Re-Thinking Church

Guest post by, David, my husband, my comments are in blue.


A few months ago, we decided to leave the Corporate Church.

We left because of the many negative experiences we had. 

We were tired of at least five different church experiences where we were never fully accepted as members with full relationships that would endure past membership within those particular churches.
 
We also never felt that we were accepted within those churches. 

Although we were "open", (painfully so, often "airing the dirty laundry" of our families which is verboten in Southern Culture ) in the various small groups of these churches, our "openness" was often used against us in efforts to manipulate or control us.
  
We were not just bystanders at most of these churches.  We were heavily involved. 

At the last church we were members of, we opened our home to times of Corporate Prayer, Small Group Meetings, we even led a small group one summer, Home Made Pizza (just come hungry), and Pork Bar-be-que, Hamburgers, Hotdogs, Potato Salad, and Cole Slaw.  We also had individual families over for a meal on many occasions.
   
I served by running sound (which included driving the church van, unloading the van, setting up the sound system, recording the morning message, tearing down the sound system, reloading the church van, and driving it back to the pastor's house). Susan served by working in the Nursery or Singing on the Praise Team.

Although leaving the corporate church may seem foolish, it has actually been a great time spiritually. Although we both are gifted with Service, we didn't need to work at church. This was no different from the last church we attended, however.

The big difference was that not going to church required me to step up the discussions that we had as a family since we weren't attending at a corporate church. So we have started to have "formal scheduled" times of discussion and Bible study, usually on Sunday morning (appropriately enough) and these sessions aren't a 15 minute quick session where we're just doing our "required time" for the week. They usually last about 1:45 -2:00 hours.  And we don't limit the discussions to Sunday.  We had a great discussion yesterday on Matthew 5 and 6:1-15 on how Jesus said we are to pray.

We've been studying Jesus' life, using the Narrated Bible (which claims to be a chronological sequence of the Bible) as a reference. We pray and then go over a section (either from my ancient copy of the New English Bible or from the ESV as defined in Matthew), discussing what we read and how it applies to the world in which we live.

Recently, Susan expressed a desire to go to a church where she'd been invited by one of the local homeschool Moms, whose husband is the pastor. Although I have other Christian friends, Susan said that she would like to go somewhere (with me along beside her) to try to find other Christian friends. 

I realized this past Friday after crochet club was over that there are 4 Moms who come to crochet that I feel close to, that I can talk to and ask for their prayers.  Even though we don't meet at a 'church' I value the time we can spend together.  What I need to do is pursue these relationships.  This can be difficult as we all homeschool and have to intentionally carve out time to spend with others.  But relationships are important and I need to make the first move.

After a couple of days of sometimes contentious discussion (by me), including discussions with two dear Christian brothers, we came to a conclusion: As long as we continued to have our weekly discussions and I would not be required to take our teenage children to a church to which I would not go, when Susan did not feel like going, I would acompany her to a local church. Otherwise, I would go along with her to support her.

Susan agreed to this arrangement because of the richness of our discussions.
 
Our children, Daniel and Sarah Kate made a commitment to follow Jesus as Lord and Master one Sunday evening when we "skipped" church service.  It was not an emotional decision made from guilt, but instead a sober conversation, initiated "out of the blue," by Sarah who asked about "bearing good fruit.". I was surprised that it happened and the GOD allowed Susan and me to be involved watching our children be born into the Kingdom of Heaven.

So, the lessons learned from this detour in life have been: (1) gathering at home to study and worship GOD can be MORE fruitful than corporate worship when you feel like an outsider and (2) that you don't need to have a preacher, elder, deacon, or Sunday school teacher in order for your children to know and make a decision to follow Christ.

The trouble with 'Small Groups'

First read the blog at this website:  Deeper Story.com
This is my response:

My husband and I also have the problem with ‘small groups’. They are too often NOT a welcoming, healing place to be. We have both been emotionally and verbally attacked because the "leader" did not think what we believed, said, did was up to their standards.
He fortunately has a Bible Study group with several men at the office that has been meeting for several years. Not a ‘you have to join a small group’ group but a group in which they can be real. Where they genuinely care about each other. A group that has developed trust and love for each other over time. Something that CANNOT be forced.

