Have you ever wondered where heaven and hell are? I think about it all the time. Every once in a while you'll hear someone say oh well we're already there. Sometimes you trully do wonder where they both are and if they're in a distant world or if they are somewhere close to home.
Often times throughout scripture Jesus refers to the kingdom that He is building. If you think about it, Jesus rarely talked, but when He did you know it meant something very powerful. It was something that He knew was right. Jesus once said, "my kingdom is not of this world" if that's not enough evidence for you I'll try to give you more evidence later.
I think there are some reasons that God created this world to be the way it is. I think most of us would agree that the world isn't always a nice place to be. I think the reason for that is because God wanted us to see that we cannot do anything apart from Him. We need to find strength in Christ. We need to go through pain just like He did on the cross. Luckily it isn't the same pain that He bared, but we need to take some blows here and there and go through things that will eventually helps us grow! If you have the right attitude and the right heart, He will take you there!
Here's my example within scripture. In John 18 Jesus was trying to fulfill His promise and was waiting for the guards to arrest him. In verse ten it says: "Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high preists slave. But Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?" You see, Jesus didn't intend for war to be a part of the world. He was a very civilized man that had the most kind heart. And I think this is also a good description of what Jesus means when He says my kingdom is not of this world. Like I said, God created the world so that Jesus would have the most impact on people's lives! If it were easy, why would anyone need a savior?
God does anything that He needs to pull people to Him because He's a God that desires your heart, not just your soul. He wants you to make the choice. Jesus said my kingdom is not of this world, because if you come to Him, you won't have to worry about war, you won't have to necessarily worry about battles. I don't mean that there's not war in the world, or everyday battles. But you will no longer battle or be at war with yourself. Your insecurities, fears, and struggles can be laid down on the cross at Jesus feet. Where the kingdom starts!
May He bless each and everyone of you until the day that He returns!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Spirit of Truth
I was sittin in church this morning thinking about a few different things that I've heard through teachings and videos. A lot of us think that we know our purpose right? Well, how could we possibly know exactly what our purpose is according to God's will? I was watching a tv service this morning and the pastor said do you know what God's will is...he paused just for a second and you could hear part of the people say yes! He stopped and laughed and said "you do"? He said, I didn't even say what I was going to and you already said yes! He said do you think it's God's will that men are supposed to heave three or four wives? So they assumed that he was just going to finish it with do you know what God's will is?
We really cannot know what God's purpose is for us. And it's certainly not up to us to find our own purpose. But what are we supposed to do to find our purpose? Don't worry I often ask myself the same question. I would bet that all of us do. It's natural.
Lately I've been thinking about how complacent my heart and get at times and I wonder how often all of us do get that way. We start to go through things and do it the easiest way possible with not one ounce of desire or motive. In our christian life we should fight to show the world what God can do. Throughout the bible many people were out to show the world that same thing. That God loves us all, no matter what. Let's stand with one another and be the change not wait for one. The world that we live in today has become completely complacent and it relies on things that will soon fade away.
When it all is said and done what will our worth be found in? When we look back and we see the days of each one of our lives will we look back and say hey I did what I could for God. But really, did I trully get everything that God would have me to? Did I really live just to know him, or was my passion to show Him how much I lloved and desired Him.
In the end our hearts desire should be to hear "well done my good and faithful servant" but nothing less than that :)
We really cannot know what God's purpose is for us. And it's certainly not up to us to find our own purpose. But what are we supposed to do to find our purpose? Don't worry I often ask myself the same question. I would bet that all of us do. It's natural.
Lately I've been thinking about how complacent my heart and get at times and I wonder how often all of us do get that way. We start to go through things and do it the easiest way possible with not one ounce of desire or motive. In our christian life we should fight to show the world what God can do. Throughout the bible many people were out to show the world that same thing. That God loves us all, no matter what. Let's stand with one another and be the change not wait for one. The world that we live in today has become completely complacent and it relies on things that will soon fade away.
