Kingdom Construction not Kingdom Destruction

This journey i have been taking with God and the church has been getting intresting, for a while there this week i started to feel bitter towards the main-line christian church.

I cant even explain why i got this...was it satan?.....was it people?.....was it books that i am reading?...

could it be possible that it is all three of those?

possibly!!

and also it could be true....

have i gotten myself to deep into the emergent way of thinking?

did i let my guard down?

can i ever get myself out of this rut?

i have been here before....but last time it was the blinding message of end time doomsday theology.....

i got out of it after nearly been into its theology for over 7 years....

but i have come to see that some of the teachers off emergent are to much into the destruction of church and bible....hence they them selfs have become a stumbling block to me and alot of other believers....

and when did i come to relize this......cough cough.......this morning

forgive me Lord for my blindness....

some of the emergent thinkers have some really intrestings things to say...but we need to have discernment when it comes to us reading their books...

we need to work towards Kingdom Construction......

we need to build up the church in........

Love
Faith
Hope
Forgiveness
Mission
Spritual Growth
Study of Gods Word
A Growing together as a Family

If we cant work as a family through love..

then how will we ever explain our actions to God when we stand before him on that final day?

Repect your brother and sister and love them as you would love yourself...

Work for bettering the Kingdom of God......but do not work agasint it!!!

The greatest of these is Love

1Co 13:1-13


(1) If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

(2) And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

(3) If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

(4) Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant

(5) or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

(6) it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

(7) Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

(8) Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

(9) For we know in part and we prophesy in part,

(10) but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

(11) When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

(12) For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

(13) So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.


We always look to certian things within the church and or christian life to makes us different from those who are not christians.

We look to the gifts God has given us...we look to the prophecys, tongues etc....

but none of these are fully important as the command to Love thy neighbour.

we keep looking to these things when we mess up...

as if these things will cure us of the mistakes we do each day...

we forget about loving everyone as the way we would like to be loved.

But!!

we keep sticking knifes into our neighbours back...and we never forgive and love or enemy...

im guilty off these things as well....

if we want to get back to being Like Jesus....

first we need to learn to Love....

what was the greatest commandment that love your neighbour

luke 10 verses 25-37 about this

Luk 10:25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"


Luk 10:26 He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?"

Luk 10:27 And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."

Luk 10:28 And he said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live."

Luk 10:29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

Luk 10:30 Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.


Luk 10:31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.


Luk 10:32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.


Luk 10:33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.


Luk 10:34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.


Luk 10:35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.'

Luk 10:36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?"

Luk 10:37 He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise."

THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE

 

Is Religion a Stumbling block to the Church?

I was thinking back to part of my chat yeserday in starbucks with two of my friends.

I brought up the topic about The Protestant Movement within the Irish Culture, and how it has been a influence within the church walls, and also with Christians.

I feel at times that the Protestant movement should be banned from the church all together, i feel it is a bad influence to the generations that is growing up around me here in Northern Ireland.

All i have seen is blood shed in the name Queen, God and Country.

I cant see God in the church here when the church calls themselves protestant.

I feel is a wrong way to picture the Love of Christ.

Christ welcomes everyone into realtionship with him.

I feel religion in this country has become a blinding tool of mankind, and it has become a stumbling block.

Band Marches, The Orange Order, the Red hand of Ulster, the 12th of July.......

Are these Christian?

Are these of Christ?

Are they even Biblical?

No!!!!!

I will use a word that feels fit for these things....

They are PAGAN......

Religion is a Stumbling block to the church....time to trash the protestant religion...

time to fall in love with Jesus and his church....

Peter Rollins with the Ooze.tv

Here is a great video from the ozze.tv with Peter Rollins...

Enjoy it...and may it spark something new and fresh in your life

The Christian coming out of the closet/The Reinterpretation of the Bible??

I laughed when i typed up my title for this blog post, i thought it would be funny but also catchy,plus serious.


