Yes it has been a bit of a blogging dryspell for me, I apologize, but it will only continue for a bit. We are in the middle of a move across town that has involved packing my grandma's house, painting the house, packing our house, moving into my grandma's house, and cleaning our old house... it's been busy. We don't have our internet hooked up at the new house yet, so I only have limited net usage. Add to that Jenn and I are leaving on Thursday for 12 days in Mexico on a missions trip and I just won't be on much. I promise that will change later in the month. God bless and I hope you are all well.
- Matt "I hate packing" Schrock
I took this pic. It's probably the coolest one I've ever taken.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Just a side note...
Ok, it's been forever too long since I've written on here. It's not due to lack of inspiration, but more from lack of time. I won't go into all of that here (you can check out my other blog for more of that personal info), but just wanted to touch on something that has been rolling around in my head for a bit and pertains to a post by Bill in a round-about way.
Bill posted a question about ways to improve the quality of sunday school/small group time. I'm not here to answer that question actually, but to pose a question of my own. Is your sunday school/sunday evening service dying? Is it already gone and dead? If so why is that? So many churches I've noticed have gone away from having a Sunday evening service and are now cutting Sunday school, is this a good thing? Are we (Cornerstone Fellowship) ancient for keeping these meeting times? I don't think so, but that's me. And I'm not one to keep something just because it's always been done, but I'm also not for discarding something just because it's the "hip" thing to do. I find most churches are discarding these meeting times and not replacing them with something alive and vibrant. They are discarding them simply because not very many people come. Which brings me to two questions:
1.) As leadership do we do things because of the number of people attending, or because God has asked us to be available for the few who are being discipled in these times. I'll just leave that one right there. :D
2.) Why aren't people coming. Perhaps it's not an exciting time where God is moving and people are being touched. If that's the case, then that falls on the shoulders of the leadership. If we are not providing an opportunity for God to move, then it's all for nothing anyway. But most often I find that people are "too busy" to attend, or that those times are their "family times". Now I'm all for family times (anyone who knows me or my family knows that) but really, we can't find family times at ANY other time than Sunday night? and if that's true then what does that say for our priorities? What does that teach our children about priorities? "God is good, but only when it's convenient to us."
What has happened to the Sabbath in America? I'm not necessarily talking about doing nothing on Sunday in a legalistic sense... the Sabbath is about setting time aside to spend with God. Doing nothing without spending time with God is simply that, doing nothing. I'm not going to crucify anyone who "works" on Sunday. My parents are both nurses and at one time both had to work on Sundays, it was necessary and a good thing. The sabbath is about setting aside time for God. How sad is it that we can't do that more than our "2 hours" on a Sunday morning, let alone the 24 hours that God originally asked for. I am active on Sundays, I lead in our services, I do some activities in the afternoon, but I honestly do spend that time with God. Some might question one of those meeting times as not for God, but I do talk to God alot during that activity and ask Him for His eyes with the people around me. I don't just mindlessly do things (which is why I can no longer watch football on Sunday, as much as I'd love to... it's wasted time with God and I can catch the highlights later... instead of watching football and catching the "highlights" with God later. Yeah, I just made that up... i like it.)
Ok, I said all that to pose this question... Are we giving up the Sunday school/Sunday evening time for something better in God's plan, or are we simply giving up time with God because we are too lazy and selfish to give it to Him? Something to ponder. God bless.