When it all is said and done what will our worth be found in? When we look back and we see the days of each one of our lives will we look back and say hey I did what I could for God. But really, did I trully get everything that God would have me to? Did I really live just to know him, or was my passion to show Him how much I lloved and desired Him.
In the end our hearts desire should be to hear "well done my good and faithful servant" but nothing less than that :)
Friday, January 6, 2012
Less Truth, more product part dos!
Have you ever had the nudge to read your bible more, or to pray more, or to do something really nice for someone? Well, one could think well, that's probably just my mind messing with me! At the same time, don't you think that someone had to have put those thoughts there? That is most likely God who wants to have a relationship with you. That would be the greatest news I have ever told anyone. Not that I am pregnant, or getting married, or my house burned down, not in order, and those things have yet to happen haha!
That is one of many truths that God has in store in His word. And it shouldn't just be left on the night stand to collect dust and grime. I know how hard it is, trust me! I'm there everyday with the same battle. Every single one of us is!
Back to the church! So in the same class period that we're talking about the crossroads from Less truth, more product part one, we also talked about religions and what churches have done recently. Even this guy knew that churches are becoming more modern which kind of blew my mind. I have nothing against this man or anything. He is a very intelligent professor. But churches really are "modernizing" in a sense. This is where writing about this started to come to me in class that day.
This is also where less truth, more product came into terms. When Jesus walked the earth, He wanted us to see how He lived, and we should see that and desire the way he lived. We do not have to bare the cross like He did or go through the punishment that He did. But we should desire the love, kindness, and heart that He had. When God created the bible through his prophets and disciples, He wanted to use it as a tool for us to get to know Him personally so that we knew how to have an awesome relationship with Him. Who wouldn't want to get to know the creator? It's also the basis of what the church should teach out of as well, which is where the key term "modern churches" comes into the topic.
When I think or hear that term modern church I instantly think of great worship music by the likes of David Crowder, Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns, Mercy Me, Mandisa, and Natalie Grant. I love Christian music and it pretty much fills my ipod, next to Justin Bieber and the Backstreet boys haha! But it's a really cool way to hear God's truth through wonderful music. I think the detail into which these churches take the worship is where I draw the line. Like I said earlier, if there's lights, smoke, and electric guitars that out rock the preaching than it's wrong.
So back to that day in class! My teacher says things like well sometimes churches are all about the money and I immediately wondered what exactly that looked like. Are there churches in America that worry more about money than what kind of servitude is being expressed? I mean I've seen some churches on TV that have people just throw money up on the stage because they feel like the preaching that morning has been great! Now don't get me wrong, I love to hear some great truth, but throwing money at the preacher because He has a gift isn't exactly how I'd like to thank Him. Let me make my point. Let's say I attend a church where that happens often. The people go up to the stage and place some green backs up there because they love the preaching. I would rather sit there and listen intently instead of be distracted by the amount that I'm going to give by what the pastor is saying, and I'd also rather take what he is saying and apply it to my life and give my money to God. I'm not saying that the money doesn't go in a plate or something, it's just that it's really weird and different ya know. Give money to your pastor in a thank you card or something.
This is part two of this series! I will write part three very soon!
That is one of many truths that God has in store in His word. And it shouldn't just be left on the night stand to collect dust and grime. I know how hard it is, trust me! I'm there everyday with the same battle. Every single one of us is!
Back to the church! So in the same class period that we're talking about the crossroads from Less truth, more product part one, we also talked about religions and what churches have done recently. Even this guy knew that churches are becoming more modern which kind of blew my mind. I have nothing against this man or anything. He is a very intelligent professor. But churches really are "modernizing" in a sense. This is where writing about this started to come to me in class that day.
This is also where less truth, more product came into terms. When Jesus walked the earth, He wanted us to see how He lived, and we should see that and desire the way he lived. We do not have to bare the cross like He did or go through the punishment that He did. But we should desire the love, kindness, and heart that He had. When God created the bible through his prophets and disciples, He wanted to use it as a tool for us to get to know Him personally so that we knew how to have an awesome relationship with Him. Who wouldn't want to get to know the creator? It's also the basis of what the church should teach out of as well, which is where the key term "modern churches" comes into the topic.
