{"id":629,"date":"2011-10-26T09:43:12","date_gmt":"2011-10-26T15:43:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/michellevanloon.com\/?p=629"},"modified":"2011-10-26T09:43:12","modified_gmt":"2011-10-26T15:43:12","slug":"move-over-barney-fife","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/pilgrimsroadtrip\/2011\/10\/move-over-barney-fife\/","title":{"rendered":"Move over, Barney Fife"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"<\/a>My big, beefy imagination is usually overkill for most of the tasks requiring creativity in my life. But that inner world becomes a whimpering Barney Fife when it comes to one really important area. I can not comprehend how God can transform the church from a weary, jaded and frequently unfaithful renegade with a kaleidoscope of personalities and terrible habits into a pure, innocent partner with eyes only for the Son.<\/p>\n

But that is Scripture\u2019s story. The author of that story tells us that he sees something in the Church that we don\u2019t see in ourselves.<\/p>\n

All I can see is who she is right now. Let\u2019s be honest here. It is not always a very pretty picture. It can make me feel a little hopeless.<\/p>\n

It is helpful in those moments if I muscle aside ol\u2019 Barney and press my nose up against the dim glass<\/a>. If I peer intently, these sorts of images will give me a glimpse of what God sees when he looks at the end of the story:<\/p>\n