Long time but not forgotten

I have not failed at blogging again i just have had empty or just reoccurring thoughts.. I cannot even remember what my last post was about. hold on a sec... ok i went to check to see what it was about.. it was about football and God. Those thoughts still trouble me. I have a confession to make. I am super down when it comes to the Church (as in the building or the people in charge of the building). It seems as though every where i turn there is a man imposing his will on a group of people. Then again if i look at myself i am no better really. I claim to be a disciple of Christ yet i am swayed by things that do not even have the ability to love me at all, much less love me as Christ loves me. God thank you for loving a harlot for you know i have cheated on you many times yet you take me back...

hmm..

i have not strayed from blogging.. just do not have a lot of organized thoughts right now.. i do have this one.. Last saturday around 170,000 paid money to go see Auburn play LSU and Alabama play Tn.. Why is it that we can unite over a football team but not our God?

Thought

“Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. The consciousness of loving and being loved brings a warmth and richness to life that nothing else can bring.” Oscar Wilde

Just a thought..

"Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person." Mother Teresa

Opposite

Love for Enemies Matthew 5:43-48
43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[h] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[i] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Humbly i am learning. This is a tough one for me. prayers are appreciated.

Mattew 1-5

Tonight after i got home from work i was negative in my spirit. sometimes i fail miserably at being a light at work. I pray about it and hit the door and something happens to set the chaos in motion and i continually get swept away. So i got on the bike tonight about 1 am and read Matthew Chapters 1-5.. not the first time i have read these but every time they humble me and give me some direction on how to conduct myself and what to pray that i become. If you don't feel like reading the genealogy and what not, just read chapter 5 and let Jesus himself level the playing field.. It humbles and redirects me every time... Grace and Peace.

just a thought

Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 1 Thessalonians 2:9

Just wondering how this lines up with pastors and missionaries who are making 6 figures a year while the Church cuts its mission budget. Then when a member of the body needs help the Church has no money or resources to help them. Any thoughts?

From the Beach

This morning i had been awake for about 20 minutes when i got to watch 20 or so dolphin swim by our beach house. Instantly reminded of Psalm 14:1 " The fool hath said in his heart there is no God".. Creation speaks loudly, just stop and listen..

Thought of the Day

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35


With the scripture from the last post who or what do you think should be leading people to Christ? Should every Sunday morning be consumed with the pastor presenting the gospel to the people inside the walls? Or should the way believers live and talk to the world and to one another be so appealing that people want to come to Jesus. see (acts 2:45-48).A pastor has 1 day a week to grow his flock , his flock has 6 days to live it out.. God help me to be the Church...

a new commandment

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35

Talked with a friend today about this. Does anyone ever get the feeling that the Church as whole does not do such a good job of this. I know that i being part of the Church struggle with this. Do i really love other believers like Jesus loves us?I really do not even know 15 people that i go to "Church" with. (its not really possible to go to something that you are) Do i love them to the point of death? what about a horrible death like being stoned to death or whipped or crucified. What if just by the way that you love, people know you belong to Jesus. I am praying that this love comes alive in me fully.. Join me.. So that all will know that we are His disciple.

Tell My People

Remind you of anybody? God change me....

Isaiah 58:1-12 (New Living Translation)
Isaiah 58
True and False Worship 1 “Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast. Shout aloud! Don’t be timid. Tell my people Israel[a] of their sins! 2 Yet they act so pious! They come to the Temple every day and seem delighted to learn all about me. They act like a righteous nation that would never abandon the laws of its God. They ask me to take action on their behalf, pretending they want to be near me. 3 ‘We have fasted before you!’ they say. ‘Why aren’t you impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves, and you don’t even notice it!’
“I will tell you why!” I respond. “It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves. Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your workers. 4 What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me. 5 You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the Lord?
6 “No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. 7 Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.
8 “Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. 9 Then when you call, the Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.
“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors! 10 Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. 11 The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. 12 Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes.

Thought of the Day

Ephesians 4:29-32 (New Living Translation)
29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own,[a] guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

"Church"

Church:1. A building for public, especially Christian worship.

This is the Webster Dictionary first listing for the definition for Church. I understand the world does not understand what the Church actually is but... Sadly i think this defines the American "Church" way better than using the words "one body" or "followers of Christ"... What will happen when all of the "Churches" are gone and the Church is all that is left? I need to be part of a community , to be part of a (real) Church... What good is a body if all of its parts are pulling in opposite directions?

** the church is not infallible, the Word of God is**

i do believe there is a Church out there.. an entire group of people who are the church who meet and worship in buildings and when they walk out the doors they are the Church to a lost and dying world. Being real followers of Christ. Who love God and then love people.. I believe it is time for the Church to rise up and be great and live and love so greatly that people come to Christ on a daily basis because they see Him in us.. God make me part of this Church..

Thought of the day!

1My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, 2Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; 3For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; 4If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5Then you will discern the fear of the LORD And discover the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:2-5

disclaimer

*** this blog is open to anything, both positive and negative, challenging and simple***
1 God
1 Word of God
124 "churches" in north jefferson alone????

Try this again

i am going to try this again. it will not be a public blog but just something for my friends to check out.