The following are the 10 most viewed posts on this blog for the month of April. Check out the ones you didn’t yet read.
So there you go the posts that were the most read in the month of April, 2012. Enjoy and be blessed!
April 26th will mark the 16th anniversary of my commitment to Christ. I don’t believe I really had any idea what that meant 16 years ago.
At the time I stood-up for Jesus it wasn’t because I had been attending Bible studies or spending a lot of time searching for God. I didn’t have any thought or hope that I would be saved. I didn’t have a high-regard for Christians. I wasn’t a fan of church. I wasn’t a fan of really anything…
So from my perspective on that Friday night April 26, 1996 it was without any warning that God spoke straight into my heart. He asked me a simple question, “Will you give me a chance?”
God didn’t force Himself. He didn’t yell or bully. But without a doubt I, yes even me, my heathen unbelieving self, knew it was God speaking to me as clear as if we had been talking face to face, and I knew a decision had to be made.
The devil was speaking to me as well though. He was telling me not to be a fool. Not to stand-up. To remember all the things I did that I couldn’t stop doing. He reminded me of the times I had seen others stand only to fall again, and I would surely fall flat!
But there was that voice still asking, “Will give me a chance?”
No one can say to me, “there is no great controversy.” Those voices were both strong and clear!
Yet the Holy Spirit kept asking, “Will you give me a chance?”
I have since analyzed that night and all the nights leading up to that night. I have identified the points where God was clearly working in my life. I have identified the power of prayer on my behalf and the power of struggle that caused me to want something better.
But on that night ALL I KNEW and ALL THAT MATTERED was that one voice, speaking above the din of my satan controlled life, and inviting me, asking me, “Will you give me a chance?”
Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul
Thank you, Lord, for making me whole
Thank you, Lord, for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free
This post isn’t about people not attending church, it is about the attitude in which they attend church. Why am I thinking about this topic today? Because of a statement that was made to me yesterday–
An individual that attends both our established church and our church plant came up to me and said, “I think you do a better job preaching at The Ark (the church plant). You seem more relaxed.”
Now I have also noticed that I do seem to maybe flow a little better at “The Ark” but I’ve always looked at if from the perspective of, “well I’m preaching the message for the third time that day, it should be better.” But his next statement struck me…
“I think its because you know that everyone WANTS to be here, so there isn’t the critical spirit accompanying them, they just want to be here and learn.”
As I am sitting here on Sunday I am thinking about that statement & realizing there may be more truth to it than I’d like to admit.
Do people still (they did back in the day b/c it was the community connecting point) come to church for any other reason than want?
Is it guilt?
Is it societal expectation?
Is it habit?
Is it a social gathering?
Is it entertainment?
Is it an emotional response?
Is it family pressure?
Is it because the pastor has harrassed enough?
Is it because “this is just what we do?”
If it is anything other than a desire to deeply connect with God, and I am speaking here of those who claim to be Christians not guests or explorers of faith, if it is anything other than a desire to engage with the almighty is that satisfactory worship?
I think of the text in Revelation 3
So there seems to be the expectation within my praticular faith community, that if you support women’s ordination, believe drums are okay, and didn’t like the tone of the Presidential sermon at our General Conference Session back in June/July of 2010 then you are also against the General Conference Presidency of Ted Wilson.
Why?
What bothers me most about this expectation is that it so deeply reflects the politics of our culture! I’m pro-life, “Oh so you’re a Republican.” I’m anti-guns, anti-death penalty, “Oh so you’re a Democrat.” But wait, what if you’re all of those then what are you?
We have become a nation that tries to force people into boxes and against specific individuals based on a select few issues. And it seems the church is trying to do the same, which is unfortunate because when the church mimics the world it looks a lot less like Jesus and a lot more like the devil!
So yes, Elder Wilson and I disagree on women’s ordination, I haven’t agreed with several of his comments on music, I wasn’t particularly thrilled with his opening speech, and YES, I’m glad he is our General Conference President!
Why shouldn’t I be? Because of those issues?
I struggle with a certain wing of our church, many of whom are my friends, that are always sounding the cry for tolerance and yet the language used towards Ted Wilson and the open support and hope of his removal from office show absolute intolerance!
Y’all we are not Washington D.C. We are a church. A church that NO ONE is forced to be a part of! A church that if a person is a part of, hopefully it is because they believe Jesus is leading the church.
And if we are truly a church then should we not take the same position as David whom though Saul was pursuing him for his very life, David felt guilty about even harming the fabric of Saul’s robe. (That is not a comparison of Ted Wilson to Saul. Ted Wilson is a good & kind man!)
Shame on us if we have become so like the world and the world’s politics we fail to accept our leadership, which God has established, based on a few varying points of view.
I pray our Spectrum of tolerance grows us into acting more like a church and less like a political party!
I attended a funeral yesterday and in the procession from the church to the graveside I remembered this old post and a great tradition: