that's good news

She appears a little on the tough side, hair too blond, nails too red, with that wary look of one too conscious her reputation. In a little town like this, every one knows about her "checkered past". She slips into the pew and it takes a moment for her to leave the difficult world of the outside, for her spirit to thaw in the warmth of worship. You can tell she feels like she belongs here though, the frail old gentleman next to her gave her a warm welcoming smile as she entered the pew and she held his hand during prayer. There were some less warm, not exactly sure how far God’s grace extends. But most of the worshipers show at least the courtesy due one who is “headed in the right direction”.
She probably could not articulate her hope using the familiar language of the Church. Theological terms like justification, regeneration and propitiation are a foreign tongue her. But her tears clearly measure her deep response to ancient words from Zechariah 13:1 put to music in the last century , "There is a Fountan filled with blood, drawn from Emmanuels veins, and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains."
There are some who would tell us that “old songs" like that don’t speak to this post-modern world but the songs of the redeemed have a power that transcends culture and history. This battered soul hears loudly and clearly ....the good news.... that God is a God of forgiveness, healing and new beginnings. Sinners are welcome , the song says, and transforming, healing power is available from the One who created mercy in the first place.