When I think or hear that term modern church I instantly think of great worship music by the likes of David Crowder, Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns, Mercy Me, Mandisa, and Natalie Grant. I love Christian music and it pretty much fills my ipod, next to Justin Bieber and the Backstreet boys haha! But it's a really cool way to hear God's truth through wonderful music. I think the detail into which these churches take the worship is where I draw the line. Like I said earlier, if there's lights, smoke, and electric guitars that out rock the preaching than it's wrong.
So back to that day in class! My teacher says things like well sometimes churches are all about the money and I immediately wondered what exactly that looked like. Are there churches in America that worry more about money than what kind of servitude is being expressed? I mean I've seen some churches on TV that have people just throw money up on the stage because they feel like the preaching that morning has been great! Now don't get me wrong, I love to hear some great truth, but throwing money at the preacher because He has a gift isn't exactly how I'd like to thank Him. Let me make my point. Let's say I attend a church where that happens often. The people go up to the stage and place some green backs up there because they love the preaching. I would rather sit there and listen intently instead of be distracted by the amount that I'm going to give by what the pastor is saying, and I'd also rather take what he is saying and apply it to my life and give my money to God. I'm not saying that the money doesn't go in a plate or something, it's just that it's really weird and different ya know. Give money to your pastor in a thank you card or something.
This is part two of this series! I will write part three very soon!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Less Truth, more product.
That is the world that we live in. And the real sad thing is, you can relate that line to almost every aspect of anything. There's a lot less truth to what people do. It's to the point to where our churches are feeding out more propoganda, and pyrotechniques than truth, which is called to be spread to the ends of the world according to God's Holy word. Which is the greatest source of truth.
Now the real question to be answered: why are people in churches more concerned more about bringing people in, than allowing the God of the universe to pull them in Himself?
Some churches will do anything and everything that they possibly can to recruit people to come to their service. It's like a big party for christians, with the likes of: concerts during their worship services that include smoke, lights, and electric guitars, watering down of the truth to talk about more appealing topics, and last but not least religous leaders that allow it to happen.
This is only part one. I'm out of time at the moment, but part two to come soon and we'll talk more about truth in the church! God bless you all :)
Here's what I see wrong with that:
First of all, the bible talks about us as being one body of believers. No one should be worried about going to church with a specific group of people that are specific by age, sex, marital status. Say I'm an eighty four year old widower that will only go to church with eighty some year olds, that is not being a part of one body. It's ok to step out and mingle with other believers of different ages, sex, and even ethnicities. Not to mention other religions, but that's a whole other discussion.
Second, church should not be about having to recruit anyone to come to your church. There's a huge difference between a simple invite, and being appealing to people so that they will come. It's not about big stages, lights, or even music. If you really want to worship the Lord, worship God with your heart. I'm not saying that open worship services with music are wrong, but when the electric guitar outweighs truth about Jesus Christ, that's not a church. It's a concert. The true worship of God in the bible is with all your heart, all your soul, and mind. Honestly, you can sing all the words about God that you want, but if your heart isn't singing then it is not doing anyone any good. Romans 12: vs. 1-2 "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice-the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him. Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person, by the renewing of your mind. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." That's true worship. I think when people read or hear that scripture our of Romans, that they stop reading or skip over this: "Let them be a holy and living sacrifice-the kind that He will find acceptable." Yes, the kind that GOD will find acceptable. Not your mom, not your friends, or even yourself, but God! I am not out to judge anyone, but I think you know just as well as I do who will judge.
Let's move on a little. What do you think personal worship is? Think about that for a moment. To be honest, there are a vast variety of definitions to place on worship. In my own opinion (which you don't have to pay too much attention to) worship is the heart's desire to serve and honor God. I personally think that is a pretty safe answer. In my concordance of my New Living Translation bible it states that worship is reverent devotion and allegiance pledged to God.
