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Today was the last day of Spring Break. I always find the end of vacation bitter sweet. Even though the time off was wonderful, I'm ready for schedule, routine and work again. I guess vacation and rest is designed to make us thankful for work.
Years ago, I was shocked in a sermon to be reminded that work is not part of the curse. God gave Adam the assignment to tend the garden and the animals. Work only seemed like a curse after the fall because toil entered the picture. (Read Genesis 1-4). We are actually designed for the work that God calls us to. Look at the variety of giftings and strengths that He has built into us! Using those giftings in the work that He has assigned brings Him great glory and brings us tremendous satisfaction.
Rest has always been part of His plan, too. By resting on the seventh day, God (who is personally indefatigable) reminds His creation to rest by His own example. It was wonderful to spend time at the beach sleeping until we wanted to get up, eating when we got hungry and exerting ourselves only when our muscles ached from laying around. It rained the entire week, but as my brother said today, "A rainy week at the beach is still better than a rainy week anyplace else."
Today the boys and I spent the day savoring the last of the extended rest. They rolled out of bed late and ate doughnuts for breakfast. I worked a little bit, and the boys broke out the board games. I watched their game of Life and then found out that I am Smarter Than a Fifth Grader (today!). It's been slow and lovely.
Today is also our 18th anniversery and my brother's birthday. Happy birthday, Bro! God, thanks for giving me so many happy years with the love of my life.
There's a lot to celebrate today, but tomorrow I look forward to work even as I am saddened that the rest is over. I'm going back refreshed, invigorated and ready to "hit it"!
Monday, April 7, 2008
Bitter Sweet
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2 comments:
Happy Anniversary! Hope you had a nice day.
Good Day
Your Blog Spa for the Bride of Christ has reference;
I would like to pose a few thoughts of where I am at presently (please note this is where I am at, I am not knocking the Church in any way - or at least this is not my intention)
As Christians we attend church to get fed the word (or this is what should be happening) this enables us to 'go out' and read/test it for ourselves - if it is the truth, we then proceed to apply it to our lives Proverbs 4:23 clearly talks about gaurding our heart, for out of it flow the issues of life - with this in mind, what we learn in church is tested (in the Bible, and by the Holy Spirit) we then apply it to our lives - it now becomes part of our value system, and in this way we are able to deal with the issues of life.
The issues of life include; Family and past value systems now in contention with our new values, freinds, job situations, materialism, churches and teachings you will hear though out your life etc, etc.
This is where I would like to pick up my point; I have always held to the fact that the bible is a practicle tool (sword in this case - protection) for the walk of life, what you read can be applied - it has values, Proverbs is a good starting point, then Jesus preached the sermon on the mount - these are new values, then James preaches directly to those values by stating that it is not just a case as a Christian we now assent on a few spiritual truths, without experiencing any real change in behavior or thinking - this book addresses how these new ideals or values should be put into action and produce the typical christianese saying 'Fruits'.
I will continue by stating that if this is not happening first off, then being a Christian is worthless, it is a mere word.
Further I would like to add that Jesus had a very different slant on his teaching - He taught that He was God, second Adam, Son of Man, God's only son....(fuller explaination is found in the Gospels - the Word of God, I am preaching to the converted) that the Kingdom of God is near, repent and be saved...so in faith we accept this.
The point I am trying to make here is that now there is a warning involved - The Kingdom is near, last days, second coming...life has now got new twist on it, it now not just about reading, accepting and applying new values to our lives - there is a purpose. The one purpose that He - Jesus stated was 'Fisher of men' (again read the Gospel for fuller explanation) In this case you either accept or reject Jesus and His teachings out right.
The Church today in my mind (the so called body who accepted the above) has a weird slant on most of the basics. To name, or point out a few; the relevance issue...a watered down Gospel, that really only preaches nice stuff. The duty/or rather religion - this stuff starts wars...who's right, who's wrong (and they dress funny and do strange things in church, and bring another individual into the mix...Mary...) and then there is the chosen frozen, and their teaching is really to difficult to understand. All of the above is a dividing line for many, we as so called Christians can't aggree on what we believe, and so many will not come to know the Lord - or even want to know the Lord because apparently He is one person, then another person, He wants this for them, that for those...and so people either grow tired and turn away, or they dont accept - because it's all confusing anyway, and christians are really relevant and the same as us anyway with just a few good ideals. Ephesians 4 speaks about unity - the church (the christians can't even get this right, but at least we have some good ideals...to which most of the leaders are stuggeling to attain) The leaders seem more interested in numbers, and relevance, and their version of the truth i.e take a passage and procceed to explain what it really means to everyone...and we all know what that gives some individuals - a vision...a flame, a burning chariot, & now a burning house with people who are being set up to believe that all is well; but nothing is really dealt with - the stuff I am talking about is the stuff that Paul writes about in Romans. If this is not spoken about, and dealt with then situations like Corinthians, and Galations creep in and people are swept away by doctrine, false teachings, strange theology - which ultimately has no bearing on the Bible, Jesus and the fact that God exists.
In conclusion; we live in times where people are believing they are God, things (moral life with good values) are not the same - read the papers.
Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God being near, Revalation speaks of it clearly - in other words if Jesus is correct we can't just accept what we are being taught...the sermon on the mount Matt 7:14 says only a few will find it....the way to life.
I truly believe the leaders have to prove themselves, because in my mind the church is not teaching the bible, or the values and priciples that it contains.
Leaders need to show that they understand these values and priciples, they need to encourage people to stick to these values, the Bible must be applied and give grounding to the fact that Jesus is right and that He did not just speak about a whole lot of good ideals, He came to warn us that the Kingdom of God is near...and we had better believe it - we need to prepare, and get right with God fast because things are coming to a head, and the church as a whole seem think they are on the level with what they are teaching.
Further there are people that do seem to have this in common...they are teaching the basics, God is real, our old nature is opposed to God, and God is opposed to our old nature...the church is not dealing with this, the new age embraces (lack of basics but good on the relevence issue) this and even includes christianity as a belief to draw on - we have good ideals.
I am not interested in sitting in church listening to a few ideals, visions, and great speaking...I am ready to be mentored to move out. I want to apply the Bible correctly and see a change in my life, and I want others to see that Jesus is right. I truly believe the church of the Sunday God is over
I am tired of talk...and getting involved in the church where you are 'serving' (I am not saying don't serve, this keeps the wheels of the church of Christ turning - but this is really just an element of christianity that should be a part of the value system Jesus layed down) does not change much, to the world it's just people gathering speaking about God...going home and living the same life as everyone else, but what has really changed.
These are my thoughts, please comment.
My name is Daryl (I am Male)
My e mail address is info@scenico.co.za
I am a South African, from Cape Town
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