Bill posted a question about ways to improve the quality of sunday school/small group time. I'm not here to answer that question actually, but to pose a question of my own. Is your sunday school/sunday evening service dying? Is it already gone and dead? If so why is that? So many churches I've noticed have gone away from having a Sunday evening service and are now cutting Sunday school, is this a good thing? Are we (Cornerstone Fellowship) ancient for keeping these meeting times? I don't think so, but that's me. And I'm not one to keep something just because it's always been done, but I'm also not for discarding something just because it's the "hip" thing to do. I find most churches are discarding these meeting times and not replacing them with something alive and vibrant. They are discarding them simply because not very many people come. Which brings me to two questions:
1.) As leadership do we do things because of the number of people attending, or because God has asked us to be available for the few who are being discipled in these times. I'll just leave that one right there. :D
2.) Why aren't people coming. Perhaps it's not an exciting time where God is moving and people are being touched. If that's the case, then that falls on the shoulders of the leadership. If we are not providing an opportunity for God to move, then it's all for nothing anyway. But most often I find that people are "too busy" to attend, or that those times are their "family times". Now I'm all for family times (anyone who knows me or my family knows that) but really, we can't find family times at ANY other time than Sunday night? and if that's true then what does that say for our priorities? What does that teach our children about priorities? "God is good, but only when it's convenient to us."
What has happened to the Sabbath in America? I'm not necessarily talking about doing nothing on Sunday in a legalistic sense... the Sabbath is about setting time aside to spend with God. Doing nothing without spending time with God is simply that, doing nothing. I'm not going to crucify anyone who "works" on Sunday. My parents are both nurses and at one time both had to work on Sundays, it was necessary and a good thing. The sabbath is about setting aside time for God. How sad is it that we can't do that more than our "2 hours" on a Sunday morning, let alone the 24 hours that God originally asked for. I am active on Sundays, I lead in our services, I do some activities in the afternoon, but I honestly do spend that time with God. Some might question one of those meeting times as not for God, but I do talk to God alot during that activity and ask Him for His eyes with the people around me. I don't just mindlessly do things (which is why I can no longer watch football on Sunday, as much as I'd love to... it's wasted time with God and I can catch the highlights later... instead of watching football and catching the "highlights" with God later. Yeah, I just made that up... i like it.)
Ok, I said all that to pose this question... Are we giving up the Sunday school/Sunday evening time for something better in God's plan, or are we simply giving up time with God because we are too lazy and selfish to give it to Him? Something to ponder. God bless.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Ok, so I'm running late...
but we're in the stretch run of a missions trip to India, so that's how it goes right now, ha.
About 2 weeks ago Bill posted a blog speaking on the topic of teaching/discipling/etc. and I loved the example he gave. (I won't go over it, if you haven't read it click on the title of this blog to be taken there) I think we as christians have done a poor job of this in the past. And yes I put myself right in the middle of that grouping. Where did we ever get the idea that being a church simply means showing up on Sunday to hear one or two people do everything? We certainly didn't get that example from Christ. Sure he did a lot himself (he was the Son of God ya know). But didn't he send out the twelve during his ministry, and send out the 72 after that? Who fed the 5000? Did Jesus walk around with the basket? And while some may use that to show elder/deacon ministries and argue that Christ did all the "teaching" he only did it for 3 years before turning it over to the twelve right? And it's not because that's when the religious leaders finally had enough and killed him, but because it was God's timing to hand that over to them. Now I'm not saying every pastor/leader should step down after 3 years, please don't misunderstand me. But I don't think it's a model for showing up one day a week and having one person do everything. Fault can be found on both sides of the set-up. Church goers who believe showing up once a week fulfills their call while ignoring the Great Commision, and pastors missing the giftings/callings of their flock while trying to fulfill the "call to ministry" on their own lives.
Now please don't take the previous statements as a rant against the church, it's not. It's more of just and observation. I say those things with no animosity or bitterness, but with love and care. And I don't want to be the type of person who proclaims all the "faults" of others with no offering of an alternative. So here is that alternative. What if we view ministry as more of a parenting model than a ceo type. A ceo has to maintain everything and be the head of whatever organization he/she is heading. A parent raises a child by nurturing, protecting, loving and teaching. A parent takes a child and teaches as they grow, they love and give discipline when needed, as the child grows in understanding and ability the parent allows the child to try things, to gain more responsibility... if the parent doesn't then you end up with a spoiled, misguided child who can do nothing for themselves. An adult in body only. I know a woman who has two boys who are both in college, and she STILL cuts their meat for them. Even at restaurants, in fact they wait for her to do it for them. These aren't your usual wimpy type of man you might expect, both were all-state football players and considered manly men by the community. How sad is that? As they grew older, they should have been able to try and cut their own food. The church has done the same thing. I know a number of guys I went to bible college with who have strong calls on their lives to teach and preach, but have yet to be given an opportunity to do just that in the churches they work in. Sure some have gravitated toward youth ministry because there is an opportunity there, but many feel called to be senior pastors and unless they choose to plant a church or the senior pastor leaves, they won't get that chance. Why is that? Because so many leaders feel that call to ministry, and in order to follow that call they feel they need to start a ministry, build it and then lead it until the end of their days. That is how we measure success in the natural. I am guilty of that myself, I so desperately want to validate who I am and my ministry that the thought of letting someone else do it is difficult.
However, I am blessed to be part of a local body that allows that. I have spoken countless times at all services and been allowed to find who I am in ministry in God. I look back at who I was the first few times I spoke and cringe. There wasn't anything inherently wrong with those times, in fact I spoke just like I was taught at school. The method and set up were textbook... but it's just not me. Now I have found the strengths (and weaknesses) that God saw fit to give me and when I speak I am comfortable with those giftings. And I can't express how wonderful it was to be given the opportunity to find those things out in a safe environment with people who loved me. Should it be any different with anyone who is called to any type of ministry? Instead of viewing Sunday as the point and purpose of our Chrisitan lives, shouldn't it be the jumping off point for going out and affecting the world around us? Perhaps we should redefine our "ministries" as preaching the gospel to save the lost and then raising up and teaching those that are saved to go do that which we did in the first place. When asking my dad about his views on ministry he tends to come back to the phrase "We should be constantly trying to work ourselves out of a job". How scary is that? If I work myself out of a job how will I provide for my family? I mean I'm supported (in part at least) by my salary at the church, if I truly work myself out of a job, what then? At which point, that small still voice says "Don't you trust that I will take care of you? I've called you to this, you don't think I have a plan for this?" Touche.
Ok, those are my thoughts. Hope they made sense. Feel free to share thoughts/concerns/disagreements/etc. And as always be sure to read Bill's blog regularly. God bless.
About 2 weeks ago Bill posted a blog speaking on the topic of teaching/discipling/etc. and I loved the example he gave. (I won't go over it, if you haven't read it click on the title of this blog to be taken there) I think we as christians have done a poor job of this in the past. And yes I put myself right in the middle of that grouping. Where did we ever get the idea that being a church simply means showing up on Sunday to hear one or two people do everything? We certainly didn't get that example from Christ. Sure he did a lot himself (he was the Son of God ya know). But didn't he send out the twelve during his ministry, and send out the 72 after that? Who fed the 5000? Did Jesus walk around with the basket? And while some may use that to show elder/deacon ministries and argue that Christ did all the "teaching" he only did it for 3 years before turning it over to the twelve right? And it's not because that's when the religious leaders finally had enough and killed him, but because it was God's timing to hand that over to them. Now I'm not saying every pastor/leader should step down after 3 years, please don't misunderstand me. But I don't think it's a model for showing up one day a week and having one person do everything. Fault can be found on both sides of the set-up. Church goers who believe showing up once a week fulfills their call while ignoring the Great Commision, and pastors missing the giftings/callings of their flock while trying to fulfill the "call to ministry" on their own lives.
