Off your butt..........

We all need to stop talking about what needs to be done, and start doing some of it. I'm the worst. I can't even get myself up for Church. But I'm working on it. If I can get myself to leave behind the grand ideas, and solve the little problems, I will be on my way.

But that is the hard part. We spend all this time with great dreams and ideas. How to save the world. How to feed thousands. But we don't feed the ones by us. We just dream. We have got to quit wanting to be the one who does great things for many people. Its time to start doing great things for those around us.

When the Bible tells us to take care of the poor. I don't think it means just those without nice houses or a car. Its means the poor in spirit. The poor in friends. Its time for us to help those who are poor in the things Jesus showed us are important. Its time to show love to those who don't have it. Loving those around you is the greatest gift you can give. And the beauty is, it is the gift that gives back.

Difficult

I never realized how hard it is to get back into a Church Routine. All through Highschool I had no problem with it. I guess because my parents made me do it when I was younger. But I let myself get out of the habit in College, not realizing how difficult it is to start back up. And here I am 7 years after college, still unable to get myself up and going.

The bad part is, I really want to. I have really enjoyed being in church in the last few weeks. And I feel so much better the rest of the week when I go. But my own laziness or lifestyle has kept me from it. I'm learning, that if I plan on going to Church on Sunday, I can't do much on Saturday. Or I just won't get up. And that I believe is a key to following Jesus. We have to learn to give up ourselves, our wants, and our lifestyles.

Now that sounds like you are giving up everything good or fun, but its not. What you really do, is learn that what Jesus taught, and what the Holy Spirit leads you to, it so much better. MUCH BETTER. Its true happiness. Its relational.

My joy and happiness doesn't come from going out or doing things, it comes from the relationships I have with others. My friends and family. Now I have only recently realized this, but it's true. And what Jesus teaches you is by building a relationship with him, you can learn how to have true relationships with both those you already know and love, as well as those you will only know briefly. And this is what makes life great.

So Remember, it is the people around you, the ones you love, that make the events in your life great.

Found wanting...........

Its true. We aren't worthy. We can want to be. We can try to be. But we will never make it. We are sinners. All of us. No one better than another. That is the beauty of Jesus. He sacrificed himself so that we don't have to be worthy or perfect.

The problem is, as people, it is hard for us to truly accept this. Not that Jesus sacrificed himself, but that he accepts us as we are. We have trouble doing it for others, so we just can't see how Jesus can so freely do it for us. Especially considering the many, many times we let Jesus down compared to the many, many times he has provided for each of us. But he does. So when we try and do something we feel led by God to do, we need to ignore our past mistakes. Once you ask for forgiveness, he doesn't care about them. He doesn't remember they exist.

The more we realize we aren't worthy of Jesus, the better we can serve the Lord. When others see and understand that you aren't worthy of God, yet he loves you beyond measure, they will understand the true Jesus. So get out there, be yourself, and follow the path God has set for you. No, you aren't worthy of God. But he wants you to serve him. He wants you to know that your imperfections make you a great witness to those just like you (and that is all of us).

So. What are you waiting for?

Leap of Faith

I'm beginning to learn, that every time I take a step in faith, I gain a better understanding of how little I understand. Every moment studying the Bible is accompanied by questions I didn't have before. And only a few of my earlier questions getting answered. Thank you Jesus, for only requiring us to accept you as our saviour, and not having to understand you and your ultimate wisdom.

For me, this is God's plan. He wants us to not only grow in knowledge, but more importantly, in faith. He wants us to have faith like a child. But how can we do that after so many experiences? I can do so many things on my own that as I child I could not. So how do we have faith like a child?

It doesn't mean don't try to learn or understand God. What it means (for me) is to work on my relationship with Jesus. Because the closer I get or the more I understand, the more I realize that I understand so little. For every one answer, I have a hundred questions. But normally, that one answer helps my faith and love of Christ grow exponentially. So the more I learn, the less I understand, and the greater my faith. The Lord works in mysterious ways!!!!

The Joy of Church

Its been too long since I have really enjoyed going to Church. But I believe I have found a church where I can do that again. And although I have only attended twice, NorthPark Church has been wonderful.

The first time we had a guest preacher who was good (especially considering he is just a member of the congregation). It was also an Hour and forty minutes long. But it passed by faster than many of the 50 minute services I have sat through. Baptisms were part of the reason it was longer than normal. There aren't many things more moving than watching a baptism.

The second time was run by the youth. The music was great. Guitar, drums, bass guitar, etc. The upbeat music adds so much to the service (the music was great at both services). There were two main things I enjoyed. First, they had a youth sing, while another one danced. It was wonderful to see creativity in worship. The second was seeing how the youth minister had everyone involved. I want the church I join to involve everyone, not just overworking a few. And this was a great example.

One other notable thing about the second worship, was no sermon. A brief testimony, but no sermon. How many churches can go through an entire normal service without a sermon? I loved it.

My next step is a 4 week welcome class lead by the pastor. And I plan on attending a meeting about helping out with the youth next Sunday at 2. I've decided that when I join a church, I want it to be one I can serve. So I need to make sure the opportunities are there.

Like the title says......

Becoming a Christian isn't hard, living like Jesus is. He doesn't require us to be perfect or sinless to accept us. All you have to do is ask him into your heart and to forgive you of your sins. Jesus is the only one to ever be perfect, but I believe he wants us to try. I recently learned how truly hard that is to do.

I have been a Chrisitian since I was young. I knew what I was doing and was really excited about it. But I always relied on the Church to do my thinking. To show me how I should live. Its only been recent that I have discovered that I should have relied on Jesus and the Holy Spirit to guide my thought and behaviour. This may not sound like a big mistake, but I think it was. I followed the Church and kept myself away from things I thought were wrong. Most of which I still think are wrong, but I could have been around those things without being part of them. And that is a key problem in the church today, being outside the normal world. The Bible says you can be IN the world without being OF the world.

That is living like Jesus. Going out into the world. Making others understand you Love and care for them without conditions. To be able to walk through temptation without falling victim to it. Trying to be like Jesus, will teach you to appreciate how great he truly is.

Whose Rule is it Anyway?

You shouldn't drink. You should wear a tie to church. You have to join a church to be a good Christian. These are just some of the things I have been taught my whole life, but where did they come from? Now don't get me wrong, I'm not the most Bible Literate. But I have read the gospels and the majority of the New Testament. I just don't remember any of those rules?

Now Jesus says that there are really only two rules to follow: Love God because there is no other God but him and Love they neighbor as thyself. So what difference does it make to me if someone is breaking another rule? And, here comes the big question, WHOSE RULE IS IT ANYWAY?

In my Bible study we look at many different verses and only occassionally do we see the verse in the same light. That is 5 guys from a pretty similiar background. If we can't agree on an interpretation of the Bible and its verses, how can people from different backgrounds and cultures?

My point is this: If there are hundreds of different interpretations and views of the Bible and how to live right, we have to quit forcing our lifestyle on everyone else. Jesus is the only one worthy of judging others. So we need to stop judging and start living by his two rules that end all rules.

Far Away Places

Thats the name of one of my favorite restaurants. The reason I tell you this, is the same reason I like sharing the story of Jesus with my friends and family. I enjoy being there. I'm not trying to make followers of Thai food. I'm not trying to make everyone be like me. I simply have found something that makes me happy, and how can I keep it to myself?

I'm not a pushy Christian. Its not all I talk about. But sometimes I feel like if I share Jesus with others they will feel I'm trying to force them into my beliefs. I'm not. I learned a valuable lesson a few years ago. I was always taught that it is a Christian's job to make other Christians. Its not. What we should do is share Jesus with others. Thats it. No more. Its God who does the rest.

My call to arms is this: Christians, go out and let all people see the Joy and Peace knowing Jesus brings you. Share it with those you come in contact with. Love as Jesus Loves you. If others see his Love and Joy in you, they will want to get to know him.

My Bad.

Thats right. Its my fault. All of it. Everything. So what now?

Ok, not everything is my fault. But in most cases, I could have done something to change the outcome. And yes, hindsight is 20/20. But how often do the same mistakes or events occur around us? Why do we not use hindsight in our foresight?

How many times do you hear "It wasn't my fault?" I hear it daily. The problem with that is if it wasn't their fault, they aren't gonna try and fix it. Same for me. Not my fault, so you fix it. So I have decided on a change (actually decided this a long time ago without following through). I am gonna accept all things as my fault. If somebody that works for me screws up, I didn't train them well enough. If I argue with my girlfriend, I must not have been communicating as well as I should have been. If I accept responability for all the events around me, I will learn to be more responsible, more caring, and more forgiving of others.

Now that sounds like Jesus to me. We have been told not to try and get the speck out of our neighbors eye while we have a log in ours. So being that my faults are the size of a log (as compared to your speck), I have to assume that it was all "My Bad"

Where to begin?

Living like Jesus is not easy. I've been trying for years and still do a poor job. His life was lived full of Love. For All People, not just the ones who lived a "good" life. And he knew right from wrong, where I only have my personal views. So I want to learn how to live like Jesus. I'll never get there, but trying everyday is all I believe he asks. So this is my online spiritual Journal. My beliefs. Maybe you will agree with me, maybe you won't. If I am living like Jesus, I won't care. I'll just Love.