I have never experienced the close care and friendship that should be a part of my walk with Christ.

Maybe I am too broken to fix. Maybe there is something wrong with me that I cannot ‘fit in’.

What ever the reason I hunger for the type of fellowship that the early Christ Followers had. A community that loves each other, that bore the burdens, mourned with those in mourning and rejoiced with those rejoicing. O how I long for that…

Quotes that hit home

"One of the biggest problems in the Church today is that we are so full of everything the world has to offer, we have nothing to offer a starving world." - Jentezen Franklin


FYI Jentezen Franklin is the senior pastor of Free Chapel in Gainesville, Georgia, and Free Chapel OC (Orange County) in Irvine, California.

Why Me?

A few days ago I pulled up some music on YouTube to listen and worship as I worked on some items for the craft fair.
I chose several songs sung by The Gaither Vocal Band and one by The Isaacs.
   

Alpha and Omega

 I Heard a great voice out of heaven saying
Behold the tabernacle of God is with men (He dwells with and in His chosen)
He shall dwell with them and they shall be His people (Christ came to earth)
And Almighty God will be with them

He shall wipe away all tears from their eyes
There shall be no more death
Neither sorrow, nor crying, and no more pain
The former things are all passed away (things to come in heaven)

He that sat upon the throne said,
"Behold, I make all things new"
He said unto me, "Write these words
For they are faithful and true"

And it is done
It is done
It is done
It is done

(IT IS DONE, Once, for all, the perfect sacrifice)

He is the Alpha and Omega
The Beginning and the End
The Son of God, the King of Kings
Lord of lords, He's Everything
Messiah, Jehovah
The Prince of Peace is He
The Son of Man, Seed of Abraham
Second Person in the Trinity

(Some of the Sons names and attributes)

He is the Alpha and Omega
The Son of God, the King of Kings
The Messiah, Jehovah
The Great I Am seed of Abraham
He is the Alpha and Omega
The beginning and the end
Son of God, the King of Kings
The Lord of everything
He is Lord

How many times have I asked , 'Why me?'...

Why do I have these constant headaches?  Why do they get better for a few days then go back to the same horrid cycle.  Why GOD, Why?  Am I not faithful enough?  Am I not _____ enough?

Too many times my first response is, “Why Me? Why am I not healed?

Why do 'bad' things happen to good people? Shouldn't the question be, “why do good things happen to sinners?”

Why Me Lord?

What have I ever done?
To deserve even one
Of the blessings I've known,

(This is the good things to sinners part & the different perspective)

Why me Lord?
What did I ever do?
That was worth love from You
And the kindness You've shown,

( The words 'Love' and 'kindness' can't begin to express what Christ did on the cross)

Lord help me, Jesus
I've wasted it
So help me Jesus
I know what I am,

(This is a hard one, to admit, to confess something I know to be true. Remember that GOD already knows it all).

Now that I know
That I've needed You
So help me Jesus
My soul's in Your hand

(Here's another toughie, admitting that I need Him).

Try me Lord
If You think there's a way
That I can repay
What I've taken from You

(Be sure to understand, nobody, NOBODY can EVER repay Him. If we could there would have been no need at all for Christs sacrifice.)

Maybe Lord
I could show someone else
What I've been through myself
On my way back to You

( The great commission in action, being a real person who is a Christ Follower, allowing others to see the real me with all my weaknesses.)

Lord help me, Jesus
I've wasted it
So help me Jesus
I know what I am

Now that I know
That I've needed You
So help me Jesus
My soul's in Your hand
Jesus, my soul's in Your hand

Then I am reminded that IT IS FINISHED!!!

Christ did what no mortal man, no animal sacrifice could do. He conquered sin and death

It Is Finished

There's a line that is drawn through the ages

On that line stands an old rugged cross
On that cross, a battle is raging
To gain a man's soul or it's loss

On one side, march the forces of evil
All the demons, all the devils of hell
On the other, the angels of glory
And they meet on Golgotha's hill

The earth shakes with the force of the conflict
And the sun refuses to shine
For there hangs God's son, in the balance
And then through the darkness he cries

It is finished, the battle is over
It is finished, there'll be no more war
It is finished, the end of the conflict
It is finished and Jesus is Lord

Yet in my heart, the battle was still raging
Not all prisoners of war had come home
These were battlefields of my own making
I didn't know that the war had been won

Oh, but then I heard the king of the ages
Had fought all the battles for me
And that victory was mine for the claiming
And now praise his name, I am free.

It is finished, the battle is over

It is finished, there'll be no more war
It is finished, the end of the conflict
It is finished and Jesus is Lord



I am no longer bound to sin. I am free from sin's curse.
Does that mean that I am suddenly perfect.
Not by any means.
BUT as a child of GOD, as a Christ Follower I
have the power through the Spirit of God to turn from sin.
 I have a great High Priest sitting on the right hand of Father who interecedes for me.

The righteousness I do not deserve was given to my by Christ who bore the sin that He did not deserve.

Christ took my penalty and gave me His righteousness.

And now I can truly  say,

It Is Well With My Soul 

 When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;

(do you feel like you are drowning in problems too big to surmount?)
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

(Paul teaches this in Philippians 4:11... I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:)

Refrain

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Refrain

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Refrain

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Refrain

What God is teaching me

Why do I post publicly about my spiritual life?  Accountability and prayer.  Even if only the ten people that I send my post to read this post, I can be pretty sure that they will pray for me, maybe even ask me how I am doing.

This past Sunday was a very honest day for me.  It was Palm Sunday, and a few of the kids in church joined the choir for the anthem.  We had a full choir loft.  My two, the pastors youngest, and 3 younger kiddos.

We were dressed in our robes, the littlest 3 wore angel robes minus wings and halos.  We entered the sanctuary from the main entrance of the church instead of coming in behind the pulpit.

The kids  and adults(?) carried palm branches.  It was wonderful to have the children participating and they did very well.

After the anthem the choir filed out and to their seats.  The service proceeded as normal. Opening prayer, announcements, the singing of hymns etc.

Something 'new' that has been added to the service in the past weeks has been an opportunity to pray as individuals.  The pastor opens this time up and closes this time when he feels the time is right.  We usually have several people pray out loud each Sunday and I have been truly blessed by this addition to the service.

This Sunday someone new was sitting in the pew in front of me.  I hadn't spoken to him, and unfortunately didn't have the opportunity after the service.  I hope and pray that he returns.

Three or so people had prayed when this gentleman broke into prayer and tears,  confessing a wrong he had done someone.  He didn't go into a lot of detail, but he didn't need to, the Father already knew.

This man was honest before God and the entire congregation.  He didn't try to hide his sin and be something he was not.  He respond to Gods work in his heart and came to the Saviour just as he was. 

I hope he returns, I want to speak to him and tell him that his prayer and honesty sparked a change in me.  I hope that others will be encouraged and freed from the need to appear perfect.  We need to be open, God already knows everything so we're not hiding from Him.  The scripture tells that we are not to be afraid of people, but fear Him who can harm both body and soul. As he prayed my heart was broken over the sin in my life.  After he finished I started to pray and soon was sobbing over my sin. 

You must understand that I generally do not pray out loud in a mixed congregation.  But this time I had no choice.  I was drawn irresistibly and my words were straight from my heart to His ears.  It did NOT matter that there were many others hearing my voice, and my tears.  This was between me and my Saviour and nothing could stop it.

Have I been challenged in the 48 hours since?  Very much so, but praise goes to my Saviour, I have recognized where I was headed and allowed Him to lead me instead of doing it my way.

This is real.  My prayer was not planned, rehearsed, phony.  I was in the presence of God and I came to Him humbly and in tears.

The words to "I Can Only Imagine"  ask

 "Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still? 

Will I stand in Your presence, to my knees will I fall,

will I sing Hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all?  I can only imagine"

I don't know how I will respond in heaven.  I do know how I responded to my Saviour as He pointed out my sin.

How will you respond?

