Friday, February 27, 2004

I watched the "Passion" last night. While I was watching it, I couldn't get over the feeling that first, this really happened, and second, did Jesus envision that one day I would be sitting there watching it on a big screen eating popcorn as entertainment? I don't think so, it makes me feel kind of weird.

I also can't get over this feeling I've had lately of how I feel God wants us to enjoy this life, enjoy His Creation, and enjoy fellowship with one another. Too often for me it's going from here to there, meeting to meeting, looking forward to this and that without just enjoying life. I need to chance some things in my life so that I am able to enjoy it more and focus on the things that really matter.

Tuesday, February 24, 2004

I had this thought today regarding two churches in CA that I visited in each of the past two summers.

The first one we would all recognize by name, professional, large, etc. I didn't like it. We discussed it after the visit in my class. All of the people in my class loved it, said they were friendly, professional, well prepared message, etc. To me it didn't feel like "church" (although my paradigm of what feels like "church" has changed dramatically recently).

The second one no one would know of, store-front church, great people, passionate for the Lord, candles in and around the sanctuary, etc. The class didn't like it, didn't feel like "church." I loved it, people were great, the sermon was passionate although some would say not prepared, they shared what they had done the past day on a mission trip to Mexico. They were meeting around the Lord, not programmed, but passionate.

Here is the moral I am trying to get at. No matter the quality of worship and study, people are willing to give a large, professional church with well-educated clergy more of a chance than a store-front church with not-so-educated servants of the Lord. What does that tell us about our culture.

I need to think more on this.

Sunday, February 22, 2004

Is anyone out there? Just checking.

Sorry it's been so long since I have blogged, I've been too busy and too sick. I'm back to normal now.

My basketball season is over, we finished 16-1. Learned more from 1 loss than 16 wins. That's life.

I just saw Leann Rymes (sp?) sing Amazing Grace on TV. WOW! She only sang the first verse, but I like the last one:

When we've been there, ten thousand years
Bring shining as the sun
We've no less days, to sing God's praise
Than when we first believed

Friday, February 06, 2004

SNOW DAY! This is the next best thing to a sunny beach, a distant second.

Wednesday, February 04, 2004

Remember a while ago I said I was dreaming about a sunny beach. I need to be there now! HELP ME!
Do you ever feel like you are supposed to be doing something else, that your current career/place in life isn't really what God has for you? I feel like that all the time, yet this thought also comes to mind.

I am never going to feel totally at peace with the Lord until heaven. Do you agree? I can have this earthly peace of mind with the Lord, but God has set eternity in my heart and my only true fulfillment will come when I am with Him. 1 Cor. 13 says "Now we see but a poor reflection, as in a mirror, then we shall see face to face." I see that poor reflection every time I look in a mirror, but one day I will see the Lord, and then I will have that fufillment that I am always longing for.

My point is this, I never feel secure or fulfilled in what I am doing, yet I need to do it with all of my heart. I must work as though working for the Lord, that is what the Bible says many times. I can't get caught in looking forward to next year or retirement (I have a long time for that yet) or whatever, just serve the Lord where He has me right now, and if it changes, praise God, if not, praise God, either way, as my good friend always says, either way we will still praise God!

I just hope I can live that on a daily basis.