Church...

Church, a place that I love. I have been involved in some churches that I didn't love... That's the way it goes. I have currently found a great church home, with great people who love the Lord and are focused on doing their best to follow after Him. What happens is that people have a bad experience at one church and then decide that they can't go to any church! This is a dangerous mind set to have. I have had the same experiences and have felt angry or hurt by the actions of a few people in a church body. This doesn't mean that everyone in the church is bad or that churches as a whole are hypocrites. I have been into churches and felt the look... Inevitably I realize that my tattoos, earrings and fu manchu mustache have drawn negative attention to me... SO WHAT! I'm there for GOD and not what anyone else thinks!
You have to also realize that churches are made up of people who aren't perfect, that's human nature. I'm amazed when someone tells me that they didn't go to church because their pastor upset them when he didn't shake their hand Sunday morning!!! Seriously, you let yourself miss out on hearing God's word and joining in worship with your Christian brothers and sisters because the pastor didn't see you or was preoccupied and forgot to shake your hand...
Find a church that teaches God's word and has strong a strong foundation based on biblical principles. Find a place where you can worship and learn about our Savior with out being distracted. And most importantly don't think that not going to church is an option. "I can have church at home"... Yes you can, God hears us and is all around us. But to give up the interaction with other believers and not have a church family to back you up is a dangerous thing. I'm proud of my church. I'm proud of the people there who give their time and effort to make it a family atmosphere and a place where everyone, regardless of their appearance, can feel welcome and can come and worship and most importantly can learn about God. If you need a good church check out lifecommunitychurch.org You won't be disappointed!

Hebrews 10:25 (NLT) And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

The dangerous word...

What is the most dangerous word in a Christian's vocabulary? It's not what you think it might be... "I". I is the most dangerous word a Christian can use. How you might ask? It's easy to look at all the things that you do every day. I paid my tithes. I volunteered at the church. I gave a love offering to a visiting missionary. I helped organize an outreach program... The list goes on and on. I recently found myself in a situation where I was explaining that "I" quit drinking, cussing and going to bars, and that "I" was doing my best to live for God. "I" didn't do anything. all I did was rely on God and ask for His help and HE is the one who strengthened me to be able to stop doing things that don't glorify HIM. On my own "I" am a weak, selfish, scared, gluttonous person who can't look past his own existence long enough to see the needs of others. But through God's love and vision for my life HE can make me into someone who seeks after HIM every day. Someone who reads his bible and prays for his family and friends. Someone who runs from all the things the old man enjoyed and holds on to the new things that GOD has for me. Someone who longs to see his unsaved family members, friends and coworkers turn their lives to Jesus.
We are nothing without God's love and kindness in our lives. He is the one who gives us the ability to live for HIM. Don't get me wrong, it's a daily choice to live for God. You have to decide if you will glorify HIM through your actions or turn away from HIM. If you ask HE will give you the strength to stand up and do your best to live for HIM. HIS strength is given to us only when we humble ourselves and ask for it. The only reason I am living for HIM today is because of my wife's, families, and church friends prayers for me. HE sent me a wake up call because of all the faithful prayers of those who knew that HE was big enough to do what they were asking HIM to do!!! HE can do all the things that "I" can't and if you humble yourself and ask HIM for help HE will lead you in HIS path.

John 15:5 (NLT) "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing."