Am I a human? I think I am. Others may disagree. That's not the big problem. The main issue is about performance and function. Am I a being or a doing? I am rarely satisfied with what I 'do' and I rarely rest in who I am. There is always more to do, more actions to accomplish, more relationships to build, more...And, Whatever I did wasn't perfect. It is never good enough. Oh! The frustration of all this doing.
But how often do we just rest and 'Be'? I mean, how often do we relax in who we are and just 'be' ourselves, not trying to live up to others expectations or not trying to earn love or acceptance? Can you just 'be' you? Can you be the you that God loves and accepts?
I found a cool blog and signed up to follow thunderstruck.org because it fits with where God is leading Darla and me as we search for people far from Jesus so we can love them as we all journey through this messy life. Near the end of this blog: http://www.thunderstruck.org/holysmoke/smith.htm is an interesting question from a man who doesn't know Jesus. He asks the writer, "Are you a Christian, or do you love Jesus?" Very honest. Very real. Authentic and pure is what we all want; even if we don't understand what that means. We want real and we want truth.
Are we trying to earn God's love by doing or being good? By being good Christians who do good? Are we so focused on doing things for God to keep Him happy with us that we miss the whole idea of a love relationship with God? I'll define love in a future blog.
What this all comes down to is that we don't know how to rest in God and be His children. We are so activistic and pragmatic that we often miss the rest that God intended in the Garden of Eden and we miss the rest that Jesus desires for us to enter because of His doings at the cross and then leaving the tomb empty. There is a rest that we need desperately to enter [Hebrews 4] so that we can bask in the love of God and live life with different motives. We don't do things for God or others to be loved, affirmed or accepted. We do things because we 'are' loved, affirmed and accepted.
Do you know that Jesus loves you? Can you rest in the love God has for you? Have you surrendered all your doings to God so He can be in control of your life? These will bring you the rest you need. God meets all our needs. Not often how we want. But He is good. He is loving. He is the perfect being. Let's learn from Him and bask in His love. Dig into the Bible so you can know and love Him. He already knows and loves you.
Are you ready to "be" His child?
Monday, March 30, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Christian Dumb
Did that get your attention? The other day I heard someone pronounce 'Christendom' like "Christian Dumb." That's funny right 'dere. The nuance caught me by surprise which is why I laughed.
But it isn't all that funny since so many outside of 'Christendom' would be more likely to agree with "Christian Dumb." Is that because so many Christians act dumb? At least dumb toward those outside of churchdom? That is probably true. This might explain why there is such a dichotomy between those on the inside and those on the outside of North American churches. Here in the USA the lack of respect by both 'sides' towards each other has created a nasty wall that divides them so there is little room for dialogue. Perhaps if Christians would realize they don't want an oligarchy run by church attenders there would be some rom for discussion.
Maybe if Christians acted and lived like Jesus, they would decrease the frustration of those who dislike the political far-right fundamental religious right, insert other unpopular moniker stereotypical classifications here. Christians need to stop living dumb by not pushing laws that...so goes the argument. You know; things like 'you can't legislate morality,' 'separation of church and state,' etc. But aren't most criminal laws and many civil laws about legislating morality? Isn't the separation of church and state about not being told by the government what religion to follow? Isn't it OK for us to discuss, or argue, differing moral opinions so we can arrive at a social morality that protects as many as possible?
It is dumb for Christians to rule the general population like a church. It is not dumb for Christians to be in government. It is dumb for people to separate their religion from other areas of their lives. Apparently that type of religion is not worth following when it is not convenient. What other things are dumb or dom?
But it isn't all that funny since so many outside of 'Christendom' would be more likely to agree with "Christian Dumb." Is that because so many Christians act dumb? At least dumb toward those outside of churchdom? That is probably true. This might explain why there is such a dichotomy between those on the inside and those on the outside of North American churches. Here in the USA the lack of respect by both 'sides' towards each other has created a nasty wall that divides them so there is little room for dialogue. Perhaps if Christians would realize they don't want an oligarchy run by church attenders there would be some rom for discussion.