Now please don't take the previous statements as a rant against the church, it's not. It's more of just and observation. I say those things with no animosity or bitterness, but with love and care. And I don't want to be the type of person who proclaims all the "faults" of others with no offering of an alternative. So here is that alternative. What if we view ministry as more of a parenting model than a ceo type. A ceo has to maintain everything and be the head of whatever organization he/she is heading. A parent raises a child by nurturing, protecting, loving and teaching. A parent takes a child and teaches as they grow, they love and give discipline when needed, as the child grows in understanding and ability the parent allows the child to try things, to gain more responsibility... if the parent doesn't then you end up with a spoiled, misguided child who can do nothing for themselves. An adult in body only. I know a woman who has two boys who are both in college, and she STILL cuts their meat for them. Even at restaurants, in fact they wait for her to do it for them. These aren't your usual wimpy type of man you might expect, both were all-state football players and considered manly men by the community. How sad is that? As they grew older, they should have been able to try and cut their own food. The church has done the same thing. I know a number of guys I went to bible college with who have strong calls on their lives to teach and preach, but have yet to be given an opportunity to do just that in the churches they work in. Sure some have gravitated toward youth ministry because there is an opportunity there, but many feel called to be senior pastors and unless they choose to plant a church or the senior pastor leaves, they won't get that chance. Why is that? Because so many leaders feel that call to ministry, and in order to follow that call they feel they need to start a ministry, build it and then lead it until the end of their days. That is how we measure success in the natural. I am guilty of that myself, I so desperately want to validate who I am and my ministry that the thought of letting someone else do it is difficult.
However, I am blessed to be part of a local body that allows that. I have spoken countless times at all services and been allowed to find who I am in ministry in God. I look back at who I was the first few times I spoke and cringe. There wasn't anything inherently wrong with those times, in fact I spoke just like I was taught at school. The method and set up were textbook... but it's just not me. Now I have found the strengths (and weaknesses) that God saw fit to give me and when I speak I am comfortable with those giftings. And I can't express how wonderful it was to be given the opportunity to find those things out in a safe environment with people who loved me. Should it be any different with anyone who is called to any type of ministry? Instead of viewing Sunday as the point and purpose of our Chrisitan lives, shouldn't it be the jumping off point for going out and affecting the world around us? Perhaps we should redefine our "ministries" as preaching the gospel to save the lost and then raising up and teaching those that are saved to go do that which we did in the first place. When asking my dad about his views on ministry he tends to come back to the phrase "We should be constantly trying to work ourselves out of a job". How scary is that? If I work myself out of a job how will I provide for my family? I mean I'm supported (in part at least) by my salary at the church, if I truly work myself out of a job, what then? At which point, that small still voice says "Don't you trust that I will take care of you? I've called you to this, you don't think I have a plan for this?" Touche.
Ok, those are my thoughts. Hope they made sense. Feel free to share thoughts/concerns/disagreements/etc. And as always be sure to read Bill's blog regularly. God bless.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Discipling is a dirty job...
but thankfully some are willing to do it. This post is in response to the latest Cup O' Joe with Bill post "Rethinking How Disciples are made- part 1". The question posed is "Is it REALLY possible to make disciples of Jesus Christ by dispensing information via speaking, preaching, and teaching alone?" and my reply is no. To truly disciple someone means to take time and invest in their lives.
One of the biggest things we as humans crave is someone to care about us. Lots of different people are telling us how to live our lives... "eat right" "take care of the environment" "vote for ______" "wear this to look cool" "this is the way to heaven" etc. But you and I both know that the ones we listen to the most come from people who take the time to sit and take part in our lives. The same goes for our faith. Lots of people have heard about Christ, or been told what to do and not do, or been "preached at". But how often does the church take the time to sit and build a relationship while sharing the gospel? I admit for a long time I was in the first camp and not the latter, but I'm working on that. Which is better? to have a ministry that preaches at 1000 people each sunday, or a ministry that actively invests in a dozen lives or so? I think I'll take the latter.
This idea of investing is also a big part of the vision Jennifer and I have for our missions undertaking. We want to facilitate short term missions trips. But a major key is to help a ministry that is already taking place, not be the "Americans coming to save the day" or any of that nonsense. If we go to a foreign country to help the people there, it's not our field. It's the field of whoever is doing the work. We just want to help support the ministry in any way we can. Don't have a crusade because we are coming, but we will come help because you are having a crusade. If we were to come and "do a crusade" what happens when we leave? The young man or woman who gets saved but who's only contact is the person leaving again in a few days has nothing to keep them going or help them grow. But if we are acting as a support for someone who is there, then discipling can take place. It's about relationship.
