1 Dec, 2009
Party Crashers
A couple of Washington socialites aspiring to appear in the upcoming reality-TV series "Real Housewives of D.C." were being filmed by the show's producers as they sneaked into the White House for Tuesday's state dinner, ABC News has learned.
Party crashers made it past security at the president's state dinner. Michaele and Tareq Salahi weren't on the White House guest list, but that didn't stop the duo from successfully penetrating one of the nation's most secure places.
Now, the Secret Service is investigating how the Salahis managed to pull it off and whether they committed a crime. It's unclear what legal liability, if any, they may face. Were they trespassing? Did someone at the White House help them get in?
"It's clear they weren't on the list and weren't invited," White House officials said.
Initial findings of the Secret Service investigation have identified a checkpoint where procedures were not properly followed, according to the agency.
For their part, the Salahis certainly looked as though they belonged, arriving in a stretch-SUV and wearing glitzy formal evening wear.
The couple later posted pictures from the evening on their Facebook pages.
(To read the full story by Yunji De Nies, Byron Wolf and Devin Dwyer on 11/26/09, go to abcnews.go.com/politics.)
Matthew 9:10-13
While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"
On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Does God's Story encourage us to be "party crashers"?
The short answer to that question is "not exactly". Jesus was not teaching us to go to parties where sinners hang out. What He was teaching us is that we should be willing to go outside of the church walls and our own comfort zones to reach the lost...wherever they may be.
The religious leaders in this passage were upset with Jesus for hanging out with "those kind of people", but Jesus didn't care. He wasn't there to impress religious people or look the part of a "good rabbi". He was only concerned with spending time with those who needed to hear His message. To do this, it sometimes meant that He had to "crash some parties" where He could hang out with them.
Connecting today's story and God's Story with my story
- How are you doing at following Jesus' model of pursuing lost people? Are you willing to enter into relationships with "those kinds of people"? Are you willing to get out of your comfort zone to do so? If that is a challenge, ask God for the boldness you need....and remember, wherever you go, He will be with you.
- If God does lead you to go somewhere you normally wouldn't (like a party) strictly for the purpose of reaching out to lost people, here are a few things to remember. First, never do so without praying hard about this. Second, make sure your parents and/or pastor have agreed that you are spiritually mature enough to go into enemy territory. Third, take another Christ-follower with you for the sake of accountability and strength to stand for your faith. Fourth, have others praying for you while you go where the lost can be found.
Connecting today's story, God's Story and my story with their story
- Why was Jesus a "party crasher"? Because He loved those who were lost. He didn't judge them. People act sinful...well, because they are sinners. They are only doing what they know. Let's be sure to love and not judge. Let's be willing to go where they are and build relationships...so that the "sick" can be healed.
- Ask God to place someone on your heart that you know is lost...and then begin to think of ways that you can enter into their world. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in this.
- Ask another Christian what they think about "Jesus the party crasher" and why they think He set this example for us.
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