Don't try to hide your imperfections.  Instead choose to be open about your struggles. 

When you read this, leave a comment and let me know how I can pray for you.  We will stregthen each other.

What I am Learning

I have started to use a devotional book entitled “Faith Walk, A daily Journey Through the Bible” by Woodrow Kroll and Tony Beckett. The reading for December 18 focused on the Seriousness of Sin. The scriptures were Obadiah and Revelation 9. At the end of each daily reading questions are asked to help you apply what has been learned to your own life.
This is what I read, “We sometimes are too casual about sin and its effects. Consider your life today, looking to see if sin is gripping some part of it. By God’s grace and power you can break its grasp”.

As I prayed and pondered, I realized that I am really selfish a lot of the time. I want everyone to leave me alone so I can __________, you can fill in the blank. I see that I often allow my health issues to interfere with life. My life certainly but more importantly I allow my selfishness to interfere with my family’s life.

The children have become more and more aware of this. They see it in the lack of attention I was giving them.

My sweet, patient husband sees it in the way I tend to brush him off. I’m always too tired, or have a headache, or…

Now that my eyes have been opened I need to change. It does me no good whatsoever to see my selfishness and acknowledge that it is sin if I have no intention of changing.

Please pray for me as I seek to change. Pray that I will recognize quickly when I act in a selfish manner. Pray that I will discipline myself to become less me oriented and more God and family oriented.

Music

I've been listening to a lot of my favorite songs on YouTube this morning. 

Music is a beautiful gift that GOD has given to His creation. 

In Luke 19:37-40 we read about the "multitudes praising GOD with loud voices for all the mighty works they had seen.  The Pharisees said to Jesus, 'Master, rebuke them'.  Jesus answered and said unto them,"I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out."

As I watch some of my favorite hymns, Christmas and praise songs, it bothers me that some of the artists are putting their heart and soul into the music are not living a life that honors Christ.

Then as I mulled it over it occurred to me that the message in the song is being spread and used by GOD.  It is possible that those in the audience or the artist or someone watching the YouTube video will be ministered to.

I have to remember that GOD is in control and He can use the foolish to open the eyes of the blind.

The gospel will not return empty, but will fulfill His plan!

So listen to the gospel spelled out in song.  Let it speak to you. 

One of the Saddest 2-weeks of my life

A little over 2 years ago, I had a very memorable Mother's Day. Our friends J & K had their 3rd child in a home birth.  ( I told K she was my hero, she was at church in active labor only about 2 hours before 'Puppy" was born).

"Puppy"

"E"

-

"I"

We were over within an hour or so after he was born.  And were able to bring them leftovers from our Sunday lunch and share and rejoice  with them as a family.  I thought I had blogged about it, cannot believe I forgot.

Just as Mother's Day 2008 if a joyful memory, so September 2010 is one of sorrow and tears.

September 7, our pastors son James was killed in the line of duty in Iraq.  He had been in the army less than a year, he had a young wife at home, he was scheduled to come home in January 2011. 

God in His Providence, chose to bring him home, and in his death, the message of the Gospel has been broadcast at least nationwide.  As his wife, parents, siblings, extended family, and friends mourn his passing, we are also able to rejoice in the testimony that his death has spread.

Right now if you 'google' James McClamrock you will find newspaper articles from all over.  I haven't yet read all of them , but every one I have read has been so full of God's grace as evidenced in the entire family's lives.

His funeral was this past Friday, 9/17.  It was very emotional but at the same time I believe that it was very healing for those who grieve.

We (Gibson Family) did not have the privilege of knowing this young man.  He left for the Army only a few months after we started attending the church and prior to that his job in security at the airport had kept him away.  We have had the chance to get to know his wife a tiny bit, and I am so amazed and yes, even proud of how she is responding to the death of her husband with grief tempered by hope and peace and grace.

Shannah, Jamies wife, has the peace that surpasses ALL understanding.  This is not a trite cliche.  It is the evidence of Christs work in her life. 

 Philippians 4:4-7: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

This is the peace in the face of tremendous grief that Shannah, James parents and siblings, his friends and church family have.  And as we seek His peace in this time of grief, as we cling to Him for healing, He gives us the peace that only he can give.

Here is a link to a tribute article in the local paper.  It was front page and if printed on one page would take up the ENTIRE page.  How often do we see that for a small town boy?  But more about the reasons for the honor shown him in another post.

Final Good-bye

And They'll Know We are Christians By Our Love, and our words and our deeds...

As I browse through facebook profiles of people I know, I am ashamed.  Ashamed of the words that are posted.  Ashamed of the things that are "liked".  Ashamed of the attitudes displayed while at the same time the title of 'christian' is bandied about with no regard.

Words mean something.  Our culture has denigrated the language so much that words  once  taboo, highly insulting,  even forbidden have now become a badge of 'honor'.

Parents, if your kids are on Facebook or have a blog, please keep an eye on what they post.  I think that we often post something on the www that we would not say in real life.  I know I have said things online that in retrospect I would NEVER have said in the same way if I had been talking to that person face to face.

I have been on a lot of facebook pages this week as I tried to keep up-to-date on the funeral plans for a dear young man from our church who was killed last week while serving his country in Iraq.  Consequently I have seen a lot of comments that were not anything I would want my children to call themselves or anyone else.

Courageous

                                                   Courageous

The people who brought us "Flywheel", Facing the Giants", and "Fireproof"  are hard at work on a new film.

Here is the synopsis from the website

Four men, one calling: To serve and protect.

As law enforcement officers, Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes, and their partners are confident and focused. They willingly stand up to the worst the world can offer. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them are truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood.
While they consistently give their best on the job, good enough seems to be all they can muster as dads. But they're quickly discovering that their standard is missing the mark.

They know that God desires to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, but their children are beginning to drift further and further away from them. Will they be able to find a way to serve and protect those that are most dear to them?

When tragedy hits home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, their faith, and their fathering. Can a newfound urgency help these dads draw closer to God ... and to their children?

Courageous is the fourth release of Sherwood Pictures, the moviemaking ministry of Sherwood Church in Albany, Georgia. Their first release since FIREPROOF, the No. 1 independent film of 2008, Courageous joins Facing the Giants and Flywheel in touching and impacting lives through heartfelt stories of faith and hope.

Moviegoers will again find themselves crying, laughing, and cheering—sometimes simultaneously—as they are inspired by everyday heroes who long to be the kinds of dads that make a lifelong impact on their children.

Protecting the streets is second nature to these law enforcement officers. Raising their children? That will take courage.

Courageous ... honor begins at home. Filming

© 2010 Provident Films, a unit of SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT. All Rights Reserved. Site By MMP

Rejoicing & Mourning

 

By Kerry S. Doyal, Grace Bible Church, www.GetGraced.org

No Doubt:
Tiggers are much more fun to be around than Eeyores. Yet Eeyores need love too. And tiring Tiggers need you to be hoppy & happy with them.

One of the most powerful gifts we can offer is that of empathy. Feeling the pain or planning the party with those who are celebrating or commiserating.

In a highly practical list of best family practices for believers, Paul urges us in Romans 12:15 to:

"Rejoice with those who rejoice;
mourn with those who mourn."

Who do you know that recently received good news? Celebrate them! Note their news, award, accomplishment with genuine joy - even if it was good news you did not receive.

Who is grieving, discouraged, taking lumps from life right now? Let them you know are sorry, pray for (WITH) them, send a card, share a tear, heft a hug, slip a twenty.

Party with the blessed.
Hurt and weep with the wounded.

The challenge is to not resent those celebrating when you feel life is kicking you in the shins. Nor are we to gloat over the hurting, even if - according to us - they "are finally getting their comeuppance, paying their dues."

"Rejoice with those who rejoice;
mourn with those who mourn." (NIV)
 
I (Susan) think this is one of the areas that we, as a body of Christ Followers, tend to slip.  I know I do.  I also know that it is this very thing that causes people to feel isolated in the church.  I've been there.  I have felt SO isolated from the fellowship because health problems prevented me from attending services.  And I know at least 3 other ladies that have also felt the same isolation because of similar situations.
 