Maybe if Christians acted and lived like Jesus, they would decrease the frustration of those who dislike the political far-right fundamental religious right, insert other unpopular moniker stereotypical classifications here. Christians need to stop living dumb by not pushing laws that...so goes the argument. You know; things like 'you can't legislate morality,' 'separation of church and state,' etc. But aren't most criminal laws and many civil laws about legislating morality? Isn't the separation of church and state about not being told by the government what religion to follow? Isn't it OK for us to discuss, or argue, differing moral opinions so we can arrive at a social morality that protects as many as possible?
It is dumb for Christians to rule the general population like a church. It is not dumb for Christians to be in government. It is dumb for people to separate their religion from other areas of their lives. Apparently that type of religion is not worth following when it is not convenient. What other things are dumb or dom?
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Spiritual questions for you to wrestle with...
How can you know which religion/faith is true?
How can you prove them true or false?
How did their holy books get written: by whom, over how long a time, how accurate are they historically and archeologically?
How can "all roads lead to heaven" if they disagree over the main things?
What difference does your faith make in your life?
What does it all come down to? What is most important in life?
It's not our opinion that counts. We need to discover what is real and true.
How can you prove them true or false?
How did their holy books get written: by whom, over how long a time, how accurate are they historically and archeologically?
How can "all roads lead to heaven" if they disagree over the main things?
What difference does your faith make in your life?
What does it all come down to? What is most important in life?
It's not our opinion that counts. We need to discover what is real and true.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Welcome to the Adventure
Darla and I have begun a grand adventure of pursuing God's direction for our lives by starting a church for people who don't go to church. The intent is to invite people's friends, neighbors and coworkers into relationships that start with coffee talks where people can hang out, listen, vent, share their religious ideas and we can make friendships while sharing our faith too. I am convinced that as people search for truth, they will find Him. He is not a religion of works, so we don't need to appease some unknown god. He is, in fact, the God who created all things and then came to earth as a human to reveal what God is really like.
This God detests rebellion but loves rebels. He hates sin but sent Jesus to die for it. He knows and loves us intimately. Our goal is to pursue Him so we can know and love Him in return. Our side is done out of gratitude for His work of rescuing us when we were far from Him. Because He first loved us, we respond back with the love He teaches us how to share. This love inspires us to go to those not in any church and share the truth with them in a gentle and loving way. We want to do life with them. We want to share God's love as we make these new friends. As we love them and do life with them, we pray they will meet and fall in love with Jesus as we all journey toward truth.
So this will be based in love and relationship. There will eventually be worship celebrations, but we don't plan on looking like other churches. We will do all we can to keep things in a building simple. The fewer programs, the better. Reaching people far from the church will always be our primary purpose. We will be taking the church to them. I may not have a lot of the preaching or teaching skills of other pastors, so they can continue to attract people to their churches through their varieties of methods. I don't sing well enough for anyone to listen. I would have been dropped by American Idol at audition #1. I can't play any instruments. We don't have a building, a cool stage and sound system or lights or a parking lot, but we have love. Because God is love, we have a lot of love. Because Jesus hung out with regular folks, so will we.
If you know people who would be interested in having these coffee talks, start one. I would love to help you. I would hang out with you and your friends. If you want to connect us to them so we can lead a group and help you love your friends, we can do that too.
Let's all be the church going to those far from church. The truth is that even though they may be far from the church, they are never far from Jesus.
Love Ya',
SC
This God detests rebellion but loves rebels. He hates sin but sent Jesus to die for it. He knows and loves us intimately. Our goal is to pursue Him so we can know and love Him in return. Our side is done out of gratitude for His work of rescuing us when we were far from Him. Because He first loved us, we respond back with the love He teaches us how to share. This love inspires us to go to those not in any church and share the truth with them in a gentle and loving way. We want to do life with them. We want to share God's love as we make these new friends. As we love them and do life with them, we pray they will meet and fall in love with Jesus as we all journey toward truth.
