bringing the human back into church....

 How do those around us see us as Christians, do they see us as people that are real, mess up and admit it, or do they see us as hypocrites? Do they see us as churchy people that make like we are perfect, but mess up all the time, only not to admit it? Are we seen as people that come off as thinking we are better? Are we seen as people that point out others flaws, but don't admit our own?

Are we for real?

I wonder, have we forgotten what it is to be human. We live in a world that expects perfection and we go to church where we are often expected to be perfect.

So just where is that place where we can be normal, real, vulnerable? Is it at home with our families? Is it with our freinds?

Where is that place where we can let our guard down? With whom can we do that?

I have often longed for community, for community where people can be real, where real people can support real people.

Is modern day church growing the next generation the right way, are we creating an environment where people can be real, like Moses, David, Peter, or an environment of perfection, one that none of us can attain?

Are we as Christians reflecting a genuine faith? Are we real or do we show the world hypocrisy because we are afraid to let our imperfections show?

Have we forgotton what it is to be human, that we all mess up and require forgiveness?

Do our lives reflect forgiveness?

Matthew 6:9-13

New International Version (NIV)

“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

TobyMac - Forgiveness

jesus culture you love never falls

Christmas without a loved one

To all those who will face this Christmas season missing someone they love …..we pray for God’s special comfort for you as you celebrate his son’s birth, but at the same miss celebrating it with those who have gone on ahead of you.
It will be 20 years ago this boxing day that dad passed and oh how the memories are still so cherished.
Many have much more recent losses, may you feel Gods peace and strength......have a listen to the below link:)

 

I'll See You Again Lyrics Westlife
 

when we don't know what to say what do we do??

When we don't know what to say what do we do? We all have people in our lives who have gone through something, perhaps its something horrendous, and we just don't have a clue what to say to them.
Perhaps some of us have also been that person, the person who has gone through something and feels like people just don't know what to say to them.

My wife and I have experienced both. When we go through a visitation line before a funeral, its hard to know what to say. Will we say the wrong thing? What do you say, how do you show compassion? I remember the funeral home experience when my dad died, some would come in very caring and compassionate, others were very nervous. A few said some ridiculous things, one I still remember to this day, almost 20 years later.  The point is, they were all there meaning well and that's what I have to try to remember. I have also learned that sometimes its best to keep it simple, whether its at a funeral visitation or elsewhere, to simply let the hurting person know you are praying for them.
We are all in this life together and its important to not just feel compassion, but to show it. If you are the hurting person like I have been and people you expect would show compassion and have empathy for your situation don't, it can leave you feeling abandoned, lonely and lost.
My girl and I have had people admit to us that they simply have not known what to say or do so they just have not. We have appreciated them saying that, because without that communication, it can feel like people are retracting from you like you are a leper.
Men in particular can be quite lousy at showing compassion, and I mean lousy to the point of pathetic, Me included. We can have a hard time communicating at the best of times unless its about sports, let alone come along side a friend in compassion.
I have learned that when it comes to being the receiver, I have to accept the persons well meaning better than I sometimes have. I have learned that I need to show empathy and compassion to others......silence in a situation that requires even a few words or a small act of kindness, can be deadly and leave a person feeling abandoned and like people are retracting from them.

Our saviour was the master example of compassion, as a Christian I should be exuding his love and compassion to others, both those close to me, and those around me.
Matthew 9:36

New International Version (NIV)

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

"Do You Feel Their Pain" COMPASSION!!!

What Love is This - Kari Jobe - Where I Find You

Your Love Never Fails -Chris Quilala / Jesus Culture

the little picture on the counter

the little picture on the counter, its of a little boy from Ecuador, its of a little boy that doesn't have all that we do.

This picture is of a little boy that God made and uniquely gifted. He is worth the investment to help through school.

God has big plans for this boy as he does for all people.

What am I doing, what are your doing to invest in the lives of people less fortunate?

Praying for this boy in Ecuador

Jesus Loves the Little Children

white knuckling it through life.... (Scott)

Tonight my wife and I had a great chat with another couple who has white knuckled their way through life, just barely hanging on at times. They have endured allot, over 30 surgeries on one of their children.

It is this kind of thing that you go into survival mode over, you grip the steering wheel of life so tight that your knuckles are white, but you hang on in a survival type mode. Things like one on one time with your spouse, or time for yourself are sacrificed.

At some point you realise the impact of the situation, whether it was health related, death or otherwise, it has had an impact on your own well being, on your emotions and perhaps on the relationships you hold dearest.

My wife and I have experienced this, things that we have grappled with and found excruciatingly painful to us, things that have put us in survival mode, these are things we eventually have had to face because they were tearing at us and having a negative impact.

2012 has been a year of facing things for us, a year of getting out of survival mode and facing the damage so to speak. Like in a car crash where the vehicles have spun to a halt, we have spun to a halt and now must survey the damage and move on.

For us it has been the stresses of life combined with several health issues and an uncertain future. For you it may be something different.

My challenge to myself and to you is to assess the damage and deal with it proactively before it is to late.

Let Go and Let God

Building 429 - Right Beside You

Gods safety net

Life can be quite a gruelling climb at times, it can feel like we are climbing a slippery rock face with few foot holds. Perhaps its due to stresses from work, health, a death or relationships.

Sometimes I have lost my footing only to find God catching me and stopping my free fall.

Then I am safe again in his arms.

Psalm 18:2

New International Version (NIV)

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;  my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

White Flag: Passion 2012 - Atlanta, GA

It's so awesome to know that we have an all knowing God that will meet us even in our time of deepest need.

Kutless - Everything I Need

looking through a tinted lens

As I get older I realise how often that how I feel impacts my vision and my hearing.......how I feel affects how I see things, and how I hear things. It affects how I experience things.

If my filters are clogged with debris such as hurt, anger, frustration, my out look and response to things is skewed. For example I may have a clogged filter because of an instance at work, take it home and respond irrationally to my kids or my wife. However if my filters are are clean, my responses are far more pleasant.

Lately I have been trying to let life come to me more, not to worry about the what if's and to realise that in all things God has a plan. It's a process to train oneself to think differently and sometimes can feel like one step forward and 2 back. I find that so much of life is a discipline, like working out in a gym to gain strength or stamina, it takes discipline to train my mind and keep it focused.
Philipians 4:8 says, Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

New International Version (NIV)

  Looking thru a lens of hurt, frustration or anger can impact so much of your life, it certainly has mine as I realise how unhealthy some of my worrisome thought patterns have been.

Isaiah 64:8

New International Version (NIV)

Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand

Rooftops - Jesus Culture

Refiner's Fire - Hillsong - Worship Video

Carrie Underwood - Jesus, Take The Wheel