Monday, April 5, 2010

One God, One Team, One Goal

This is not my normal routine: blogging. My beautiful wife created this page, so I have decided to use it - I'm sure not as often as she does hers, but I can try to keep up.

I have been a Christian for about 24 years now. I have times, like many others, where I have been extremely close to God and times when I try to go my own way. Those latter times were usually short term, because I realized I could not make it with out Him. With all this said, it has only been the last couple of years that I have been most challenged, most encouraged, a little frustrated, and sadly disappointed in my Christian walk.

The great challenges and encouragement have come from a great pastor and fellow Christian friends and family. Our new pastor, Kris Barnett, has done an awesome job of moving our church out of its comfort zone and getting us out into the community where we should be reaching the lost and showing them God's love and the good news of His sacrifice and promise of eternal life through believing in Him. This also comes from the great friends and Christian family God has placed around me. To be able to really talk about spiritual subject and get the feedback and encouragement I have has been great. This also has come through the eGroups we have started at our church. These have truly been a blessing in my life.

The frustration and disappointment have come not through the world but also from some fellow Christians. Some issues that have sparked this are from simple things like how we worship, where we worship, and what that place of worship looks like. There have also been focuses on holidays and how those are celebrated. Even some thoughts about how the gospel is to be carried out. Although, these things are important to a degree, they are not the issues we need to be focusing on.

ALL THINGS, were made by God. It is how we use these things which is pleasing or displeasing to God. Sex was created by God; it has been the perversion of sex by man through pornography and adultery that makes it bad. The knowledge of how to invent TV was given through the brain God created, but the content put on by individuals who do not know Him, makes it bad. Music itself is not bad, but some use it to convey messages that are displeasing to our Lord. Even holiday figures came from the minds created by God. Although they exist, Santa, presents, the Easter Bunny, or eggs do not lessen the presence of God, the Holy Spirit, or God in flesh, Jesus Christ. The way we worship or where we worship, does not lessen God's existence either.

God resides in the hearts of those who believe in Him. They carry Him daily there. Although sometimes difficult, the life God has layed before us to live is very simple. There are only a few rules to obey.He gave us the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20), The Great Commission(Matthew 27:16-20): to go and make diciples and the great commandment of all, Matthew 22:37-39,"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind. This is the greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."

Just remember, as Christians, we are all on the same team. Be careful of what and how you say things and how you live your lives. Not only with the non-Christians you come in contact with but the Christian brothers and sisters you serve beside. Be careful not to injure those you fight along side with, when you swing your sword. There is more than one way to reach people; if there are things that make you stumble, remove them from your life. If those things can be controlled and handled by others, let them choose. All things, can be use to share God's love. Don't put limitations on Him.

With all these things said, I am by no means perfect. I struggle every day with the things I should do and don't do. I fall short of the mark God is holding me to every day. It is just much easier to bounce back when we all work together and encourage each other, no matter how we are carrying out God's plan and will.