I am not writing this to say "Shame on you," but instead as a challenge to all of us. 
 
 
So rejoice and celebrate with the Tiggers in you life.  BUT don't forget the Eeyores.  Make a phone call, send a card, deliver a meal, ask "How can I help?  How can I pray?"

WHATEVER my God ordains is right

This is my prayer today.  May I learn AND chose to be content whatever my lot

Definitions from Webster 1828

Whatever: any thing that may be
Ordain:  To appoint; to decree
Decree: In theology, predetermined purpose of God...whose plan of operations is like himself, unchangeable
Right: Freedom from error

Paul writes this to the Philippian Believers:
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians chapter 4.

Whatever My God Ordains Is Right

Original words by Samuel Rodigast, 1676
Translated by Catherine Winkworth, 1863
Music and alternate words by Mark Altrogge

Verse 1
Whatever my God ordains is right
In His love I am abiding
I will be still in all He does
And follow where He is guiding
He is my God, though dark my road
He holds me that I shall not fall
And so to Him I leave it all

Verse 2
Whatever my God ordains is right
He never will deceive me
He leads me by the proper path
I know He will not leave me
I take content, what He has sent
His hand can turn my griefs away
And patiently I wait His day

Verse 3
Whatever my God ordains is right
Here shall my stand be taken
Though sorrow, or need, or death be mine
Yet I am not forsaken
My Father’s care circles me there
He holds me that I shall not fall
And so to Him I leave it all

Verse 4
Whatever my God ordains is right
Though now this cup in drinking
Bitter it seems to my faint heart
I take it all unshrinking
My God is true, each morn anew
Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart
And pain and sorrow shall depart

Are We Seperate Enough?

"Parents, what are your children learning from your worship? Do they see the same excitement as when you go to a basketball game? Do they see you prepare for worship as you do for a vacation? Do they see you hungry to arrive, seeking the face of the Father? Or do they see you content to leave the way you came?.....They are watching. Believe me. They are watching." - Max Lucado


We studied Acts 2: 37-41 in our Sunday evening service last night. This is the account of the result of Peter's Sermon at Pentecost.

After hearing Peter, the scripture tells us they were cut to the heart and asked, "What shall we do?"

Peter said to them“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”

That last sentence, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." sparked a discussion about what 'crooked generation' means AND are we, the followers of Christ seperate enough from the world.

I think that we are not set apart enough for the world to notice much of a difference.

So what if we go to church on Sunday morning.  How we behave and what we choose to do AFTER church is what matters.

Years ago when I was working at a restaurant I dreaded the Sunday night crowd.  They came in after the Sunday evening service and were the most difficult to please, the worst tippers and generally just a bad witness. I used to do anything I could to help the waitress assigned to wait on them.  It was always a big group, they sat in the big dining room and the kids sat apart from the parents which made writing up orders more difficult.  I happened to have a couple of waitresses on my staff that were members of this church, those waitresses got good tips, but beware if you weren't part of their group...

So, where does that leave me?  Well for one thing, David and I have chosen to tip well when the service warrants it.

But mainly we have tried to be different...different from the world, different in our expectations, different in how we spend out time and money....different

does it matter?   I think it does.

So we will continue to be, do , think, speak differently. Are we good at it?  It depends.  Could we improve?  Yes

I want our children to become used to being different.

I want my life to count for something.

For a good resource read John Piper's 'Don't waste your life'  It was written after Piper's battle with cancer.

Let us choose to be different because we serve a holy GOD.  Holy means set apart.  We need to be set apart.

Sunday Quote

"I hear people say, 'Why do you want to go to church? They are all just hypocrites.' I never understood why going to church made you a hypocrite because nobody goes to church because they're perfect. If you've got it all together, you don't need to go. You can go jogging with all the other perfect people on Sunday morning. Every time you go to church, you're confessing again to yourself, to your family, to the people you pass on the way there, to the people who will greet you there, that you don't have it all together, and that you need their support. You need their direction. You need some accountability, you need some help." - Rich Mullins, the "Awesome God" guy