I like that last phrase "allegiance pledged to God." Mainly because that is the very first thing that it takes to worship God. Ephesians 2:6 says "It is by grace from God that you are saved! For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus." It takes putting your faith in Jesus Christ to initially start worshiping God with your heart. God desires a personal relationship with each and every one of us! And whether you agree or not, He is pulling us closer to Him everyday.
So now that we've kind of put a basic definition on worship, let us talk a little more about worship within the church. To be perfectly honest, it really does not matter to me what any congregation or group of believers does within their church. Mainly because it is their choice and I feel very grateful to have that freedom. At the same time, I also feel that the state of the church itself has fallen dramatically over the years. At this time you can be thinking, who is this guy to say that? Well, I actually agree, which is why I would ask you to read this in your own discretion. This is only my opinion.
A few weeks ago I was sitting in a class and we were talking about religion. The teacher was talking about different Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners that usually have some sort of religious affiliation. Sometimes they even require you to sit through a short service. He brought up that he thinks it is stupid that any place would require you to sit through a sermon in order to have a dinner provided for you. First of all, let's say the place was a crossroads. Say the teacher making his point was a homeless man and he walked into my crossroads that I happened to be running. Everyone knows that Crossroads is a faith based organization that helps the needy. So If he is that concerned about the whole faith thing, than why is he here at my crossroads? The door is right behind you, and we cannot force you to stay, but we're here to serve you and provide you with spiritual food, along with something to tame your appetite for a while. Now listen, I think anyone's opinion should be heard, and I am not going to shoot a whole lot of things down. But I do think that when it comes to topics like this people tend to be too biased because of their own spiritual agenda. Don't make an argument because you don't have faith. I'd just encourage you to see all sides of any argument, even non faith discussions. That's a very important aspect of life!
Here's where I hope my side becomes a little more clear. I've been a christian for a little over three years now, so I have a long way to go. But I've been to quite a few churches and know somethings about different aspects of faith and denominations.
There was a demographic that shocked me the other day. It said that ninety five percent of Christians don't actually sit down and read their bible, and they do not know what is in it. That's absolutely crazy. And whether it is true or not, I think it's an issue that has to be brought up in churches. Any one who calls them self a Christian but does not read their bible is not a Christian according to God's holy word. Psalm 1:1 says, Blessed is the man who does not follow the ways of the ungodly, or stand around like sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the Law of the Lord meditating on it day and night. To meditate on it day and night means to reflect on the scriptures, to memorize and utilize it to strengthen our souls. God sees that as a way to worship. To take time out of your busy day to spend time in the word that He created means the world to Him. And the way I see it, I might as well do what I can when I can to repay Him for His cross!
The church has to find its way back to its roots. I realize that the bible and the law is very traditional and at times boring. But don't you think that you'd rather learn more about your creator than hear a guitar solo that you'll forget in an hour? The church was founded on God's word, and a percentage still teach out of it and stand on it day in and day out.
A man and his family attend a small church every Sunday morning but skip the other two services. His wife and children are very happy most of the time and they are very close. His children are young and attend grade school and play sports competitively. His wife works at a hospital as a doctors assistant as a nurse. And he works at a small mechanics shop that does the best job in town. They are a middle class family that at times struggles to make it because they try a little too hard to compete with the neighborhood. They often go out on the town and are remodeling their home or their yard. They have a christian home and they attend church on Sundays. They consider their faith in God to be pretty good, but it can always be better. None of the four members of the family own a bible. Recently the van broke down, and things between the kids haven't been going well. The marriage has been a little rocky as the man has started to drink after work because of all the problems within the home. They're now at a place where they are struggling to survive and keep their house.
The man learned a very valuable lesson from the children's youth pastor one night when he went to pick up the kids one night. The father of the family wanted to simply ask for prayer for his family. The kids played around while the youth pastor and the father talked for a while. The dad had told the youth pastor about everything and they prayed together. Right before the father left, he turned around one last time, and said hey, pastor Marsh, could I maybe have a handful of bibles to take home? Pastor Marsh handed him the four that he needed and they were on their way.
