Being Real

So for the first time in my life I truly want to know what it feels like to not be a hypocrite. To match what I say with what I do. Then and only then will I be able to start fulfilling my potential as a follower of Christ.

Pray

GodTube.com – DC Talk – Jesus Freak (Christian Rock)

Just feeling some DC Talk

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Good Stuff one of my faves

Life unexplained

Why does life sometimes seem to be soo darn frustrating and complex? I mean even internally the light and easily explainable feelings I have seem to be turning into a complex primordial soup. I feel like a woman (no dis intended for you women) I just i don’t know, I have been playing this game for literally years now and it has started to turn into a sham and hints of desperation. I don’t know if it is worth playing anymore. I mean why when you suck at it or when it seems like I am looking for a Red Sox fan at Yankee Stadium. The results aren’t there. Time to try something new. Or don’t try at all I suppose. I am tired of trying to fit in a box that refuses to contain me. Sometimes I feel this is all a test and somehow I will come out better because of it. But I have yet to feel “better” and I am tired of feeling tested. I know i am probably making to much of nothing but it has been a long time and it’s making me wonder is it really worth it?

Contagious Christianity

So I had an assignment as part of my being in the process of becoming a Bridge associate. I had to read an interview article with a guy who wrote a book about “Celtic Christianity” and respond with my thoughts. I found it very interesting. I encourage you to read it. The link to it is here: http://www.thunderstruck.org/holysmoke/Hunter-Int.htm My response and thoughts are below.

Tim,

 
 
I have to say I found this article very interesting. In some ways i have a bad taste in my mouth when it comes to traditional “church” or the way that church, rituals and routine have in some ways taken away from the joys of being a follower of Jesus Christ and reading about how Patrick’s evangelism of Ireland developed an alternative way of doing “church” and reaching people I don’t know it just got me fired up. Because when I think about church and how many people have a stigma towards organized religion (even though I believe the word religion should be stricken from christian legalese) there is so many people that are out there calling out for something or someone to save them in this fallen world and all can benefit from the love of Jesus Christ. When I read this statement: “The Romans thought that barbarians could not be Christians. ” it made my heart sink because today I still hear people say things like “she is living in too much sin to be a good Christian” or “he is Gay so he can’t be Christian” and you know what? These are the people I am talking about:
 
“I see, all around us, the rise of “new barbarian” populations. These are the people whose lives are sometimes out of control—driven by compulsion or hijacked by substance abuse. Growing numbers of people have a “rough edge.” If they came to church, they wouldn’t know when to stand up, sit down, or what to say to the pastor afterwards. They wouldn’t know how to find II Kings or II Corinthians. If they said anything, they might split an infinitive or utter an expletive! There are a growing number of people, across the whole western world, who aren’t quite refined and aren’t always nice.”
 
“All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23.)” Just some peoples sin’s are more apparent than others. And I mean us as Christians are commisioned to love everyone nevermind race,religion, or preference. So why do I continually and in some ways feel the Christian community as a whole is dropping the ball when it comes to reaching those who wouldn’t neccesarily fit the “church” mold?
 
There can be a number of answers and these are the ones I hear the most.
 
“Were uncomfortable”
 
“We just need to pray for them”
 
“I don’t want to force my beliefs on them!”
 
I think George sums it up with these statements:
 
“First, the church probably needs to entertain the idea, as though for the first time, that lost people matter to God, including people who are not “like us” or recognizable “good” church people.”
“Second, within our Wesleyan tradition, people need to entertain a fresh understanding of the doctrine of prevenient grace. The Holy Spirit is working through the events and circumstances of people’s lives to awaken receptivity to the gospel. If we believe that lost and out-of-control people matter to God and that the Holy Spirit is already initiating an engagement with them, some of the other things will follow.”
I don’t know this just makes way to much sense to me. The perspective that all people matter to God and that the Holy Spirit is at work awaking reception to the gospel. What? Do you mean that we are not alone when we approach those that don’t know the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Dang that is comforting.
And the whole section he talked about the “new barbarians” gave me hope that there is churches out there that are reaching those lost and addicted people. All I know is I want to be a part of this ministry I want to reach people where they are.
 
I definatly connected to what he was talking about the shepard who seeks the lost sheep. There is a risk in this Celtic Christianity model of reaching people and I believe it is warranted and part of the adventure being  a follower of Christ should be. It is human nature to run away from compromising situations or ones where you don’t have control of but what I say to that is, isn’t that the definition of having faith? Knowing that Jesus has hold and control of your life and your afterlife is set no matter what?
 
I love the aproach he takes towards “doing church”
 
1.Solitude
 
2.Soul Friend
 
3. Small Group
 
4.Christian Community
 
 
All 4 of these things I think is important for anyone’s walk with Christ and as an aproach to Evangelism. “Contagious” is a word he uses and I think that is quite appropriate for anyone involved. Everyone deep down wants to be apart of something that is bigger than themselves. And I mean what can be bigger or more powerful than multitudes of on fire Saints (thats right it is a promise 1 Peter 2:9) And I am just on my journey currently and I hope to become fully “contagious” with the Love of Jesus and I pray that it shows more and more throughout my life and I am able to reach many people because of it.
 