This is a topic that is very near and dear to my heart. I apologize if this has been a bit disjointed but I"m writing it with Kaylee making as much noise as possible for a 2 yr. old... and it's something that I'm so passionate about that the words/thoughts are coming faster than I can sort them or type them. It's why I'm so passionate about CFN (Church Foundational Network). It's all about the relational ministry. Anyway, I'll get off my soap box. I pray you are all well. As always, any thoughts/opinions are always welcome. God bless.
-Matt
One of the biggest things we as humans crave is someone to care about us. Lots of different people are telling us how to live our lives... "eat right" "take care of the environment" "vote for ______" "wear this to look cool" "this is the way to heaven" etc. But you and I both know that the ones we listen to the most come from people who take the time to sit and take part in our lives. The same goes for our faith. Lots of people have heard about Christ, or been told what to do and not do, or been "preached at". But how often does the church take the time to sit and build a relationship while sharing the gospel? I admit for a long time I was in the first camp and not the latter, but I'm working on that. Which is better? to have a ministry that preaches at 1000 people each sunday, or a ministry that actively invests in a dozen lives or so? I think I'll take the latter.
This idea of investing is also a big part of the vision Jennifer and I have for our missions undertaking. We want to facilitate short term missions trips. But a major key is to help a ministry that is already taking place, not be the "Americans coming to save the day" or any of that nonsense. If we go to a foreign country to help the people there, it's not our field. It's the field of whoever is doing the work. We just want to help support the ministry in any way we can. Don't have a crusade because we are coming, but we will come help because you are having a crusade. If we were to come and "do a crusade" what happens when we leave? The young man or woman who gets saved but who's only contact is the person leaving again in a few days has nothing to keep them going or help them grow. But if we are acting as a support for someone who is there, then discipling can take place. It's about relationship.
This is a topic that is very near and dear to my heart. I apologize if this has been a bit disjointed but I"m writing it with Kaylee making as much noise as possible for a 2 yr. old... and it's something that I'm so passionate about that the words/thoughts are coming faster than I can sort them or type them. It's why I'm so passionate about CFN (Church Foundational Network). It's all about the relational ministry. Anyway, I'll get off my soap box. I pray you are all well. As always, any thoughts/opinions are always welcome. God bless.
-Matt
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
If you've happened across this blog...
and wouldn't mind, I'd love for you to check out my other blog. Random acts of conciousness (www.mattnjenn.blogspot.com) I love to hear other's views on things. God bless. and I promise to post a more meaningful blog here soon. Just kinda busy (the post on RAOC will explain) God bless.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Anybody can be a parent, it takes effort to be a Father
Alright boys and girls... I'm a little delayed on this post, but I've been UBER-busy this week. This post is in response to the latest posting on Cup O'Joe (click on post title for the link).
Interestingly enough, I received my monthly newsletter from Charles Simpson a day or so before that post. (In fact I was gonna post this topic on my other blog, random acts of consciousness, but it fit too well here.. so I posted something else there.... check it out, lol) It was specifically speaking about Spiritual Fathers, which I think is just another term for the questions and comments Bill posted. On a side note, I absolutely LOVE when I find God quickening the spirits of two unrelated Men of God in completely different parts of the country in the same direction, continues to show me that God still moves and cares about His people.