From there on things started to change in the families home. They started to sit down and have small discussions about topics of faith and different scriptures in the bible that they had heard at church. The parents had seen quite the change in the two young children as well. Sally and Dustin started to do things that they normally would complain about often without being asked. They had a solid relationship together and were always playing together unlike before. The parents relationship was also healed and very improved. The man had stopped drinking and they had taken the steps they thought they needed to to have a more spirit led family.
Now, this is just an example of God working in lives. You could say that this was all just coincidence, but it's not even necessarily about faith in this situation. The man realized that he needed to step up and be a leader in the house and he did exactly that. The family used a more family based atmosphere to mend the broken relationships together, and that led to God changing their hearts. If we are obedient to God and His word, He will always provide for us. He will give us peace, justice, or whatever we need!
Now the real question to be answered: why are people in churches more concerned more about bringing people in, than allowing the God of the universe to pull them in Himself?
Some churches will do anything and everything that they possibly can to recruit people to come to their service. It's like a big party for christians, with the likes of: concerts during their worship services that include smoke, lights, and electric guitars, watering down of the truth to talk about more appealing topics, and last but not least religous leaders that allow it to happen.
This is only part one. I'm out of time at the moment, but part two to come soon and we'll talk more about truth in the church! God bless you all :)
Here's what I see wrong with that:
First of all, the bible talks about us as being one body of believers. No one should be worried about going to church with a specific group of people that are specific by age, sex, marital status. Say I'm an eighty four year old widower that will only go to church with eighty some year olds, that is not being a part of one body. It's ok to step out and mingle with other believers of different ages, sex, and even ethnicities. Not to mention other religions, but that's a whole other discussion.
Second, church should not be about having to recruit anyone to come to your church. There's a huge difference between a simple invite, and being appealing to people so that they will come. It's not about big stages, lights, or even music. If you really want to worship the Lord, worship God with your heart. I'm not saying that open worship services with music are wrong, but when the electric guitar outweighs truth about Jesus Christ, that's not a church. It's a concert. The true worship of God in the bible is with all your heart, all your soul, and mind. Honestly, you can sing all the words about God that you want, but if your heart isn't singing then it is not doing anyone any good. Romans 12: vs. 1-2 "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice-the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him. Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person, by the renewing of your mind. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." That's true worship. I think when people read or hear that scripture our of Romans, that they stop reading or skip over this: "Let them be a holy and living sacrifice-the kind that He will find acceptable." Yes, the kind that GOD will find acceptable. Not your mom, not your friends, or even yourself, but God! I am not out to judge anyone, but I think you know just as well as I do who will judge.
Let's move on a little. What do you think personal worship is? Think about that for a moment. To be honest, there are a vast variety of definitions to place on worship. In my own opinion (which you don't have to pay too much attention to) worship is the heart's desire to serve and honor God. I personally think that is a pretty safe answer. In my concordance of my New Living Translation bible it states that worship is reverent devotion and allegiance pledged to God.
I like that last phrase "allegiance pledged to God." Mainly because that is the very first thing that it takes to worship God. Ephesians 2:6 says "It is by grace from God that you are saved! For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus." It takes putting your faith in Jesus Christ to initially start worshiping God with your heart. God desires a personal relationship with each and every one of us! And whether you agree or not, He is pulling us closer to Him everyday.
So now that we've kind of put a basic definition on worship, let us talk a little more about worship within the church. To be perfectly honest, it really does not matter to me what any congregation or group of believers does within their church. Mainly because it is their choice and I feel very grateful to have that freedom. At the same time, I also feel that the state of the church itself has fallen dramatically over the years. At this time you can be thinking, who is this guy to say that? Well, I actually agree, which is why I would ask you to read this in your own discretion. This is only my opinion.
