Compassion...

I wanted to take a quick moment to talk about Compassion.  The organization that helps children all over the world through the monthly donations of those willing to share their money to help others.  However, you already know about that whole aspect of this type of organization.

So, what I really want to talk about is one of their other aspects that other organizations don’t typically do.  And that is volunteering to write to children who already have sponsors, but are unable to write to their children.

To us it may not seem like receiving a letter is a big deal, especially in this digital age we live in.  But to them it means the world.  And in many cases can mean life or death.   These letters they receive represent more than mere letters on a page, it is proof that they are loved. That they are important. Most of all it gives them a feeling of hope.  Without hope, it’s common for children in poverty to fall into a life of crime in order to help support their families.

A few moments out of your time each month to write a quick letter can change all of that.  We can give them hope and help them in their spiritual walk.  No money is involved, only a small amount of time.  And as Christians, if we are unable to do that…then what are we really?  If we as Christians can sit here and read this post and then click it off without a second thought….who are we?  Where is our heart when the children of the world cry out for hope and we turn away?  We can be that hope by letting Christ shine through us and offering a small sacrifice.  The smallest of sacrifices, a few moments of time in order to change an entire life.

If we can’t even bring ourselves to do that….who are we really?

Meet in Love

With so many different Bible translations, some that don’t match up with the original Greek it can be easy to see why there are so many different opinions on various issues in the Bible.  This creates conflict.  We argue over which version is correct.  We debate what’s right and wrong.  But I think no matter how different our beliefs are it’s important to meet in love and let God sort out the rest.   It doesn’t matter how you worship or how you preach as long as it’s reaching people and your heart is centered on God.

On the topic of more heated debates like homosexuality and the like, starting a flame war over these issues does not further the Kingdom.  If we meet the issue in love and compassion the rest God can do.   Remember…Our enemy is not the person we disagree with. It’s the spirit behind it. Meet that person in love, because God loves them just as much as he loves your sinful self.

Ephesians 6:12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Because the Bible tells me so...or does it?

So I had a bit of a revelation recently about some of the beliefs I hold onto.  There are certain things I believed and felt were wrong and what I realized was that I felt those things were wrong simply because someone else told me they were…despite having no biblical backing for those beliefs.  What I found is that once I started look more deeply at the beliefs I held onto it and realizing that some of them were based entirely on the opinions of someone else and let go of those beliefs I found that I was able to have a more true and authentic belief.  One that allowed me to have a closer relationship with God.

I think it’s very important to look at our beliefs…find out WHY we believe certain things we believe.  No one should blindly follow leadership.  It’s how cults get started.  By looking behind the reasons you believe something, you learn more about yourself, more about your beliefs and more about God.  The only way to have an authentic belief and relationship is to be real.  Just like in any relationship.  Let’s stop playing pretend and start looking a little closer and why we believe certain things.  Is it because God says it’s wrong….or is it because people THINK it is and feel others should think the same?

Friendship is always possible.

I wanted to blog something short, but encouraging…for those going through the same things Sheila and I are.

So, in the past I never really had friends growing up.  Even in the churches I attended with my parents.  I knew people, but it never turned into friendship.  A while later at another church I was hurt and my trust was destroyed.  It took a while for me to move past that and I still do have trust issues, but with God’s help I’m healing from that.

I understand how hopeless it can feel.  That sense of failure at meeting someone new and thinking it was going to go well and the whole thing falls flat on its face.  It’s easy to lose hope. 
But you know what I learned?  The best thing to do is to not try and force it.  It has to happen naturally.  It takes practice. I think that’s the biggest thing.  You need to practice just talking to people first.   Opening up over time.   My problem was I tried to jump into the deep end without first learning how to swim.  You have to start out slow.  Master the little things first before taking on the complexity of friendships.  Get used to small talk first and greeting new people.  It isn’t a fast process and will take a lot of time, but as you begin to see improvements you will FEEL that improvement in yourself.  A new confidence that slowly blossoms.  A seed that gradually grows into a plant and makes its way through the dirt to reach the sun of a new hope and life joined in fellowship with others that eventually becomes natural.

It is never hopeless, but it does take work.

Christians that don't attend a church...

Read an interesting article recently about the growing number of people claiming to be Christian that don't go to church.  The article tried to justify the various reasons.  But to me it seems like a contridiction.  To me it seems more like an attempt to justify doing your own thing...not what God wants...keeping yourself busy with your own interests.  How is that Christian?

Now don't get me wrong...not going to church doesn't automatically make you NOT a Christian...but it doesn't exactly help our spiritual life either.  Especially when God calls us to fellowship with other believers and meet together in prayer and worship.  If He calls us to do it, wouldn't you think it MUST be pretty important?

I know there is reasoning like...they have Christian friends or they pray every now and then.  But really...I would be interested to see how much that person who does it on their own is growing in their faith without gathering together with other believers consistantly.

We can fill our lives with all sorts of hobbies, activities and events, but it's not going to give us what we really need.  If we are filling our lives with those things and just going to church when we "feel like it" or "when we have time"...then where does that put God in our lives?

"Some say Christians don't tell lies...we just sing them on Sunday mornings."

Are we singing with a heart of worship during church service or are we singing because it was what we were taught to do?  It can be so easy for me, you and anyone else in this world to go to church and sing the songs and not really think about the meaning of the words. To dwell on those words and the reality behind them.

Do you know what we are really doing when we go to church and sing the songs without a heart for worship?  We are sinning.  We are lying to God.  We are spitting in His face.  We stare at the presence of God and say the words and lie without guilt or remorse.

Let’s think of this another way.  Imagine your spouse or significant other looks into your eyes and tells you how much they love you and care about you and how they would never leave you.  But they don’t mean a single word of it.  They say they love you, but they are actually thinking about someone else.  It’s the same with God.  Sure, we might be singing about how much we love him, maybe throw in a few claps for good measure.  But during that time we are actually thinking about the things that we consider much more important in our hearts.  We sing ABOUT God…but we are not singing for Him.

Let’s ponder more on this until next Sunday and when we go to service let’s keep our hearts on God, dwell on the songs we sing to Him and really worship Him, not just sing about Him.  Let’s sing for him and WITH Him let’s avoid the lies we can be so accustomed to singing.