The church has gotten away from the idea of "Fathering Spiritually". It's what Jesus did. He was the original "Church Father", but we have relegated that term to a position. If His spirit is one of fathering, then since we have that same spirit shouldn't we have a desire to raise up spiritual children. The apostles did. Unfortunately though, when someone says the "Church Fathers" they often just mean the apostles or leaders of a faith movement (ex. Martin Luther, John Calvin, etc.) I myself have often done that. But "Church Fathers" are meant to continue to train and raise up children. What does it mean to be a father in the natural sense? It means you teach, you train, you model, you encourage, you discipline, you love your child. The biggest key is you invest time and effort in their lives. A true father tries to raise good men and women. A true father is about the joy and fulfillment of the child than himself. It's not easy, but it is so important. Unfortunately our culture is so much of a "Me first" society that even fathering (and mothering) in the natural has taken a hit. It's more about "My time" and "my leisure" than our families. Now personal time is important, but not to the extent our society portrays. I know a number of post-college, late 20's adults who don't have any desire to have children because it would encroach upon "their lives and time". This type of self-centeredness has crept into the lives of believers as well and affected the view of fathering and mothering spiritual children. A believer should be trained by someone who has been there, or have a spiritual parent (often more than one... I know I have multilple). And that same believer should then be urged by the Spirit of God to turn around and raise up spiritual children. But, a pastor who is judged by the size of his congregation doesn't have time to invest in individual lives, the majority of the congregation would suffer (or so it's implied). And the person who attends cannot be bothered to raise up spiritual children, it would encroach upon their lives... and it's the pastor's job anyway, isn't it?
One of the reasons I feel that we have lost this passion for fathering (and yes this is MY OPINION feel free to disagree and take it for what it's worth... a young man in God, NOT AN EXPERT, ha. Just a disclaimer) is that the pendulum has swung too far. There has been a wonderful move within believers to make our walk with Christ a personal one. It is about a personal relationship. However, if we ONLY focus on our personal relationship, then it excludes anyone else. We all become individual ships in the sea of God. We don't interact and if we do it's just in passing. As a result there are a LOT of believers who have never reproduced.
What then shall we do? We need to restore the Spirit of God, which is a spirit of fathering and mothering. Again there has been an exceptional movement to restore God's Truth. But God's truth without God's spirit becomes legalistic. The law given to the children of Israel was truth then just as it is now. But without the Spirit of God brought into lives through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, they could not satisfy the law. We often see grace as the opposite of law. But it is not. Grace is the difference between living under the law in condemnation and living with the law in us as life.
Ok.... there's about a thousand more things I have running through my head, but I'll stop now. God bless for anyone crazy enough to read through this. As always comments/question/disagreements are always welcomed enthusiastically.
Interestingly enough, I received my monthly newsletter from Charles Simpson a day or so before that post. (In fact I was gonna post this topic on my other blog, random acts of consciousness, but it fit too well here.. so I posted something else there.... check it out, lol) It was specifically speaking about Spiritual Fathers, which I think is just another term for the questions and comments Bill posted. On a side note, I absolutely LOVE when I find God quickening the spirits of two unrelated Men of God in completely different parts of the country in the same direction, continues to show me that God still moves and cares about His people.
The church has gotten away from the idea of "Fathering Spiritually". It's what Jesus did. He was the original "Church Father", but we have relegated that term to a position. If His spirit is one of fathering, then since we have that same spirit shouldn't we have a desire to raise up spiritual children. The apostles did. Unfortunately though, when someone says the "Church Fathers" they often just mean the apostles or leaders of a faith movement (ex. Martin Luther, John Calvin, etc.) I myself have often done that. But "Church Fathers" are meant to continue to train and raise up children. What does it mean to be a father in the natural sense? It means you teach, you train, you model, you encourage, you discipline, you love your child. The biggest key is you invest time and effort in their lives. A true father tries to raise good men and women. A true father is about the joy and fulfillment of the child than himself. It's not easy, but it is so important. Unfortunately our culture is so much of a "Me first" society that even fathering (and mothering) in the natural has taken a hit. It's more about "My time" and "my leisure" than our families. Now personal time is important, but not to the extent our society portrays. I know a number of post-college, late 20's adults who don't have any desire to have children because it would encroach upon "their lives and time". This type of self-centeredness has crept into the lives of believers as well and affected the view of fathering and mothering spiritual children. A believer should be trained by someone who has been there, or have a spiritual parent (often more than one... I know I have multilple). And that same believer should then be urged by the Spirit of God to turn around and raise up spiritual children. But, a pastor who is judged by the size of his congregation doesn't have time to invest in individual lives, the majority of the congregation would suffer (or so it's implied). And the person who attends cannot be bothered to raise up spiritual children, it would encroach upon their lives... and it's the pastor's job anyway, isn't it?