(i love the church i am in , thank the Lord...it is a Gospel Centered and Cross Focused....with a Heart for the Lost and growth of the Saved....so God bless them...and may God use them...this blog isnt aimed at you....but if any of you dont agree with me...please pull me into the office and explain to me your points...i am very open to listening to you....because i love you....)


I just see alot of ministers and churches say that they take the Bible literally..the whole thing...well that is bull for starters.....if so they would be doing everything from the old testament.....are cutting their hands off when they sin....ha literal my bum!!


look not everything in the bible is to be taken literally...

there is some say that we should practice the Jewish holidays......Why?? im not Jewish...

Peter tired that with the gentiles and Paul give him a good telling off for it.....

every Pastor has their understanding of the Bible....and so do many Christians....God speaks to people differently through the word....so what one person might recieve from the word could be different for someone else..

the bible is open to different interpretations

but we need to be careful not to stray away from the truth of the gospel..some have done that and made cults....and God forbides that sort of act....he forbides adding and taking away of the his words....

so becareful not to do that...ask God for wisdom...and also ask God to humble you when you read his word.....

i believe the bible is open for reinterpretation

not everything should be taken too literally....

So for the Christian Coming out of the Closet.....God bless your Journey on the Forgotten path

The Healing process is long!!

Jas 1:5-8

(5) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

(6) But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

(7) For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

(8) he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.


I remember reading these verses a couple of years ago when i wasnt doing so well in my christian walk.

I was playing about with the occult.

I was also addicted to porn.

I couldnt keep my head straight at all with work and with people.

I got angry with the smallest of things.

I remember sitting at the dinner table with my dad, i was crying pretty hard and i had so much emotions running through me.

My job was getting to me...my boss was a bully...not joking..he was a catholic and i was a protestant...and man i took some sh*t...i was young guy at 18 years, trying to learn a trade in the car body repair business...and well i hated it with a passion....i was on the verge of burning the garage down..and hitting the boss on the head with a hammer....it was in my hand and ready to be used...

There was alot of angry in me.....and alot of questions...why God? why the heck where you letting these things happen to me?

I really dont know why i was asking those questions...i wasnt angry with God...i was angry with the crap that was happening to me...

So after a while i lost my faith with alot of christianity and people....so i started to read alot about the occult...dak arts...witch craft...and the satanic bible....

this was the begin of a new chapter of my life....any one says demons dont attack..are talking crap....some of the stuff i seen and had happen to me was scary...

but i will talk about someother time....

lets say that was a intresting and dumb thing to do, but i grew out of it....

I later on got involved with porn...watched it and bought the mags...and it was the addiction that had the worst hold on my life...and it is still a battle today...

but these verses are the key to my healing......
Jas 1:5-8


(5) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

(6) But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

(7) For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

(8) he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

i had to grow a set to actually come and ask God for help...but i had to have the faith to beleive that God would help me...sometimes the answer would be know....but i was asking for wisdom to beat this and to also help some else defeat it as well...

lets just say...he brought some great mentors into my life that has helped...and also my dad has been so understanding...even he has helped me.....

But please understand this....you need to be prepared to work hard to fix these problems...they dont go away over night...the healing process is long and hard....addictions can be scary to kick...but if your willing to work with God and follow every word he tells you to do....you then will get there....

Questioning The literal 7 days of Creation?

We all know the story God created the heavens and Earth and all that lies within them in 6 days and rested on the 7th.

But i have a intresting question, and this intresting question was eatting away at me while in work today.

Did God actually make the Earth in 6 Literal days?

I was always lend to believe that a day in Gods eyes was like a thousand years.

Now you will see where i am going with this?

Remember Mankind wasnt around till the 6th and final day of Creation, so the idea of 6 Literal days of Creation doesnt make sense to me, as mankind wasnt really round to experience the 24hour time called days.

