whoa, children. had church in my home for about 7 hours last night. but not like church that you knew growing up. church like i described in "taking it...vol.15" a place of freedom and joy and love. more like a celebration. exactly like a party. and as cheryl knows. the kingdom of god is a party. capped off the night with a rather lengthy opportuniy to counsel a young man who has been disturbed as regards his faith.
it is always a very soul shattering and frightful thing when you come to the place where you still believe in and love god, but stop agreeing with the "church" at large. so you feel as if this puts your belief and love for god in question. somehow there is an unspoken rule that gets ingrained in you that "it is not okay to question what's going on here." but i think every young person who grows up in or spends a lot of time in the church comes to a place where they realize that they see a gap between what they believe and what they see practiced.
and we talked it out to get to the point where he understood that it is okay. you can indeed know and love god and feel that you are at odds with the public face of the "church" at large. that he was indeed already following the spirit when it lead him outside of the "body", and in doing so, brought him into the true body. those who will follow the spirit anywhere. even if you feel like the whole world is against you.
because for me, that is the point all great men and women of faith had to reach. following the spirit of god no matter where it lead them. even if they felt as if they were alone. even if they were alone. even if no one else in the human world agreed with them, they could say in their heart, "i know whom i have believed..." and that not only could he have confidence in that. but he could rest in that. he could have peace in that. because it is not up to evangelical doctrine as to whether or not we will be in the kingdom for eternity. the kingdom is for "the sons and daughters of obedience." and he was being obedient.
i think he was able to take great comfort for the first time in years. i await to see the blossoms that begin to grow from a life free to have confidence in the spirit.
as to the neighbors... i went down there, sweating my face off. i knocked. no answer. they were not home. i breathed a sigh a relief as i was still REALLY nervous. it was a big step just to walk down the hall and knock on the door. i left them a note and will attempt again today.
keep praying.
as a result of the late night, we are way behind and have to get moving to keep some appointments for zaavan. i will be back later with discussions of the chapter. feel free to talk amongst youselves.
The Lord is working in my life and making things work that I thought wouldn't. Please Lord let me listen to you. I am so strong willed at times - ok all of the time. But, I know my Father knows best.
3 comments:
I havent been able to get into the second half of Acts the way i would have liked. But I am hopefully letting God show me what He wants too...
whoa, children. had church in my home for about 7 hours last night. but not like church that you knew growing up. church like i described in "taking it...vol.15" a place of freedom and joy and love. more like a celebration. exactly like a party. and as cheryl knows. the kingdom of god is a party. capped off the night with a rather lengthy opportuniy to counsel a young man who has been disturbed as regards his faith.
it is always a very soul shattering and frightful thing when you come to the place where you still believe in and love god, but stop agreeing with the "church" at large. so you feel as if this puts your belief and love for god in question. somehow there is an unspoken rule that gets ingrained in you that "it is not okay to question what's going on here."
but i think every young person who grows up in or spends a lot of time in the church comes to a place where they realize that they see a gap between what they believe and what they see practiced.
and we talked it out to get to the point where he understood that it is okay. you can indeed know and love god and feel that you are at odds with the public face of the "church" at large. that he was indeed already following the spirit when it lead him outside of the "body", and in doing so, brought him into the true body. those who will follow the spirit anywhere. even if you feel like the whole world is against you.
because for me, that is the point all great men and women of faith had to reach. following the spirit of god no matter where it lead them. even if they felt as if they were alone. even if they were alone. even if no one else in the human world agreed with them, they could say in their heart, "i know whom i have believed..." and that not only could he have confidence in that. but he could rest in that. he could have peace in that. because it is not up to evangelical doctrine as to whether or not we will be in the kingdom for eternity. the kingdom is for "the sons and daughters of obedience." and he was being obedient.
i think he was able to take great comfort for the first time in years. i await to see the blossoms that begin to grow from a life free to have confidence in the spirit.
as to the neighbors... i went down there, sweating my face off. i knocked. no answer. they were not home. i breathed a sigh a relief as i was still REALLY nervous. it was a big step just to walk down the hall and knock on the door. i left them a note and will attempt again today.
keep praying.
as a result of the late night, we are way behind and have to get moving to keep some appointments for zaavan. i will be back later with discussions of the chapter. feel free to talk amongst youselves.
much love.
The Lord is working in my life and making things work that I thought wouldn't. Please Lord let me listen to you. I am so strong willed at times - ok all of the time. But, I know my Father knows best.
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