One of the reasons I feel that we have lost this passion for fathering (and yes this is MY OPINION feel free to disagree and take it for what it's worth... a young man in God, NOT AN EXPERT, ha. Just a disclaimer) is that the pendulum has swung too far. There has been a wonderful move within believers to make our walk with Christ a personal one. It is about a personal relationship. However, if we ONLY focus on our personal relationship, then it excludes anyone else. We all become individual ships in the sea of God. We don't interact and if we do it's just in passing. As a result there are a LOT of believers who have never reproduced.
What then shall we do? We need to restore the Spirit of God, which is a spirit of fathering and mothering. Again there has been an exceptional movement to restore God's Truth. But God's truth without God's spirit becomes legalistic. The law given to the children of Israel was truth then just as it is now. But without the Spirit of God brought into lives through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, they could not satisfy the law. We often see grace as the opposite of law. But it is not. Grace is the difference between living under the law in condemnation and living with the law in us as life.
Ok.... there's about a thousand more things I have running through my head, but I'll stop now. God bless for anyone crazy enough to read through this. As always comments/question/disagreements are always welcomed enthusiastically.
Monday, April 21, 2008
The maiden voyage...
Welcome to the first posting of The Caffeine Buzz. Since the posts on this blog are all a result of postings on Cup O' Joe with Bill, I thought the title was only appropriate. The purpose of this blog is NOT to put my thoughts above anyone else who comments on Bill's page, but so I don't overload the comment space with my ramblings and musings... it's not my page, BUT this one is. :D I will still be participating in general discussion with comments, but now I can run with any rabbit trails or extended thoughts as I choose. So on with the show...
(Click on this posts title to be taken directly to the post on Cup O' Joe)
This was an intriguing scene to say the least. First of all, EXTREMELY well acted (I am a huge fan of theater both live and on the screen, ha). But what intrigued me the most was the comments by the chaplain and the reaction of the patient. I had to ask myself how I would react in that situation if I were the chaplain. What would I say? What would I say to anyone seeking answers for their life's path? I think the time we live in people are desperately seeking answers, but not just answers. They are seeking people who not only believe the answers they have to share, but those who live them as well. The world is tired of hearing "Christians" spout religious rhetoric with nothing to back it up... and it makes perfect sense. How can we offer anything if we don't live it? How can I claim that the person across from me choose Jesus as their Lord and Savior if I'm not. If I don't believe in God as absolute truth, how can I proclaim Him as God? If I don't love others, why should they believe me when I say Jesus loves them?
We can't give what we don't have. Period. Who would you rather go to for advice on raising kids? A parent who got C's in school or the genius high school freshman who almost at college level? Duh, right? Well who would a person seeking truth in God rather hear about Him from, a person who lives the love of God daily or the person who proclaims God on Sunday and gossips about coworkers on Monday? One of my favorite scriptures is Acts 3:6. The scene is at the temple gate and Peter and John are walking by a lame man. The lame man asks for some money and Peter's reply is "I don't have any money for you. But I'll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!" (Acts 3:6 NLT) I'll give you what I do have. The lame man wasn't healed because Peter knew God could. He wasn't healed because someone had told Peter about healing. He was healed because Peter had the Spirit of the Living God in him. He lived what he preached. So the question becomes what do I have to offer? Do I have another list of things to do just like the self-help books? Do I have a bunch of good ideas and nice platitudes to offer? Or do I have the life that God gives freely flowing in me?
Now I'm not perfect and will never claim to be. Nor have I had a life that would qualify as extremely rough. And I don't have all the answers (If I did, then I'd be God, but that's another whole post in and of itself). But I have had my share of trials. And I've had my share of situations that I just don't understand. But I do know that God is God. That I love others because He loves them. That I love others because He loved me first, someone wholly undeserving of any love. I know that the Holy Spirit lives in me. The same Spirit that was in the apostles works in my life. And I know that He wants to work in every life I come in contact with. That I know. I know the truth and that is what I have to give.
