Sat, Oct 17th - 9:41AM
the passage of time
So here I am.....years later. Still striving to be the best that God can make me to be.
This past July 5th, I received my ordination. Not an easy task in a church that still looks upon the sinner instead of the redeemed. Not the whole church sees things this way, just the few that remain stiff-necked and strongly dedicated to their own doctrine/dogma.
Anyway.....
Through time, we find ourselves faced with many decisive moments. Moments that either become a "faith of crisis" or a "crisis of faith." I have seen the masses come and go. They come in the "faith of crisis" mode and they leave when the crisis passes. I look around at the pews of the church and it is clear that people do not want God, they just want rescued from circumstances, conditions, or difficulties. When relief comes, they go. And the faithful wonder, what can we do to make people want to stay. Fact is, the greater problem is not that they are leaving our churches, but that they are leaving God. The greater problem is not our feelings or numbers, though at times one may think that, it is that the ones who stay are more concerned with what time church will end, what is for dinner, what is on the T.V. The resounding complaints about the way things are going, who's preaching, who's singing, who's leading prayer, etc.,become the walls we erect to keep God out. While we battle the ones who want to serve to keep them in their seats we kill the Spirit that strives to live within them and our churches. Kind of ironic that we wonder why God is not prevalent in our country and we can't even find Him in church.
Worship is all but cut out so that we can create a half hour time slot for people to cry and voice their problems through "prayer" requests. Worship itself is a subject of debate....how shall we worship? While those dead set on sticking to the dusty old hymnals are singing songs that no one knows, the hurting people are creeping out the door looking for life, looking for the joy they once heard that existed in the hearts and lives of the believer, looking for the reality of God. I hope they find it somewhere because the church universal is quickly becoming the last place someone should look.
What shall we do then. Well, how about we tell people that they can do anything they want, go anywhere they want, behave however they want. How about we take the cross out of our churches, and don't forget the Christian flag, as well as the Bible. How about we stop talking and singing about such things as the blood that saves us. I hear many churches are growing that way!
How about we just completely cut worship out, no crazy songs of redemption and freedom. With a little work we should be able to fill our pews....even if that means that hearts and lives remain empty and void of God.
The real crisis? Where is God in all this? If He is not in our country and He is quickly leaving our churches, where will we go to find Him.
Comment (3)
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Fri, Aug 31st - 6:32AM
Strong's Concordance: 4395 , prophesy means: to fortell events, divine, speak under inspiration, excercise the prophetic office. Joel 2:28 " And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions: Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; v.17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: v.18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. I am sure that you will come up with many scriptures to discount these, but I leave you to it. Why is it that women are entrusted with the teaching of small children in Sunday School classes but they are not "fit" to teach adults from the pulpit? Do you care less for their spiritual well-being? Is their place in God also less important? Since I first came to this blog site, I have had to suck-up whatever attack came against me, simply on the grounds the I am a woman minister. Shall I also tell you that I am single and will never marry because God has chosen this for me? Will that be too dis-tasteful for you to swallow as well. Shall I tell you that I am strong and independent? Can I tell you that I have often counseled men (over the phone or in the company of witnesses so as to abstain from any appearance of evil) Yesterday I was very low in spirit. I questioned God, asked Him to confirm to me my calling in Him. I cried. I have never usurped authority over any man, I never intend to. I have not been domineering over any man. I have taken no man's position away from him. I exhort and edify as much as is possible without denying the truth of the Gospel. And yet, I am often backed into a corner where I feel that I need to defend my place in God, defend my calling, defend my gender, defend myself. I will do this no more! I have counted the cost and I have found myself a little more impoverished by the verbal attacks that come from the "brethren". Agape love......Really? I must say, I just don't see it in much that is said here. I don't see edification as much as I see tearing down. We may not like our church, our Pastor, or each other, but we have no license to destroy any of it. No need to comment or verbally assault.....this is my final post and my final visit.
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Tue, Aug 28th - 6:40AM
I got myself a new pair of shoes the other day. They are mostly white, a little color in the name that's embroidered on the tongue and heel. I admit that I am a bit of a fanatic about keeping my white shoes white. Before I can put them on, I must inspect them for any dirty marks. If I find the dirty marks, I quickly grab the bottle of Fantastic and a paper towel. I really can't stand the dirt that seems to make the whole shoe look bad. It also makes me cringe when other's let their white shoes get filthy. Dirty white shoes reflect a person's concern for the appearance. If you are wearing shoes that are supposed to be white, why do you not keep them white? Ponder this....it is about more than my white shoes.
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Wed, Aug 8th - 6:39AM
Learning what I know. Scriptures are memorized and quoted, even by small children. We tuck them into a packet that can be quickly accessed upon neccessity. We use them in defense of our beliefs, when we face the devil in combat, when we are trying to steer someone to God. We nod our heads in agreement when others speak on them. Yet, it is in the quiet moments of reflection that I begin to learn the depths of the words. When Jesus comes walking on the waves and speaks to the storms that have me trembling, then I learn what His peace is. When He calls me to stand and be still, then I learn what it really means to just stand. When I find myself in tears praying for someone that I really never liked too much, then I learn what His love is. In these last few months, in spite of my whining, God has unfolded wonderous things to me. That is not to say that the trials haven't been there, but that I have learned through them. A man of 51 years found himself at the end of a long trail of people who tried to help him. They gave him a place to live, fed him, paid for his cigarettes, etc. In all this time, he never changed. He still drank too much, lied, didn't work, and basically used them. Then came my turn. When I saw it coming, I struck my hand across my neck in a cutting move, as to say NO WAY. Then Jesus' words, " When you saw me hungry, and naked, and in prison....." I wept. Partly because I didn't want to go through this and partly because I now knew what those words mean. He came here to stay in mid May and at first, it was rough. He didn't do anything around the house, he didn't get a job, he worked a little to get cigarette money but not a steady job. So, my prayer life became a little stronger. Long story short, today he is working a full time job. He is saving his money to get his own place. He works around the house. He still has the occasional beer ( not at my house ) but he doesn't get drunk. He is respectful toward me and my room-mate (his sister), he goes to church and is working his way toward God. I am learning a faith as described in Hebrews 11:1. I am seeing an actual miracle, a metamorphisis, take place by the hand of God. I am seeing God's love change the heart of a man. I have learned the depths of what it means to feed the hungry and clothe the naked and visit the prisoner. I thank God for teaching me the things I know.
Comment (4)
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Sat, Aug 4th - 11:22AM
I live in modest surroundings I am wealthy I drive an average car I am rich I have the love of family and friends I am blessed As I survey the place of goodness that God has brought me to, the promises that He has fulfilled, the provisions that He supplies, I am struck with wonder and I am forced to consider.... Why me? Why has God chosen me? The same question I ask in the midst of trials, I ask in this moment of awareness And the answer is the same on both counts I am His
Comment (1)
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Name: Teresa Pierce
