Organic Church, Should the Traditional Church Change?

These videos i am posting in my blog today is about Simple Church or Organic Church.

I think this is a Wonderful and amazing thing.

Acts Chapter 2 Vrs 42-47 (ESV)

The Fellowship of the Believers


42 And a they devoted themselves to the apostles'  teaching and the  fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and i breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and k having favor with all the people. And the Lord  added to their number  day by day those who  were being saved.









This next video is about a book i will be reading soon by Frank Viola and George Barna called Pagan Christianity? Exploring the roots of our Church Practices. (it is a spoof video lol)

Another Great Message From Unleash 2009

I just finished up watching the second session of Unleash 2009 tonight.

It was one for the Pastors and Leaders of the church.

But as usual their is a message for the Church in it.

And he says that we should let the Pastor know that we have their backs and that we believe in them.

A Pastors job is difficult, and the stage lights are always on them 24/7.

So here is the video, i hope and pray that it blesses you and Honors God 100 precent.

Remember there is a worship service at the start, but if want to skip go on right ahead.

God bless

Peace and Love

The Church needs to change

I watched a really good video sermon tonight by Perry Noble, he talked about how the church needs to change.

We as the church are holding alot to western traditions in the church, which go back to pagan traditions and we have evolved those practices into the modern and pre-modern church culture.

You can read about in a Book Called Pagan Christianity by Frank Viola

But here is the video sermon by Perry noble at this years Unleash Gathering, there is worship at the start..but if you want to fast forward, the sermon starts around 28mins.

Enjoy

Peace and Love

my God what is it that you want me to do for you? where is my life going?

I need to better grasp the word of God and my realtionship with God...i enjoy being a member of this extended family, being a christian is amazing, but it is not easy...there is so many different theologys out there that it blows my mind....i read the word of God for myself to understand this Faith in Christ for myself...i love my church and i love to work with the Unchurched, it is exciting!! Christ is central to my life and sharing his Love with all is my goal...The Gospel is to be spoken to all, and all need the Salvation, i Pray God will use me for his Will and Purpose to lead others to Salvation through Chirst Jesus.

I am reading alot about Church Planting at the moment

And i am praying for God to lead through the Door, and that Door is the purpose for my life, and that purpose is for Gods Glory of him.

I dont know what he wants me to do.

But i am Praying for him to humble me
Also to teach me compassion, Self Control etc

But i need to understand his word....because my understandings of Doctrine and theology is out of wack!

It is all up in the air....i just need to put my hands up in the air and grab hold of it and not let go....

my God what is it that you want me to do for you? where is my life going?

Help me understand

Lets Love the UnChurched with a Universal Love as Christ has a Universal Love.

For a time long christians have made Jesus into a fashion idol or a private club where a select view can join.



Shane Claibourne spoke in a intresting article called "What If Jesus Meant All That Stuff?"

He spoke about how christians have a twisted view of Christ.

And that he asks for forgiveness for the attuides of the churched generation.

Dan Kimball in his book "They like Jesus but not the Church" he talks about the UnChurched generation, and how they Love the Person Jesus but they hate the Church and the way WE get on.

I can agree fully with the UnChurched views, because i think just like them.

I love what Jesus did for people

I love the Compassion he had for Samaritans and for the Gentiles and even the Jews!

It was Equal....It was a Universal Love...a Universal Forgivness..

The Church has been busy pushing their legalistic ideas on people who dont even understand what the heck most off it is about.

Baptism
Sacarments
Tithing
Clothing
Theology
Doctrine
Bible Versions
Prayers
etc....

I know their all part of the bible, well not really clothing and bible versions.

But Jesus when he came to the earth came to set us free from all this.

And i believe the church has gone full circle again, we have become pharisees.

The Unchurched dont want to be churched because the church is messed up!

We force Hell down their throats all the time.

Dont do this because you will go to hell.

Dont touch this because it will make you unclean and then make you sin.

Jesus doesnt want us to fear all that we come across, and in turn he doesnt want us to put the fear off hell into peoples lives.

That is why i cant stand Street preachers....on that soap box with signs everywhere, TURN OR BURN!

It is just plain Fear Mongering!

This isnt the way we are susposed to witness...

We are to Witness by our very lives....

Like Jesus

Live as Jesus

Practice like Jesus

Read like Jesus

Pray Like Jesus

Love like Jesus loved, because Jesus is love.

And by his love he died and set us free from sin.

And by his Love we can come to his Father, and dwell in his Temple.

Should we force our beliefs on the UnChurched.....NO!

WE Embrace in Love and show them the Real Jesus and the Real Church....The Kingdom of God

Lets bring the Kingdom down to Earth....With Love, Respect and Compassion for the UnChurched.



Sorry for my Ranting but Come on....We need to wake up

Here is a Great link below


http://www.esquire.com/features/best-and-brightest-2009/shane-claiborne-1209

Rob bell interview and also he talks about Drops like stars.

Hi i will write up a new blog tomorrow or wednesday evening.

Here is a great interview with Rob bell

He talks about Mars hill, his faith and his new book Drops likes Stars

I really recommend this book

Peace

Part 1


Part 2

Becoming a Follower of a God who is about the here and now

I used to always study and read and listen and watch everything to do with the Second coming of Christ.

I used to always watch the news about signs and wars and death, waiting for his rapture.

I used to always look towards those who set dates for Christs return.

Then one day i relized that sitting about and waiting, isnt the answer.

God calls us to watch but not to sit.

He calls us to tend the nets, feed the sheep, help the sick the poor the needy.

I also came to relize through my own study of the word that there isnt a rapture of the church.

And that struck me hard, but the truth hurts.

So i came to relize that we know the future is already in place.

But it is what we do NOW that is important.

We are told not to worry about tomorrow, because God has it under control.

He wants us to focus on today, this minute this second.

He wants us to get our, my, her, his heads out of the sky.

He wants us to remember that he is God.

And that everything in our lives is under his control, and that we have only got to put our faith in him.

Live is short, but we got live it for him, we got to serve him.

And we to live out that great Mission he has put before us.

Go forth and make disciples off all nations.

Forget about tomorrow, but dont forget about today and what you can do to better Gods Kingdom on Earth.

Here is a couple of videos by Rob bell, he explains it so well...

Its called Trees (there is subs but in spanish)

Part 1


Part 2


Also here is a great way to show the Kingdom of God...I have already joined up...and i hope you will to?



God bless

Peace

My Favourite Christmas Tv Advert

Ok Christmas is just round the corner and i thought for a change instead of my usual blogs that i would post up my favourite Christmas Tv Advert. So enjoy and i hope to hear from you.

I love Coke a Cola

God bless

God Predestines Some For Heaven and Some For Hell? My thoughts on this intresting topic

I recently heard that Calvinist believe that God Predestines Some For Heaven and Some For Hell!

"In Calvinism, men must be predestined and effectually called (regenerated/born again) unto faith by God before they will even wish to believe or wish to be justified."

Here is a quote from the Westminister Confession of Faith.

"God from all eternity did by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby neither is God the author of sin; nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures, nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.



By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others foreordained to everlasting death.


As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so hath He, by the eternal and most free purpose of His will, foreordained all the means thereunto. Wherefore, they who are elected . . . are effectually called unto faith in Christ by His Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by His power. through faith, unto salvation. Neither are any other redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.


The rest of mankind God was pleased, according to the unsearchable counsel of His own will, whereby He extendeth or withholdeth mercy, as He pleaseth, for the glory of His Sovereign power over His creatures, to pass by; and to ordain them to dishonour and wrath for their sin, to the praise of His glorious justice. (Chap. III — Articles I, III, VI and VII) "
 
 
This view is called also called Double predestination
 
Here is the way Wikipedia explains it:
 
"Calvinistic predestination is sometimes referred to as "double predestination."[2] This is the view that God chose who would go to heaven, and who to hell, and that his decision is infallibly to come to pass. This point of view simultaneously denies that God is the Author of Evil, but the issue is a very difficult point of the doctrine of predestination. The difference between elect and reprobate is not in themselves, all being equally unworthy, but in God's sovereign decision to show mercy to some, to save some and not others. It is called double predestination because it holds that God chose both whom to save and whom to damn, as opposed to single predestination which contends that though he chose whom to save, he did not choose whom to damn."
 
 
Those last two lines "as opposed to single predestination which contends that though he chose whom to save, he did not choose whom to damn", is what i would hold to to.
 
I believe yes God has predestined Our lives but he leaves it open for all to freely choose, and it is in our own will to make that move to follow him.
 
These View that God wills some to heaven and the rest to Hell, is on the verge of being called Heresy, and the sad fact is that alot of Christians Believe that this is true.
 
In some ways this belief is mad.
 
To say that God wills some to heaven and others to Hell is for starters Favourtism, you could say that God favors some for the glory of Heaven and Hates the rest and turns his back and lets the rest go to Hell?
 
That was harsh.......
 
Im not implying he turns his back on anyone, i Believe he is a Loving God, he does be angry, but that is agasint sin, and he hates when we rebel agasint what is best for us, And that is the Love of God, and Total Forgiveness of Sin, that his Son Jesus Christ bleed and Died for on the Cross.
 
I want to finish this post off with this wee thought...
 
If God did Will Some for Heaven and Some For Hell (i dont believe for a second he did by the way) but if he did, would that not make God out to be the author of evil as well?
 
I dont think so!! God is Pure Love, Pure God, He is Perfect and Blameless with no inperfection!
 
God bless you and Peace
 
Deu 32:4 The Rock, his work is perfect; For all his ways are justice: A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, Just and right is he.
 
2Sa 22:31 As for God, his way is perfect: The word of Jehovah is tried; He is a shield unto all them that take refuge in him.
 
Deu 32:4 "The LORD is your mighty defender, perfect and just in all his ways; Your God is faithful and true; he does what is right and fair.
 
Heb 2:10 It was only right that God, who creates and preserves all things, should make Jesus perfect through suffering, in order to bring many children to share his glory. For Jesus is the one who leads them to salvation.
 
Heb 12:23 You have come to the joyful gathering of God's first-born, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, who is the judge of all people, and to the spirits of good people made perfect.
 
1Jn 4:12 No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in union with us, and his love is made perfect in us.
 
Deu 32:4 He is a rock. What he does is perfect. All his ways are fair. He is a faithful God, who does no wrong. He is honorable and reliable.
 
 
 

Asking God to Teach me to be Humble

Lately i have been praying in my car and at home for God to teach me to be humble.

I could never understand why i was never getting humble

And one day it struck me.

It struck me hard and fast, like a car smashing into a brick wall.

I was asking God to make me humble, and bad things where happening to, people in working where getting sour and nasty to me. Wee small things that get my nerves all flared up and that get me all ratty and angry.

God was trying to teach me something...that is the SIN inside of me, the demon side of me looking to rip open my chest and show its ugly and evil self.

But God wanted me to learn from that, he wants me to destroy that Ugly part of me

He wants me to Humble my heart

He wants me to Humble my Emotions

He wants me to Humble my Mind from the crap around me and to Focus on the bigger picture

If i want to become like Jesus and to Serve his Kingdom as a Child of God.

I need to first put behind me the evil desires of my heart and fill my heart, mind, spirt and body with the Word of God (the bible)....

I need to put him First

IT wont be easy

God didnt say it would be

Jesus never got it easy.....NEVER

so now when i pray and ask God to humble me....i need to look at those bad situations and remember its about Representing Gods bigger pitcure of the Kingdom.

Please teach me Lord to be Humble

Thought  this would be funny

What is Purpose to a Life Seeking Purpose and what is Purpose without Love?

I have been fighting lately with myself

I have been wondering where my life is meant to be going

I wonder where and what God is planning for my life

I wonder if i will live up to what God wants me to be?

I work in a job i hate, i work in a trade i just find a endless place off hopelessness for my life

I dont know where i am meant to go in it, and i pray that soon i will be where God wants me to be

Dont get me wrong, money is good, i have had a couple of cars, built my own Computer, owns tons of dvds and books and CDs

I have had a couple of girlfriends, and none of them were what i call "wife material" or "God lovers".

But to me they are a empty meaningless mess for my life

I just keep coming back to the same spot, full circle, chasing my tail, getting nowhere.

What is the purpose of my life? Is there a Purpose for my life? How do i seek Purpose?

Seek God
Serve God
Love God
Read his Word

Work for His Kingdom
Witness to the Lost
Love Enemies Love Neighbours
Feed his Sheep
Love Love Love

Life is a Journey
A Journey to become like Christ
To become like Christ first we have to Seek Christ, Seek For Forgiveness, We then search his Word, for Food to Fill us with his wisdom to become a better servant, we apply his word into our lives, we live we breath we eat his word.

We live to become better, better humans, the way God intended it to be, but we will never be perfect, because we are inperfect, because we are sinful, to not be sinful, to need to repent off our sinful lives so we can become sinless, Christ died on the cross, took our sins so we can be free...

Free now that is intresting...Christ had a purpose....his purpose was to die!

Harsh

But True

Blood sweat tears

Screams

But why?

Because he loved us

Loved Me

His Purpose

To set us free from the chains off death and sin and HELL

Purpose

Purpose to Serve

Purpose to Love

Purpose to Forgive

Purpose to Save

Purpose to Lead

Purpose to Worship

Purpose to Feed the Sheep

Purpose to Hunger his Word

Purpose to Cry

Purpose to die without Vain

Christ is our Purpose

The kingdom is our Purpose

Salvation is His and Our and Her and Everyones Purpose

But Some will not Get it

Some will perish without Purpose!

A Journey Of A Emergent Heart Part 5

GODS LOVE DOES NOT STAND FOR THIS!!

I read today about a bill in Uganda about capturing Homosexual people, putting them in prison or worse death!

Where as humans do we get the right to judge people on their sexual ID and put them to death over it?

Did Jesus not come to stop those sort of ideas?

Where as Christians should we stand on this?

I know in the bible homosexual practice is classed as a sin...and there is alot of other sins in the bible that we straight people do and nothing is ever said to us.

Yes i agree it is wrong....but Joh 3:16  says - For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.

Joh 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its savior.

Joh 3:18 Those who believe in the Son are not judged; but those who do not believe have already been judged, because they have not believed in God's only Son.
 
 
I find it sad that people are being put to death over this....
 
http://www.loveisanorientation.com/2009/nov-17-world-day-of-prayer-for-uganda/
 
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=198541255168&ref=mf
 
 
Please pray for the bill to be overthrown..and please for the homosexual Community in Uganda to see Christ as their Friend, Saviour....
 
Jesus is a God of peace, love, forgivness......
 
Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.


Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
 

A Journey Of A Emergent Heart Part 4

I find this a very inspiring song by Casting Crowns




"What This World Needs"



What this world needs is not another one hit wonder with an axe to grind

Another two bit politician peddling lies

Another three ring circus society

What this world needs is not another sign waving super saint that's better than you

Another ear pleasing candy man afraid of the truth

Another prophet in an Armani suit



What this world needs is a Savior who will rescue

A Spirit who will lead

A Father who will love them in their time of need

A Savior who will rescue

A Spirit who will lead

A Father who will love

That's what this world needs



What this world needs is for us to care more about the inside than the outside

Have we become so blind that we can't see

God's gotta change her heart before He changes her shirt

What this world needs is for us to stop hiding behind our relevance

Blending in so well that people can't see the difference

And it's the difference that sets the world free



Jesus is our Savior, that's what this world needs

Father's arms around you, that's what this world needs

That's what this world needs
 
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StF1r0GysEE

A Journey Of A Emergent Heart Part 3

PREDESTINATION VRS FREEWILL

As a follower of God, i have been trying to grasp this idea that God has already predestined my life, i have been trying to work about in my small mind how God would choose some to become Christian and others to be destined for hell. For me it sounded extremely Wrong and twisted, that God would choose anyone for hell! It really hits me as favourtism....

I always believed that we had the choice to follow God, that God loves the whole world. When Jesus came to the earth his mission was very clear, he was here to set the whole free from their sins, he even give people the free will to choose him our choose sin...like the rich man who wanted to follow him but he wouldnt give up his money and follow Jesus.

Our the two crooks on the cross next to Jesus, one says if your truly the son of God get off the cross, the other one turns and says that Jesus is innoccent, and they are guilty, he asks Jesus to remember him in paradise, and Jesus says today you will be in Paradise with me.

There is alot of storys for free will....Adam and Eve in the garden, they have the choice to not eat of the fruit or to eat of it, as the storys goes Eve eats and then gives it ot adam, he could have said NO but he said YES i will eat...and well the rest is history....

Jonah....God asks him to go to Nineveh, but as we know he doesnt do what God asks and he ends up in the belly of the Whale, then he ends up in Nineveh after all...

Now that one is intresting....We could say he used his Free-will and choose not to go to Nineveh to share the Gospel, he disobeyed God, God punished him...when Jonah was Repentive in the whale, we could say God took pity or we could say God already knew what was going to happen, you could say God Predestined Jonahs Future...We could Say God Predestined Nineveh to receive the Gospel...Jonah needed to be Humbled!

Rom 8:30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

A wise friend once said to me.....That there is both "FREE-WILL and PREDESTINATION"

Eph 1:11 In Christ we were also chosen when we were predestined according to the purpose of the one who does everything according to the intention of his will,

We have the Will to Choose God and Salvation

But God has already Written our Storys.....We just got to Choose the path....

I will have to pray about this more and seek advice on this one...i am really intrested in this idea...

Peace

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predestination

Welcome to the Cross Roads

A Journey Of A Emergent Heart Part 2

This week has been really intresting

I went to Mens Meeting and we where learning about "How to Read the Bible"

We Read through "Psalm 119:103 - How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"

We learned that the Bible is the sweet satisfying word of God, but we also learned that it doesnt always feel this way. (I am taking this straight from the introduction of what we where learning that night)

We also listened as Dc talked about the many Christians that Occcasionally, Once or twice a week our everyday read the bible.

Then we discussed What is the bible with these verses and how they are connected -


Exo 19:1 In the third month after the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.



Exo 19:2 And when they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mount.


Exo 19:3 And Moses went up unto God, and Jehovah called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:


Exo 19:4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.


Exo 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be mine own possession from among all peoples: for all the earth is mine:


Exo 19:6 and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.


Exo 19:7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which Jehovah commanded him.


Exo 19:8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that Jehovah hath spoken we will do. And Moses reported the words of the people unto Jehovah.


Exo 19:9 And Jehovah said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and may also believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto Jehovah.




Heb 1:1 God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners,



Heb 1:2 hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds;


Heb 1:3 who being the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;


Heb 1:4 having become by so much better than the angels, as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they.


Also then we then discussed Why Read the bible and we used these verses and connected them with the question -

Psa 119:97 Mem. Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.



Psa 119:98 Thy commandments make me wiser than mine enemies; For they are ever with me.


Psa 119:99 I have more understanding than all my teachers; For thy testimonies are my meditation.


Psa 119:100 I understand more than the aged, Because I have kept thy precepts.


Psa 119:101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, That I might observe thy word.


Psa 119:102 I have not turned aside from thine ordinances; For thou hast taught me.


Psa 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!


Psa 119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: Therefore I hate every false way.


Psa 119:105 Nun. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And light unto my path.


Psa 119:106 I have sworn, and have confirmed it, That I will observe thy righteous ordinances.


Psa 119:107 I am afflicted very much: Quicken me, O Jehovah, according unto thy word.


Psa 119:108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill-offerings of my mouth, O Jehovah, And teach me thine ordinances.


Psa 119:109 My soul is continually in my hand; Yet do I not forget thy law.


Psa 119:110 The wicked have laid a snare for me; Yet have I not gone astray from thy precepts.


Psa 119:111 Thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage for ever; For they are the rejoicing of my heart.


Psa 119:112 I have inclined my heart to perform thy statutes For ever, even unto the end.

2Ti 3:14 But abide thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.



2Ti 3:15 And that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.


2Ti 3:16 Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness.


2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.

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Dc also talked about a Theology called Narrative Theology.......

In short God is Narrator, Script Writer, Director, Producer, Presenter etc
The Bible is the Script, guide for which guides us through each scene etc
Jesus is the Main Actor, Star, Hero.
Satan is the Bad guy
We are the Cast, Actors and we Follow the Directors Commands through Each scene

http://www.thirdmill.org/answers/answer.asp/file/99702.qna/category/th/page/questions/site/iiim

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Saturday i went to Belfast for coffee with friends and it was blessing, drinking coffee then later on that we actually had a deep deep deep deep talk about Purpose or No-Purpose....What is Purpose? Is there a Purpose for us? Is Love and Purpose connected?

I love to get my mate Matt to actually put his thoughts up here.....

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have been reading a really cool book which has given me a Good Holy Boot to the Arse!!

http://64.13.216.130/stop_dating_the_church.php

Chapter 4 is awesome its called "Join the Club - What passion in action looks like."

It talks about this guy called Robert who buys a Jeep, joins the club and gives his life over to this club....he attends church but does nothing for it...his life is the club......long story cut short.....he comes to understand that he Should be in the God club and turn his life over to serving God and the Church....

So my Journey through this Forest with the Old man from the Shack has turned into something amazing, the path is still rought but i have to relize that my Church family needs me....so i am praying that God will teach me to Love my Family and Work with them and not against them.

I have made friends with a Intern from Church called Andrew Dillion he has become really inspiring and i hope our meetings on a tuesday night for coffee keeps going.....

God Bless you when you read this


Peace

  

A Journey Of A Emergent Heart Part 1

I have decided to start on a new fresh idea, and that is to take you on a journey. This journey is the walk i have been on these past couple of years, and this walk is about me getting to know Jesus.

I hope whoever reads this will be inspired by the words.

Jesus came into my life as a child

But i never really understood why?

I went to Church

I went to Sunday School

I went to Camps

I went to Christian Rocks Concerts

I read the bible

I even said a prayer are two

But i never understood these rituals

To me i thought there has to be more to Jesus

So here is a wee story, im going to try and do these now again in my post, i hope it works out ok.

For me life is like a very uneven path, and this path is taking you through this forest, and in the middle of this forest there is a cabin, and in this cabin there is a fire and this fire is burning logs, and above these logs there is a pot hanging with water boiling in it. Now there is a man sitting beside the fire, on a well worn rocking chair. He asks if you want to stay for a hot mug of coffee. This man is a middle age dude, with a big grey beard and dressed in jeans and a checked shirt. He says for you to sit and rest, he asks for your name. You tell him.

He then asks you another question ,what are you doing out in the forest?

You say "i am on a Journey..."

He then says a Journey to where?

He pause........I dont really know.....you then answer with this.....i believe im on a Journey to become like Jesus and to better understand who Jesus is actually was and to learn what his mission was about.

The man looks at you again, he hands you a coffee.....he says "drink up we have to start walking".

-------------------------------------

ummm

intresting story

for me to understand Jesus, we gotta to walk as Jesus walked.....

we gotta to walk the stony path

we gotta to find those places of rest

we gotta to stop and chat to those we meet on our Journey

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Contemplative Practices PT 1 - Centering Prayer

This is for those who want to learning to focus on God through prayer, and it is for those who really really find it hard to find that quiet place within their lives. Not all christians will like this, and i will probably get bad vibes about it from leadership, but i believe if your giving God all the glory through this, and that it helps you grow spritiually strong, well God bless it.

Here is a quote from www.centeringprayer.com

"Centering Prayer is a method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, prayer in which we experience God's presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself. This method of prayer is both a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship.
Centering Prayer is not meant to replace other kinds of prayer. Rather, it adds depth of meaning to all prayer and facilitates the movement from more active modes of prayer — verbal, mental or affective prayer — into a receptive prayer of resting in God. Centering Prayer emphasizes prayer as a personal relationship with God and as a movement beyond conversation with Christ to communion with Him.
The source of Centering Prayer, as in all methods leading to contemplative prayer, is the Indwelling Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The focus of Centering Prayer is the deepening of our relationship with the living Christ. The effects of Centering Prayer are ecclesial, as the prayer tends to build communities of faith and bond the members together in mutual friendship and love."


This should give a outline as to what it is about.....


Check out the website...

Also post your thoughts on my facebook about how your Spiritual Journey is progressing

Post either on my blog page on facebook our my group page

http://www.facebook.com/editnote.php?draft&note_id=162161368319&id=548750093#/group.php?gid=161808791348

God bless you

Teachable and Unteachable Churches

Before i start into my next blog i want to start with a quote from the Brian McLaren book im reading, i will being this alot more while writing more blogs.

Tell me what you like and dont like about it, and also if it means anything to you.

"When any sector of the church stops learning, God simply overflows the structers that are in the way and works outside them with those willing to learn. As the old hymn says, God's truth keeps marching on. God can't be contained by the structers that claim to serve him but often try to mangae and control him.
But then, as soon as the center of gravity shifts and those within the structures are ready to learn again, the Holy Spirit is there, ready to move to the next lesson in the ongoing educational process called history. Again and again through history, although we want to create "right people" and "wrong people" columns into which groups are sorted. God flips the script and sees two rows that cut across both columns: the "proud and unteachable people" row on top and the "humble and teachable people" row on the bottom. Grace flows downward, Scripture tells us, in both columns."


My thoughts on this -
These couple of paragraphs got my mind working in overtime which is pretty darn good for my mind as it is usually is in sleep mode most of the time, but i look at the church today and wee have become very one mind in our thinking and translating of the Word.

There is alot of people who want to learn in church, including me, but we feel that what we are being taught is not teaching us the truth!

Are the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

And the ways to grow spirtually strong, through ways of Contemplative Prayer.

The Modern Church is growing, i see that with the church that i am in, Richhill Presbyterian. The numbers of people is amazing, well in the mornings anyway.

But sometime it would be awesome to ask these people......Way do you come? What are you expecting to see and hear and do? Are you a Believer and Follower?

And if they answer no for the last one! You could go deeper and find out why not?

They might hate the Rules and Tradition......which i could foresee as a great chat with them..cuase i can agree with them..

ok on to my next quote -

" I find this delightful, because it tells the traditionalists that their tradition doesn't protect them from losing their way, and it tells the revoultionaries that their zeal and courage don't provide guarantees either. It calls everyone to humility and teachability,and invites everyone to climb up to a higher altitude and look for the larger pattern of God for which God constantly works-the common good.
And this, of course, is essential to finding our way. Practices are not for know-it-alls. Practices are for those who feel the need for change, growth, development, learning. Practices are for disciples. We could say that rituals are practices of learners, and ritualism is the continuation of the practice by people who have stopped learning. Similary, we could say that traditions are the heritage of a community of learners, and traditionalism is the continuation of the heritage by people who have stopped learning."



My thoughts -

I wonder if the church in Northern Ireland will ever see past their traditions and open the doors instead of having strict ideas on what you should and should not wear to church, or the ideas on what you should drink and should not drink (im talking about beer, wine etc).

There is alot of people out there in the vast crazyness of life looking to learn more about God, prayer, bible, followship, growth, peace, faith etc.....

But is the chruch ready to move forward?

one more last quote for tonight -

"The life-and-death question for each of our churchs and denominations may boil down to this: are we a club for the elite who pretend to have arrived or a school for disciples who are still on the way?
What might happen if we experienced a conversion so that our churches became learning communities, schools of Christian practice, bands of disciple once again? How much are we willing to let go of, to let change, in order for us to leave our comfortable status quo and find our way again?"


MY last few words -

May God helps our Churches become a place of learning, a place of practice and a band of Disicples wanting to learn about God.
May we stop being a strict sect following man-made agendas....may we follow Gods Sons Mission plan...



Mat 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mat 28:20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

blessings

Robert


all quotes from Brain Mclarens book Finding our way again....

bible quotes from the esv bible

Contemplative Practices Privately and as a Community

I have been lately thinking about practicing Contemplative Practices.

I read that Jesus sometimes would go somewhere peaceful to reflect and to talk with his Father.

I would love to find somewhere peaceful to reflect and talk with God, but sometimes it is very hard.

So now im looking at practices that would possibly help with spiritual discipline and growth.
Also the idea of a communal practices looks intresting.

In Brian McLarens Book (Finding Our Way Again - The return of the ancient practice) he goes into depththe different spiritual practices.

here is a back ground look at what the book is about -

Shines a practical light on the spiritual disciplines that have been in use since the time of Abraham. In a sense, every day of our lives is labor. It is questionable if you can ever be exactly the same person waking up on two consecutive days. How are spiritual sojourners to cope with the constant change? Many are beginning to explore the ancient Christian spiritual practices that have been in use for centuries, everything from fixed-hour prayer to fasting to sincere observance of the Sabbath. What is causing this hunger for deeper spirituality?

Brian McLaren guides us on this quest for an explanation of these spiritual practices, many of which go all the way back to Abraham and the establishment of Israel. In the midst of contemporary Christianity, we discover the beauty of these ancient disciplines and the transformation through Christ that each can provide.

Why have certain spiritual disciplines been in use for centuries and why is it important?
It is questionable if one can ever be exactly the same person waking up on two consecutive days. How are spiritual sojourners to cope with the constant change? Many are beginning to explore the ancient Christian spiritual practices, such as fixed-hour prayer, fasting and sincere observance of the Sabbath. What is causing this hunger for deeper spirituality?

Brian McLaren guides us on this quest for an explanation of these spiritual practices, many of which go all the way back to Abraham and the establishment of Israel. In the midst of contemporary Christianity, we discover the beauty of these disciplines and the transformation through Christ that each can provide.

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Ok back to me again, i have alot of times thought how could i find a quiet place to focus on God?
I come home from work, i try to chill out for a while before i write down my thoughts which i was thinking about while in work.

I get think about Gods love for me and the ways he has blessed me, and how i can seek him and thank him with my all my mind and spirit.

Though finding that space of Peace is not easy.

technology is always around you, family is always around you, cars wizzing passed the house, the noise of the city and the housing estate.

sometimes you wanna join a monastery...go into the catacombs....light a candle and get down on both knees and cry out to God.

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i am about to quote Brain Mclaren again from his book....alot of people dont like his stuff, but i am not them...i think his stuff really makes sense as i actually think like him....here is the quote...

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If the quiet place of prayer-a closet or study, a bench in a garden, a narrow path through a forest,a cup of coffee and an open journal and Bible at the kitchen table-could represent the contemplatice practices, the meeting of the gathered community can symbolize the communal practices, whether we imagine a monastery, a country chapel, a great catherdal, or a informal faith communitymeeting in a home or pub.
As people gather for what is popularly called the "worship service" or "going to church," they are engaging-usually without realizing it-in the via communitiva.If spritiaul practices are actions within our power that help us become the kinds of people who can do thingscurrently beyond our power, then "going to church" means gathering for communal practices, engaging in a kind of group workout, if you will.In so doing, the community that carries on a way of life and it pracices calles people together weekly or seasonally or annually to reaffirm their commitment and practice being a community.
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Ok this brings me onto another thing groing through my mind lately...i would love to be able to do these spiritual practices with a community which would be open to practices them.

Alot of Modern Church Groups detaste the idea of spiritual practices, like fasting, meditation, feasting, contemplative prayer etc....

but i will continue this another day....

i will makes this topic into a couple of parts...i will look at community next time

a Free thinking Christian

Something Brian Mclaren said in the book (Finding our way again, the return of the ancient practice) jumped out at me, i will quote it now.

"Sometimes the church has tried to codify or institutionalize the way: attend the required Sunday and hoilday services, participate in the expected rituals or programs, dont't dispute with church teaching authority, and all will be well."

Here is my own thoughts on this.

I lately havent liked the way the church is being ran.

We have ministers telling you that their understanding of the bible is right way, or their idea of spiritual practices are the correct way to get with God!

or go to this meeting and it will help you (not saying it wont) or read the bible for a certain period of time and you will be a better christian.

I think the church has forgotten the meaning of being like Chirst!

We tend to bible bash other chirstians with "Our" beliefs, instead of having a broader mindset of the Bible.

I was brought up through four different denominations.

So i have seen the Word Of God through those glasses, and they all seem good but i still dont agree.

I am very much a independent, free thinking, free talking, lover of God.


God bless
With the Love of Jesus

Robert