So i believe that:
- Day One was Year 1000
- Day Two was Year 2000
- Day Three was Year 3000
- Day Four was Year 4000
- Day Five was Year 5000
- Day Six was Year 6000
- Day Seven was Year 7000 amd this is also the year of rest, or for us Mankind the 7th day is Rest.

Also makes more sense as, trees and plants and animals need time to grow and mature.

Im not saying God didnt make things grow really really fast, but what im saying from a person who reads alot about science and nature, things need time to mature and grow and also animals and even plants need to reproduce.

Also then comes mankind...

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." (Gen 1:26)




So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Gen 1:27)



And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth." (Gen 1:28)



And God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. (Gen 1:29)



And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so. (Gen 1:30)



And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (Gen 1:31)

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Verse 28 is intresting.....And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth." (Gen 1:28)
 
Be Fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.....
 
It takes along period of time to have children, then for those children to grow up and have children of there own and so forth....
 
So i reckon this 7 Literal days is actually a 7000 year period of growth and maturity....
 
but if i am wrong then i am wrong...but i am just trying to work this thing out...because i got asked this question lately by kids....and also a guy i work with....
 
We are a generation that are evolving, and they need answers to these intresting and puzzling questions.
 
So what i am asking here is this....
 
Is the 7 Literal days of Creation acutally true or is there 1000 years for each of the days?
 
Remember to God a day is like a 1000 years.....
 
need bibical answers....
 
and personal thoughts as welll
 
 
Peace

God's Roghteousness Upheld

God's Righteousness Upheld

Romans chapter 3

ESV

Rom 3:1 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?



Rom 3:2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.


Rom 3:3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?


Rom 3:4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged."


Rom 3:5 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)


Rom 3:6 By no means! For then how could God judge the world?


Rom 3:7 But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?


Rom 3:8 And why not do evil that good may come?--as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.

No One Is Righteous

Rom 3:9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,

Rom 3:10 as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;

Rom 3:11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.

Rom 3:12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."

Rom 3:13 "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips."

Rom 3:14 "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness."

Rom 3:15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood;

Rom 3:16 in their paths are ruin and misery,

Rom 3:17 and the way of peace they have not known."

Rom 3:18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

Rom 3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.

Rom 3:20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

The Righteousness of God through Faith

Rom 3:21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it--

Rom 3:22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:

Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Rom 3:24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Rom 3:25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

Rom 3:26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Rom 3:27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.

Rom 3:28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Rom 3:29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,

Rom 3:30 since God is one--who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.

Rom 3:31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

We as followers of Christ need to keep on the path that God is leading us, sometimes we dont know where that path could lead us, but one thing that we do know and that is God is still in control.

When we come across someone on our journey, we must show them the Love and Respect of Jesus Christ.

I found this picture on google while typing the word Righteousness, and i think it fits really well with what i have to say, it might not suit the passage i put up, but it still reminds us that we are on a Journey.

May God bless you and keep you in his Arms always.

Blessing and peace

God's Righteous Judgement Romans ch2 Vrs 1-29

God's Righteous Judgement

Taken From Romans ch2 Vrs 1-29

ESV

(Rom 2:1) Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.

(Rom 2:2) We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.

(Rom 2:3) Do you suppose, O man--you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself--that you will escape the judgment of God?

(Rom 2:4) Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

(Rom 2:5) But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.

(Rom 2:6) He will render to each one according to his works:

(Rom 2:7) to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;

(Rom 2:8) but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

(Rom 2:9) There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek,

(Rom 2:10) but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.

(Rom 2:11) For God shows no partiality.

(Rom 2:12) For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.

(Rom 2:13) For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.

(Rom 2:14) For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.

(Rom 2:15) They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them

(Rom 2:16) on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

(Rom 2:17) But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God

(Rom 2:18) and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law;

(Rom 2:19) and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,

(Rom 2:20) an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth--

(Rom 2:21) you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?

(Rom 2:22) You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?

(Rom 2:23) You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.

(Rom 2:24) For, as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."

