What's Really Church?

I would like to offer a comment on this saddening headline...

"Lutherans to allow sexually active gays as clergy."

Before we wonder what is going wrong with the "church" let us remember that the true Church is not an organization, a building, a bunch of people who call themselves something or other. It is the group of folks in whose hearts Jesus lives. Not those who claim to be following Christ, but the ones who are actually out on the road with Him, sitting in communion with Him, putting Him above all things in their lives.

As the mainstream denominations move slowly downward a few paces back from society, we should strive to move even closer to Jesus. Again, the sheep are never so safe as when they are close to the shepherd.

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it."
-Matthew 7:13-14

Seek Ye First...

I've been away from here for quite awhile because, frankly, things haven't been going so well. Health, job, family, finance issues--all have been causing me a lot of concern and, truth be told, I've been feeling rather down. Not to mention disappointed with God. What's going on with all of this? What is the Lord up to? Has he foresaken my mom and I? And much like Job, I've been getting a lot more advice from the brethren than I was really caring for. Good advice perhaps, but certainly not what I wanted to hear. I was hoping for a little more "poor Mark" instead of what actually might be some good things to be focusing on.

But what I am hopefully learning at last is that it's not about circumstances, but about God's promises. This isn't heaven. It's never going to be. And there are going to be trials, and tribulations, and times when God makes no sense. These too are some of the promises we find in His Word, and they are not easy ones. Yet we have to deal with them, and what it comes down to is faith.

You see, God has also (and more importantly) promised us that through it all, He is with us, loves us, and will never leave us. No matter what is going on, the Lord is working, and working all things for good. We can not only survive in this fallen world, but have His joy and peace by keeping Him first, coming to Him in prayer without ceasing, and following His lead. The trick (that is no real trick at all) is to keep our eyes on Him, remember that He knows what He's doing, and seeking His guidance in ALL things. The world never tells us that walking with Christ will be easy, but it will be for His glory and our great reward when we simply follow His lead.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
-Matthew 6:33-34

Comfy?

Feeling good about how you've integrated following Jesus into what's going on around us? Wondering if the notion of "being in the world, but not of the world" means that it's okay to wallow around in what's going on, as long as you don't get Too involved in it? Thinking that accepting Christ is enough to allow you to do whatever you please and still get into heaven? Nice thoughts, but excuse me for blowing your a$$ out of the water...we are called to Follow Him.

Love One Another--Seriously

My dad died a few days ago, and I miss him. He and I weren't very close, even though we lived together for the last 20 years. He was not an easy person to get along with, and had his share of faults, and his stoic way of dealing with things made him seem rather unfeeling, except for his own needs and wants (how often we are so annoyed with our own faults as we see them in others). And in his later years, his failing health and stubbornness became more of a burden than anything else, and I often wondered why he was hanging around for so long, except perhaps for spite.

But ten years or so ago, he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. He was in the hospital at that time, and our pastor went to visit him and led him to the Lord. To this day, I stand on the promise of Romans 10:9 "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" and I know that my dad is now in heaven with our Lord. But in all the years between then and now, I let him down.

He came home from that hospital stay and told me that something very special had happened to him and that the pastor had said I would tell him more about it. But I didn't. I let my own feelings and difficulties with this man dictate how I treated someone who, whatever history we had, was now far more than my earthly father--he was my brother in Christ. But I didn't treat him that way, and I can't help but feel that I denied him a lot of years of peace and joy and the hope of heaven. I have no doubt that our Lord didn't let him down, but I sure did. And I stand today ashamed before my dad, and before God. I rejoice that my dad stands in the presence of the Lord. And I weep that I chose to allow my own feelings to rob him of spending his last years in peace.

I am reluctant to offer a closing verse this time--but the truth remains what it is. Jesus didn't tell us to pick and choose how to live our lives--He told us to follow Him.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
-John 13:34-35

I know where my help comes from

Here's a song a sister and I were thinking of the other day. Thought it might provide some encouragement where needed.

All Who Trust

I lift up my eyes to the heavens
'Cause I know where my help comes from
I will set my eyes upon You Jesus
My Savior, God's only Son

There is peace for the seeker
Blessed hope from the Lord
There is love without measure
For all who trust in the Lord

-Greg Fadness & The CC Downey Chapel Band