So this will be based in love and relationship. There will eventually be worship celebrations, but we don't plan on looking like other churches. We will do all we can to keep things in a building simple. The fewer programs, the better. Reaching people far from the church will always be our primary purpose. We will be taking the church to them. I may not have a lot of the preaching or teaching skills of other pastors, so they can continue to attract people to their churches through their varieties of methods. I don't sing well enough for anyone to listen. I would have been dropped by American Idol at audition #1. I can't play any instruments. We don't have a building, a cool stage and sound system or lights or a parking lot, but we have love. Because God is love, we have a lot of love. Because Jesus hung out with regular folks, so will we.
If you know people who would be interested in having these coffee talks, start one. I would love to help you. I would hang out with you and your friends. If you want to connect us to them so we can lead a group and help you love your friends, we can do that too.
Let's all be the church going to those far from church. The truth is that even though they may be far from the church, they are never far from Jesus.
Love Ya',
SC
Sunday, March 1, 2009
"I Hate Organized Religion" & Other Phrases
Help me understand what this means: "I don't like [hate] organized religion." That is like saying that you don't like organized businesses. What about organized roadways & traffic laws? Is that what this means? Let's just all agree on mass disorder. There shouldn't be a boss to tell me what to do or how the company should be run so it can make a profit and keep people employed. Who needs goals?. Also, there shouldn't be traffic rules, laws or enforcement--that all cramps my style and doesn't let me be me--which, of course, is the highest good for humans.
I don't think that is the heart issue. We don't want chaos and mess. It seems like what is really being meant is that religious people have done a bunch of bad or hypocritical things so that leads to individuals turning their lives into private spiritual journeys to flee the hypocrisy, bickering or politics. Don't talk to me about your ideas and I won't talk about mine. Just mind your own business and do your own thing. Let's just be sincere and coexist. [Have you seen the 'COEXIST' bumper sticker? All those religions strongly disagree with each other. Now what!? They cannot all be right.]
I guess what the blog title phrase means is that we don't or can't know what is truth. How can we humans know what is the truth about God or gods and spiritual things? Can God really be known? We can't see, hear, smell, touch or taste God or the supernatural. Don't all roads lead to God? No one can tell anybody that they are wrong. As long as we are sincere.
I sincerely believe I can fly, walk on water, run 250mph, and have $1 billion in the bank. Nobody else thinks any of those are true. Dang! Just because I still believe sincerely, doesn't make it true. Instead I would be exposed as a fool or a nut. But if I sincerely believe spiritual things that are less easily disproven, then it must be true for me. I can now do whatever I want religiously or spiritually. I can make a buffet of everything out there until it is palatable for me. No one can tell me its wrong, since it's mine and I am sincere. So it's all good. Right?
I don't think that is the heart issue. We don't want chaos and mess. It seems like what is really being meant is that religious people have done a bunch of bad or hypocritical things so that leads to individuals turning their lives into private spiritual journeys to flee the hypocrisy, bickering or politics. Don't talk to me about your ideas and I won't talk about mine. Just mind your own business and do your own thing. Let's just be sincere and coexist. [Have you seen the 'COEXIST' bumper sticker? All those religions strongly disagree with each other. Now what!? They cannot all be right.]
I guess what the blog title phrase means is that we don't or can't know what is truth. How can we humans know what is the truth about God or gods and spiritual things? Can God really be known? We can't see, hear, smell, touch or taste God or the supernatural. Don't all roads lead to God? No one can tell anybody that they are wrong. As long as we are sincere.
I sincerely believe I can fly, walk on water, run 250mph, and have $1 billion in the bank. Nobody else thinks any of those are true. Dang! Just because I still believe sincerely, doesn't make it true. Instead I would be exposed as a fool or a nut. But if I sincerely believe spiritual things that are less easily disproven, then it must be true for me. I can now do whatever I want religiously or spiritually. I can make a buffet of everything out there until it is palatable for me. No one can tell me its wrong, since it's mine and I am sincere. So it's all good. Right?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