A few weeks ago I was sitting in a class and we were talking about religion. The teacher was talking about different Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners that usually have some sort of religious affiliation. Sometimes they even require you to sit through a short service. He brought up that he thinks it is stupid that any place would require you to sit through a sermon in order to have a dinner provided for you. First of all, let's say the place was a crossroads. Say the teacher making his point was a homeless man and he walked into my crossroads that I happened to be running. Everyone knows that Crossroads is a faith based organization that helps the needy. So If he is that concerned about the whole faith thing, than why is he here at my crossroads? The door is right behind you, and we cannot force you to stay, but we're here to serve you and provide you with spiritual food, along with something to tame your appetite for a while. Now listen, I think anyone's opinion should be heard, and I am not going to shoot a whole lot of things down. But I do think that when it comes to topics like this people tend to be too biased because of their own spiritual agenda. Don't make an argument because you don't have faith. I'd just encourage you to see all sides of any argument, even non faith discussions. That's a very important aspect of life!
Here's where I hope my side becomes a little more clear. I've been a christian for a little over three years now, so I have a long way to go. But I've been to quite a few churches and know somethings about different aspects of faith and denominations.
There was a demographic that shocked me the other day. It said that ninety five percent of Christians don't actually sit down and read their bible, and they do not know what is in it. That's absolutely crazy. And whether it is true or not, I think it's an issue that has to be brought up in churches. Any one who calls them self a Christian but does not read their bible is not a Christian according to God's holy word. Psalm 1:1 says, Blessed is the man who does not follow the ways of the ungodly, or stand around like sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the Law of the Lord meditating on it day and night. To meditate on it day and night means to reflect on the scriptures, to memorize and utilize it to strengthen our souls. God sees that as a way to worship. To take time out of your busy day to spend time in the word that He created means the world to Him. And the way I see it, I might as well do what I can when I can to repay Him for His cross!
The church has to find its way back to its roots. I realize that the bible and the law is very traditional and at times boring. But don't you think that you'd rather learn more about your creator than hear a guitar solo that you'll forget in an hour? The church was founded on God's word, and a percentage still teach out of it and stand on it day in and day out.
A man and his family attend a small church every Sunday morning but skip the other two services. His wife and children are very happy most of the time and they are very close. His children are young and attend grade school and play sports competitively. His wife works at a hospital as a doctors assistant as a nurse. And he works at a small mechanics shop that does the best job in town. They are a middle class family that at times struggles to make it because they try a little too hard to compete with the neighborhood. They often go out on the town and are remodeling their home or their yard. They have a christian home and they attend church on Sundays. They consider their faith in God to be pretty good, but it can always be better. None of the four members of the family own a bible. Recently the van broke down, and things between the kids haven't been going well. The marriage has been a little rocky as the man has started to drink after work because of all the problems within the home. They're now at a place where they are struggling to survive and keep their house.
The man learned a very valuable lesson from the children's youth pastor one night when he went to pick up the kids one night. The father of the family wanted to simply ask for prayer for his family. The kids played around while the youth pastor and the father talked for a while. The dad had told the youth pastor about everything and they prayed together. Right before the father left, he turned around one last time, and said hey, pastor Marsh, could I maybe have a handful of bibles to take home? Pastor Marsh handed him the four that he needed and they were on their way.
From there on things started to change in the families home. They started to sit down and have small discussions about topics of faith and different scriptures in the bible that they had heard at church. The parents had seen quite the change in the two young children as well. Sally and Dustin started to do things that they normally would complain about often without being asked. They had a solid relationship together and were always playing together unlike before. The parents relationship was also healed and very improved. The man had stopped drinking and they had taken the steps they thought they needed to to have a more spirit led family.
Now, this is just an example of God working in lives. You could say that this was all just coincidence, but it's not even necessarily about faith in this situation. The man realized that he needed to step up and be a leader in the house and he did exactly that. The family used a more family based atmosphere to mend the broken relationships together, and that led to God changing their hearts. If we are obedient to God and His word, He will always provide for us. He will give us peace, justice, or whatever we need!
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