 
 
Thanks,
 
 
Tim P.

My thoughts on 1 John 3

I looked over 1 John 3 today since we are on that chapter for this week and had a few thoughts. First off I read over verse one and something interesting struck me. The end of this verse says “The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”

I think for me that explains a lot. I mean I have heard first hand many people take a blind eye to Christianity and Christians as a whole because they were never shown the true love of Jesus Christ and they really do not know him. This I think falls back on us as Christians in today’s society because we as Christ’s followers are called to that exact thing Share the Love of Jesus. I know I need to get better at this but why does it seem so hard sometimes? That is a discussion point in and of itself.

Bam right after verse one there is a promise. These are scattered throughout the new testament and they all show us hope for a life full of joy and peace.

“2Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears,^[a]we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.?

We shall be like Christ? What? What is this you ask? I am a sinner and I can never be like Christ!!!

Not true. Says it right there. “But we know that when he appears,^[a]we shall be like him”

That is awesome to think about. See there is something to look forward to after this temporary life!

“4Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

Dang.

Ouch this one stings a little bit. Only cause sometimes I struggle with keeping all of the man made laws (mostly the speeding)

Doesn’t hurt too much though because Jesus has bared all of our sin and Even though I continually screw up There is a thing called grace that I receive once I repent of my screw ups (sins). Good to know right?

(I can tell already that you are going to have a hard time keeping the study on this chapter to only a few hours.)

Pressing onward,

“7Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.”

I think there is something to “Bad company corrupts good character” I think that is why John is so adamant about surrounding yourself with the right people. People that will lift you up in your struggles and lead you back on the path of righteousness. There is a lot of ways to get distracted in this life and get caught up in the bad situations but knowing who are truly your friend and truly someone that is good to associate with can mean a world’s difference in your walk with Christ and leading a righteous life.

Debunking Christian legalese speak:

Definition:righteous:

: characterized by or proceeding from accepted standards of
morality or justice

Basically living by a set of morals.

Moving on,

“He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”

Ouch more!

I don’t want to be of the devil!

“No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.”

Phew! Thank goodness. Funny how the bible is written to break you down then build you up. Gives a “hedge of thorns” a lot more meaning to me.

10This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

This is where the rubber meets the road. I have a feeling this is going to be discussed for awhile. What I take out of this is that if you are striving to be more Christ like in your walk and at least trying to exhibit these principles in your life all that God wants is your effort and he sent his son Jesus to help us when we falter.

1 Timothy 4:15
Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.

He just wants to see we are trying and change is apparent. When you become a follower of Christ it is a commitment. Just like your committed to your job, friendship or relationship. Except this commitment is with your CREATOR! Not to be taken lightly I think. He made us in his image but we screwed it up and he had grace enough to let us figure life out ourselves all he wants is for us to share the love of his son and his sacrifice made with others!!! I am not going to lie this hits me hard. I am not doing what I could at all times and this is something I am going have to work out through prayer and repentance. Neways I doubt you guys are going to be able to hit all of 1 John 3 so I will stop at verse 10. This is a good place to stop because verses 11-21 talk exclusively about how we are supposed to and called to love one another. Through the rest of this week I am going to ask myself how can I share God’s love today? Cause I have been dang selfish recently. May change be apparent and love

New Site

I haven’t posted here in forever but I wanted to let you know of the new site for the refuge group I am associated with. Check it out if you have a chance.

jesusistherefuge.wordpress.com soon to be findtherefuge.com

Peace

Crossroads

Its seems that things are at a crossroads. A tipping point between spiritual life and death for someone that I love. It’s hard because there is nothing I can say or do about it but pray. It just hurts that one of my friends has to go through these hard situations. But that is life on a fallen world. Unfair.

The Roots of Faith

Wow what a weekend! What joyous times God blessed me with. Even though I am dealing with some internal struggles I was able to just let loose and have fun with great people. I have been getting so sick of doing the same old thing and this weekend was a nice change of pace. Overall I am just praying that being that it is Easter week and Good Friday is coming up , that I am convicted in fully recognizing and reconfirming the roots of my faith and solidifying my belief in the sacrifice that Jesus Christ endured to save mine and everybody Else’s sinful lives. I feel that repentance is necessary and plan to undertake that unpleasant but freeing process. Once the filth is done and gone then I can fully embrace the love and joy of the promises that are set forth for me and my life. Praise Be his name!

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”- Psalm 23:1-3

Life is a blessing

What I take out of tonight is that it Feels darn good to give especially knowing someone was blessed without knowing it was you who blessed them. And that I don’t think I do it enough with all of the distractions of this world and getting caught up in things that aren’t important. I think part of it also is that Sometimes I am frustrated because I feel that people may think my intentions are in the wrong place but in some ways I think they don’t get me and how my intentions are right and pure. I know all of this is inconsequential but what I truly take and know is that I am blessed by God to even be able to experience life and I am commissioned by him to “love thy neighbor as thyself” so I feel in some ways that in any way I can, I want to bless others for I feel blessed. And I think God will do amazing things if I truly take this command to heart. At the least I want others around me to know what true love is even if I have a hard time showing it.