showing up where people thought he didn't belong. Look at the story where he healed the man's hand - on the Sabbath. He wasn't supposed to be taking lead on the Sabbath, and doing something contrary to the rules.

I've noticed in the church that many times we approach people as if we are going to "fix" them. We start out by wanting to change them so that they will fit "our" mold. And we douse some "Christian" claims about what God likes and doesn't like in the middle of defending this approach to others and evangelism.

There are definitely "rights" and "wrongs" - Sin is real and really devastating to people's lives, and most importantly breaks our Father's heart. But . . . and this is a big But . . . Jesus didn't approach people as if he was going to "fix" them. He approached them as if He was there to save.

"Saving" in God's eyes includes a lot more grace than we sometimes seem to be able to muster up. Saving is this: Jesus reached down into the mud, scooped up some mud/dung/whatever and wiped it on the man's eyes. The man had been blind from birth. And Jesus touched him -- when the man didn't know what was coming. Jesus did not sit down with him and tell him about every moment he had handled poorly - or point out to him the sin that clung to him.

Jesus simply reached down into the mud and saved.

He approached each person with a radically loving heart, healed without asking them what they'd been doing the night before, and gave his presence at parties. He was there not to condemn but to bring healing, hope, and most importantly friendship. After all, it was connection with Him that was truly forever saving.

"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:17, NIV

It is almost too radical to grasp. There is "right" and "wrong." And part of living whole is living "right." But God seems to see a first step that doesn't involve as much judgment for those who don't know. It seems to involve a very human touch and profound healing through His presence. It involves a real relationship on a human level.

 God is saving all of us.