I think I've already written about this book God @ Work (God at Work), but I am feeling the message again, so I have to write about it. I just started an empowerment coaching practice. I'm a king in the marketplace. My focus is on making sure God's resources are funneled into the desires of His heart. And, I am very concerned with the state of church (business as usual).
You see, I was just badgered by my father, who is a pastor of a Church of God in Christ fellowship about not attending church services, but I find them to be very self-serving. I mean Jesus went to the synagogue to teach people, but we have His Spirit to guide us in all truth.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for
he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will
speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
John 16: 13
There is a good reason why my generation is irreverent. Why exactly do we gather on Sunday? Where is the offering collected on Sundays/weekdays going to? Is this the model that Jesus provided?
Yeah, so I'm content not to go anywhere until the Spirit of God leads me to go. I'm up for serving the homeless, visiting the sick, building shelters, holding deformed babies, taking food to widows and sending money to orphans. But, don't ask me to go to "family game night" at church.
Jesus came to serve, not to be served. There's so much that we've twisted. Do the greatest in the church serve the least? NO! There's ushers for that or some ritualistic footwashing service which means next to nothing. God despises our heartless rituals!
I didn't mean to get on a rant, but Jesus came and showed us how it's done. And, then our big egos/thirst for significance or power caused us to corrupt and complicate things. Can I get a witness?
Saturday, June 23, 2012
God At Work
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
The Bible is Not the Word of God?
I stumbled across this video today, and it made me realize that legalism really rules in Christianity as we know it. I was taught and believed the doctrine that Scripture is perfect and God-breathed. I know now that the Scriptures are the revelation that God gives me in the kitchen cooking or after a long season of prayer. They just happen to be really old.
However, the words in red I have always devoured passionately. I have always had this unrestrained curiosity about them and then restraint from them because I would be listening to luke warm Christians. "He doesn't literally mean turn the other cheek." After walking with him and reading Brother Yun's testimony, I now know he does, and it's time to pray with all my being and seek God daily. That's it.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
David Bowden Poetry
After listening to this poem that basically pointed out most if not all of the problems with church as we know it, I wondered if his voice could matter. I have felt and fought for the same thing. God showed me that He literally weeps about the disunity in His family.
When I listen to this man, David Bowden, I hear a person totally surrendered. I wonder how he got there. I wonder who taught him, and then I also think...maybe it was just God. My cousin is alright. She is totally caught up in what God has for her, and she got that way from throwing her religion out the window and seeking God for herself. I saw the same correlation with Cindy Trimm and Jefferson Bethke. These people are not so "churched" or religious that they have ceased to be relevant. And, they believe God, and only want God.
How wonderful to be there.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
The 40 Day Soul Fast
So, yesterday I started the 40 day Soul Fast with Cindy Trimm, and I have to say I'm impressed that she is selling the solution and indirectly selling the tools to get better results. I got the app rather than the book and the physical journal (or is is electronic?).
The website is http://www.soulfast.com
Check it out. It's pretty cool how she's considering how people consume content today. So, she's offering the traditional book form and the e-book, it looks like. I just wanted to share this quote that was in the journal today cause it spoke to me.
“The way to be truly happy is to be truly human, and the way to be truly human is to be truly godly.” --J. J. Packer
Dr. Trimm is on Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin from what I noticed. I'm not following her tweets or subscribed to her Facebook, but I just wanted to point out how she's aligning herself with new technology. It's exciting. And, I'm excited to be participating in the 40 Day Soul Fast. Leia Mais…
Monday, August 15, 2011
A Study of Romans 8:6
So, today the Spirit led to to study Romans 8 and Revelations 8. As I was reading through these passages again, I saw Romans 8:6 needed further study. This is what I found.
for the mind of the flesh is death, and the mind of the Spirit -- life and peace;
(Romans 8:6, YLT)
φρονημα noun - nominative singular neuter
phronema fron'-ay-mah: (mental) inclination or purpose -- (be, be carnally, be spiritually) mind(-ed).
Can you see it? Is our purpose in whatever we do to feed ourselves or to be faithful to our loving God. Are we self-serving (fleshly-minded) or God-serving (Spiritually-minded). IT struck me how this Word had not done its perfect work in my life. There are so many places in which I am experiencing death, because my appetite is foremost. I have not even considered God or His will!
Oh, I was blind but now I see.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Lessons on Tithing
The Tithe
The portion that you return to your Savior and High Priest.
I might have written about this sooner if I had remembered. I was discussing with my aunt a dream that God had given me. Although I do not remember the dream completely, I remember the lesson. I had just told my cousin who mentioned that she was struggling financially that she needed to tithe.
I had only just heard it from one of my mentors, and I decided to pass the good advice along. I was shocked to learn that only 20% of Christians actually tithe 10% of their income or more. My parents make it a habit to do so, and they definitely have more than enough.
I had been heeding the counsel of some as I received allowances and tax-free money from the government that I did not "need" to tithe. My aunt even told me, of some money I had recently received, that I did not need to correct my balance with God, just go forward in the future. I was convicted to make it right. But, what of this story that we are in the age of Grace?
Well my friends, I say that you can continue to suffer hardship in your ignorance or you can trust God to do what He says. Even more, in the next verse He speaks of rebuking "the devourer," meaning there is a being appointed to destroy all these good things we are accumulating with the Lord's tithe.
Malachi 3:10
Bring in all the tithe unto the treasure-house, And there is food in My house; When ye have tried Me, now, with this, Said Jehovah of Hosts, Do not I open to you the windows of heaven? Yea, I have emptied on you a blessing till there is no space. (YLT)
I always write from what the Holy Spirit teaches me and my personal experience. It has been two months that I have been careful to watch where my money is going and to give to the Lord what is His to bless the poor and needy. And I see my income increasing, just as God said.
Now, I remember what the Holy Spirit revealed that made me tremble. Jesus, the High Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek gave the Jewish people the high priest model to reveal Himself to us. And now we have removed ourselves from it. But, this is one of the ways of God. We bring the tithe, and He blesses it, blesses us, and from it His family and work is sustained. So, when you are tempted to hold on to the tithe picture Jesus hungry, thirsty, and homeless and you ignoring Him.
Friday, July 15, 2011
John 12:32 - Deconstructed
The more and more I learn, the more and more cautious I become of Bible teachers. I now realize that there were a lot of well-to-do, undereducated men in the church that I grew up attending. As I was studying the Scriptures this morning, I ran across another scripture that I was commonly taught to mean that when Jesus' name is glorified or magnified by the mouths of men, then He would draw all men unto Himself.
When I read the scripture, I went back through the chapter to be sure
I was understanding what the Spirit was saying. And the chains fell from my mind. Because now I know that the scripture following it and the what the Spirit of God was saying to me was the actual meaning. John 12:33 says "This he said signifying what death he should die."
John 12:32 speaks not only of Jesus being raised up from the earth and hung on a tree, but also His resurrection from the ground and His ascent into heaven. And truly because He was raised up from the earth and died the death that was determined from the Father He Will Draw All Men Unto Himself. Because He ascended into heaven, He sent His Spirit to continue His work.
Earlier in the chapter Jesus can be seen wrestling in His spirit about dying, but He says at last "Now, is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name."
Jesus will accomplish His will whether men choose to speak of Him or not. The times will go as He decreed, and when He comes this saying will be complete. All men will come to Him and serve Him, because He paid the price for it.