God bless. For anyone who lasted through that entire thing I commend you. I strongly encourage you to read Cup O' Joe with Bill faithfully and join in on the conversation. Please feel free to share any thoughts you have, agreeing or disagreeing all are welcome, all I ask is that it be kept clean. (I only put the comment moderation on so I can filter out profanity and spam.) And I want to give a very special thanks to Bill Allison for everything he does and all that he means in my life. If you get a chance to hear him speak I strongly encourage it. He is on the short list of people who make up my "I am who I am in ministry because of..." list. He is an amazing man of God, an amazing father, an amazingly lucky husband (if you've met Stacy and her never ending patience you know EXACTLY what I mean, ha) and one of my dear friends. Thanks Bill and God bless.
(Click on this posts title to be taken directly to the post on Cup O' Joe)
This was an intriguing scene to say the least. First of all, EXTREMELY well acted (I am a huge fan of theater both live and on the screen, ha). But what intrigued me the most was the comments by the chaplain and the reaction of the patient. I had to ask myself how I would react in that situation if I were the chaplain. What would I say? What would I say to anyone seeking answers for their life's path? I think the time we live in people are desperately seeking answers, but not just answers. They are seeking people who not only believe the answers they have to share, but those who live them as well. The world is tired of hearing "Christians" spout religious rhetoric with nothing to back it up... and it makes perfect sense. How can we offer anything if we don't live it? How can I claim that the person across from me choose Jesus as their Lord and Savior if I'm not. If I don't believe in God as absolute truth, how can I proclaim Him as God? If I don't love others, why should they believe me when I say Jesus loves them?
We can't give what we don't have. Period. Who would you rather go to for advice on raising kids? A parent who got C's in school or the genius high school freshman who almost at college level? Duh, right? Well who would a person seeking truth in God rather hear about Him from, a person who lives the love of God daily or the person who proclaims God on Sunday and gossips about coworkers on Monday? One of my favorite scriptures is Acts 3:6. The scene is at the temple gate and Peter and John are walking by a lame man. The lame man asks for some money and Peter's reply is "I don't have any money for you. But I'll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!" (Acts 3:6 NLT) I'll give you what I do have. The lame man wasn't healed because Peter knew God could. He wasn't healed because someone had told Peter about healing. He was healed because Peter had the Spirit of the Living God in him. He lived what he preached. So the question becomes what do I have to offer? Do I have another list of things to do just like the self-help books? Do I have a bunch of good ideas and nice platitudes to offer? Or do I have the life that God gives freely flowing in me?
Now I'm not perfect and will never claim to be. Nor have I had a life that would qualify as extremely rough. And I don't have all the answers (If I did, then I'd be God, but that's another whole post in and of itself). But I have had my share of trials. And I've had my share of situations that I just don't understand. But I do know that God is God. That I love others because He loves them. That I love others because He loved me first, someone wholly undeserving of any love. I know that the Holy Spirit lives in me. The same Spirit that was in the apostles works in my life. And I know that He wants to work in every life I come in contact with. That I know. I know the truth and that is what I have to give.
God bless. For anyone who lasted through that entire thing I commend you. I strongly encourage you to read Cup O' Joe with Bill faithfully and join in on the conversation. Please feel free to share any thoughts you have, agreeing or disagreeing all are welcome, all I ask is that it be kept clean. (I only put the comment moderation on so I can filter out profanity and spam.) And I want to give a very special thanks to Bill Allison for everything he does and all that he means in my life. If you get a chance to hear him speak I strongly encourage it. He is on the short list of people who make up my "I am who I am in ministry because of..." list. He is an amazing man of God, an amazing father, an amazingly lucky husband (if you've met Stacy and her never ending patience you know EXACTLY what I mean, ha) and one of my dear friends. Thanks Bill and God bless.
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