The God Cafe

G.K. Chesterton wrote,

"The most incredible thing about miracles

"is that they happen."

This is a tale of the greatest miracle of them all,

the miracle of grace.

Ladies and gentlemen,

please welcome Steve and Krystal.

- Yes, Bill, I know they expect me to be there with Krystal.

Well, surely that's no reason to cancel the tour.

Of course it's just a rumor.

Krystal's just tired, that's all.

I can get someone to fill in for her.

It's my music.

I know they expect a married couple, Bill.

Look, let's be honest.

They're really coming to see me.

Look, I've dedicated my life to this ministry.

I am not gonna lose it all now.

We can easily find a female backup singer.

Bill!

Bill.

Fine.

I'll talk to her.

I don't know, I'll get her to see it my way.

You're my agent.

It's your job to make this right.

No, you do not cancel this tour!

It's too important!

Fine.

I will talk to you later.

What?

Oh, yeah.

Merry Christmas.

Steven.

Well, look at this.

Two elders and a senior pastor walk into my office.

Sounds like a setup for a joke.

But somehow, I don't think I'm gonna like the punchline.

Steven, the board has had a meeting and,

they're concerned about you and Krystal.

- Oh, so the board is listening to tabloid rumors, now?

So, are the rumors not true?

- Krystal's just tired and confused right now.

I'm gonna talk to her.

She'll see things my way.

- The church is willing to pay for a sabbatical

for you, Steven and counseling for you both.

Look.

Here's a place I think can help.

I don't need a sabbatical.

We don't need counseling.

Well, the board thinks you do.

Really?

And if disagree?

What?

You intend to fire me?

Gentlemen, are we forgetting

this place was spiritually dead before I got here.

I have worked night and day to raise

the quality of this music ministry.

Your congregation actually wants to worship now.

You do realize they're packing into the pews

to hear my music, right?

Oh, wow.

- Steven, the carolers are ready to rehearse.

Carol, I'm a little busy right now.

I'll catch up with you later.

- But you said you wanted to run through the songs--

I said I am busy.

Whoa, whoa.

Steven, you are out of control!

- Gentlemen, would you give us a moment, please?

All right, that's fair.

Take the sabbatical, Steven.

- Steven, asking you as a friend and a brother,

take this seriously.

I don't respond well to threats.

It's not a threat.

It's concern.

Really?

Concern for me, or the collection plate?

They're coming into the services to see me

and you all know it.

This place was nothing before I got here

and it's gonna be nothing without me.

This is my ministry.

I did this.

It's not the board's, it's not yours, it's mine!

Really?

And all these years I thought it was God's.

Welcome, friend.

Glad you came in from the storm.

What can I do for you?

Oh, just coffee, thanks.

Is this place new?

I don't remember seein' this place before.

New?

No, been here longer than dirt.

Well, what are you doin' open?

I mean, tonight, of all nights.

Figured this would be one place that'd be closed

on a night like tonight.

We're always here when needed.

But if there's nothing else right now...

No.

Well.

I'll be in the back if you need me.

Merry Christmas, friends.

- Thank you, and Merry Christmas to you, sir.

Merry Christmas.

And you to sir, good evening, Merry Christmas.

- Every fool going about with Merry Christmas on his lips

be boiled in his own pudding,

buried with a stake of holly through his heart.

Ah, Mr. Scrooge is it, then?

Yes, Mr. Dickens surely had a way with words.

Sir.

How are you not filled with joy tonight?

Don't you realize what today is?

Don't you realize that Jesus probably

wasn't born on December 25th?

- Aw, we don't worry about such things as that.

We believe any night is a good time to celebrate

the birth of our Lord and Savior.

Yes, and to paraphrase your Mr. Dickens,

we like to keep Christmas in our hearts all year long.

Fine, you keep Christmas in your way.

I'll keep Christmas in mine.

Well, my dear grumpy friend,

at least allow us the opportunity

to introduce ourselves.

This is my good friend, Shermond,

but we like to call him Cephas.

And this is Rabbi Saul.

Really?

Peter and Paul?

- Ah, so you are schooled in the scriptures, then?

I've done a fair amount of study, yes.

Well, good.

Well, you'll do well to keep up

with my learned brother, here.

He studied with Gamaliel, you know.

Hebrew of Hebrews, by law a Pharisee, but,

by righteousness based on that law.

Lawless.

Well, and as you know, brother,

I consider it all a loss to the surpassing worth

of knowing Christ as my Lord,

for Whose sake I have lost all things.

I know well, my friend.

But sir, if you know the scripture,

why are you not filled with joy tonight?

For, it's the celebration of what our brother, John, wrote.

For God so loved the world that He gave

His one and only Son so whoever believes

shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

I'm familiar with the story, okay?

I even wrote a song about it.

Are you?

Then rejoice.

Again, I say, rejoice.

Think of it, sir.

A God who so loved us that, at the right time,

while we were yet sinners, sent His

one and only Son to save us.

Sir.

On such a night as this, it happened,