A View Under The Umbrella

I sometimes take opportunities to clarify what we are or where we are going.  I’ve thought recently that maybe it’s just where I’m going.  It’s times like this when I’m getting so darn introspective that God reveals Himself in those around me.

To understand what the ministry I’m a part of has become it is best not to listen to me.  It is better to listen to the voices that surround me, that lift me up when my own voice is to weak to be heard.  Here I have included a couple of comments from this blog that you might not see without digging, but they are words that ring true to my ears.  Hopefully they will to yours too:

the truth hurts Says:
November 29, 2007 at 3:44 pm e

So netchurch huh?…..Netchurch was and is a place where people can come with diff beliefs and love one another. To strengthen ones self beliefs yet at the same time staying true to what we believe. We never asked the non-christians to line up and down with our beliefs…and yet they stayed even when most of what we said didnt flow with them.
People leave when something doesnt absolutely line up and down with them.Maybe this is why there are so many churchs. We arent trying to reach the non-believers anymore. It feels like we are trying to convince those who already accepted Jesus to go the next level on what we believe.

Its like we no longer accept the fact that people accept Jesus. We need more. More from our christian brothers and sisters and those who dont believe.

The “non-christians” look at us and go “love”?

The world is filled with war and despair. Yet we as “christians” cant seem to offer anything better.

It’s kind of like a war is going on and someone walks up to you saying “look…Jesus loves you”. You cant help but notice the war going on in the backfield amongst those who are “bringing love”.

So whats my point…….I’m tired….tired of trying to line up completly with other christians.
My God calls me to love him and others……so be it.

In the words of the ancient days, “It has been written, so let it be done”.

‘ol bill Says:
November 29, 2007 at 4:46 pm e

If there’s no difference in opinion, then there’s no conversation. If there’s no conversation, there’s no road to understanding. No road to agreement. No road to peace.
So, we come upon the scene, Paul the Apostle has just climbed Mars Hill in Greece. Listen, he’s about to speak:
Paul:”Look at this bunch of Gods you idiots are praying to!!! Don’t you know there’s only one God, and if you don’t change to my God pretty quick, you’re going to Hell. I’ve got a truck load of Christians at the bottom of this hill and we’re fixing to pull down every one of these idols and set you cretins on the right track for your own good.” (The sound of stones flying and hitting Paul can be heard, the next sound is Paul’s feet making tracks for the bottom of the hill) Paul:”I’ll be back to beat you heathens into the way of Christ and you’ll be sorry you didn’t convert today, next time I’ll bring Peter, he requires circumcision!”
Yep, has about the same sweet, irresistable sound it did then. Evalgalism,,,full contact evangalism.
But of course, we know that’s not how Paul approached the problem, nor was that the outcome.
Wish we could have had a talk with him befoe he messed up so badly.
But then, since they were early Greeks, maybe we wouldn’t be Christians if he had listened to us.
If you don’t agree, join the conversation. there’s no voice that has more authority than yours, and none less. That’s what makes it a conversation.
There are a plethera of Christians I don’t agree with. If you’re reading this, it probably includes you. Yet I don’t have to agree in order to be one with them. The Bible tells us to be ‘one in spirit’ that leads to ‘one in mind.’ One in spirit, one spirit, one Holy Spirit. One Spirit of Christ, living in all of us. Trying to lead us to perfection, but being fought every step of the way by our fleshly ways.
So the only way for us to grow, is to talk. Talk together, join the conversation. Become a part of the discourse. And perhaps, just perhaps, what you add will be what I needed to hear. And since I heard it, I can grow in Christ, and follow His lead a bit more perfectly that before.
But you’re not there, are you. So I guess I’ll go on that much more imperfectly, until God can bring someone else to show me His way.

You might read these words and your ears might hear “un-Christlike thinking”.  Strange.  I hear Christ’s love all throughout them.  It’s not about knowing.  It’s about struggling.  If we ever stop doing that then our idea of Christ has become too much like us and not enough like Him.

God bless you all who continue to struggle………..

A new home. A new look.

Welcome to the new home of my blog.  Sorry for the delay in writing.  That will change.

 Let the discussion begin!!