(Rom 2:25) For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.

(Rom 2:26) So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?

(Rom 2:27) Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law.

(Rom 2:28) For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.

(Rom 2:29) But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

I Robert finds this to be a very fitting passage to go with Paul Robinsons post from earlyer today.

We as a Family of Christ Jesus need to be very very careful in what we need to say and do.

Our reactions to things like sexual practices, angry and foul talk can sometimes come back and bit us in the backside.

We are all being watched, by those we call the UnChurched.

If we are trying to witness to those who dont yet believe that Jesus is the Saviour, and dont practice what we preach, we can blind ourselves and destroy or very testimony.

I have been learning that over the past couple of years....you can not burn the spiritual candle at both ends.

I read through Roman Chapter 2 and man hit me like a ton of bricks..

I need to becareful not to Judge....because the World will then look at you, and when you/i slip up...the worldly will see that fault, and your/i sins will find you/i out.



Peace

Guest Blogger #1 Paul Robinson (Why we are all to blame for the Iris Robinson saga)

Hi everyone it is Robert here, i thought it would be cool to open up my blog to Guest bloggers.

So here is a friend of mine with a very important message i hope you enjoy it, and that you feel blessed.

Over to you Paul
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Why we are all to blame for the Iris Robinson saga




It’s been a pretty eventful last week or so in Northern Irish Politics. Before last week the most exciting thing we were talking about (if we were even talking about it) was how we are going to do policing here and how we are going to decide who gets to walk up certain roads in those cute orange sashes.



These issues have however been overshadowed by the revelations and accusations thrown at Iris Robinson and her husband Peter in the past week. I’m not going to go into detail of what’s been going on because I think that’s been done enough.



What hasn’t been talked about really is our reaction to it.



I mean you can read and hear lots of opinions on it but what do our opinions show about us?



What is our responsibility in all this?



I mean Iris Robinson made a really big mistake. She did something huge which may have huge implications for this country and her family. She is ill and it may take years to repair the damage done to her marriage and to her career.



But how we react is probably going to have a much bigger impact.



Hands up. I was one of the first to be disgusted by her actions and her hypocrisy regarding homosexuality and sexual sin. I couldn’t believe that she could be so two faced.



It’s so easy to shake our heads at the whole thing and criticize and belittle.



That’s the easy option. I know. I took it. The harder option but I believe now is the better option, is to show her Grace.



When someone in the public messes up its everywhere. It’s not easy to hide away from your mistake. Everyone can find out about it. You can even relive your mistake over and over on youtube (Just ask Kanye West).



But when we mess up in private it’s easier. Nobody knows about it. Nobody needs to know. That’s the lie we let ourselves believe.



There isn’t the whole judgement that the public fallout causes. And that’s part of the problem with much of our reaction. Much of what I have read has been unsympathetic to Iris.



Should we be critical of our politicians? Of course. Should we question everything they do and speak up when they do wrong? Yeah I reckon we should.



Should we vilify them and pretend that they aren’t really human like the rest of us and pretend their mistakes don’t really cause genuine hurt to their friends and families (and themselves), that they have to live with?

Definitely not.



Jesus had pretty strong words to say about people that attack others for their sin but don’t consider their own.



When Jesus came across a woman who was being chased and threatened by the Religious leaders of the day, because of a sin that she had committed, he turned it right around on them.



He was willing to let them go through with their punishment of the women…..on one condition, as long as the first one to do so hadn’t sinned themselves.



Ooh that’s big.



He then wrote something on the ground. We don’t really know what, but one of the possibilities provided is that he wrote out the sins of each of the men who were chasing the woman.



I can imagine Jesus saying, “Hey guys. Sure go ahead and punish her. Throw huge big mothers of rocks at her if you really like…..just make sure you have never sinned yourself before you do”.



Personally, I have engaged in serious sin and then acted like I am better than other people. I have acted like the Pharisee. I have stuck my head in the sand over my own crap.



When we come out and publicly criticize Iris Robinson or Kanye West or whichever celebrity of the moment it is that makes a mistake because they are simply human (just like you and me btw), we are acting just like those religious leaders and exactly not like Jesus.



Jesus showed Grace. Jesus showed that our mistakes are serious but they don’t have to define us. We can choose a better way. If we are as ’Christian’ a country as we sometimes like to think we are, then we should remember this is the good news that Jesus came to share.



We are all human. That includes Iris Robinson. We all screw up. Sure some peoples mistakes are more in the public eye than others.



But let’s not fall into the trap of believing that we are better than others just because nobody sees our sin.



Jesus showed grace to everyone.



Even me.



Even you.



We would do well to remember that next time we want to kick someone when they are down

What God has made Clean, DO NOT CALL COMMON!!

Who are we to stand in the way of God?

God in his infinite wisdom created everything for a purpose, and that purpose is to Worship him.

I love reading Acts Chapter 11.

God decided that he didnt just want the jews to have salvation through Jesus, he wanted all to recieve the Love of God.

God became a Universal God, with a Universal Love and a Universal Salvation.

This is not Universalism...dont worry if your reading this.

I believe that Some will not inheret Salvation, because they will just keep Rebelling agaisnt a God who justs wants the best for our Lives.

Men have always went agaisnt Gods will.

From Adam and Eve eatting the Apple to Judas becoming a Traitor.

When you read through Acts 11, you will notice God decides to turn the belief system of the jews on their heads.

They became so used to Spirit falling on them, that some where not happy when the Gentilies also got Repentance.

See the Jews who where the children of Circumcision whre classed as clean, they had to got to the temple and make blood sacirfices to be purified of their sins.

While the Gentiles where the Children of UnCircumcision, these men where classed as pagan and Unclean.

So by both traditions they wouldnt hang and get a beer together.

It was uncool

It was sinful

Until Jesus came about, and turned the whole system on its head.

Peter himself after this dream relized that for the church to grow, the whole world needs a Universal God.

Even us Pagans.

Acts 11 is for a great way to look at the modern church.

We are a Faith with many different Beliefs.

We are a Faith with so many different Paths to Jesus.

We have so many different denominations.

And some of these denominations wouldnt been seen dead with another denominations

Lets say Free Presbyterian and Elim

One has a very Strict understanding of the Word of God, and this one denomination can have a one mind set for the way you dress...this church could be called a Country club

While the other is only into teaching of tongues, water baptism and worship...this also can lead to some hairy furry goings on in the church...it could turn into a Xfiles Church where Mulder and Scully lead the Service.

Now they both have one thing in common.....Seeing the lost saved.

But they have one problem

They cant put thier different ideas aside and work with each on the bigger picture

So when the Unchurched see the trash pile at the doors of these churches they dont want to know anything about us.

They want a God who is different, they want a Church that is Different.

They dont need the trash that is dragging so many churchs deeper into the crapper.

There is to many vipers teaching infectious sermons about practicing traditions, and if we dont follow these traditions we are spitting in Jesus' face.

That is a Cancer eatting away at the Core Beleifs of Christianity today.

So we need to become like the Jews in Acts 11....we need to put our traditions in the furnace...

We need to wake up...

We need to stop calling What God made clean, Common!!

There is alot of people out in the Pagan World who need Jesus.

They need to be loved Brothers and Sisters.

God needs Kingdom Workers not Kingdom Slackers.

Christianity is not a Tradition....


ACTS Chaper 11 Vrs 18, ESV


1 Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, 3 “You went to uncircumcised men and  ate with them.” 4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order: 5  “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. 6 Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. 11 And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. 12 And the Spirit told me to go with them,  making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. 13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; 14  he will declare to you a message by which  you will be saved, you and all your household.’ 15 As I began to speak,  the Holy Spirit fell on them  just as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said,  ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then d God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?” 18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they i glorified God, saying,  “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

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.