Church Life

What happens when we are challenged? 1 John

To be challenged is accept the opportunity to be corrected. If we are challenged, most of us believe that our failure is implicit in the challenge. If one is asked to do more, often one believes they are failing to do enough. If one is asked to do something different, often one believes that what they are currently doing is wrong. If one is shown a faster or a simpler way, often one assumes they are incompetent because they had employed another way. As we look at our lives and our church it will be easy for us to wonder if any change we are asked to make masks an underlying statement that we are not good enough. For many the biggest battle is not the change but rather the hurt that is taken on when someone suggests we need to change. It can become even more devastating when the call to change points out that we have fallen short thereby displeasing God.

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I Need My Faith Validated

Following Jesus isn’t easy. I guess there are those who would disagree, those who would look down on me for admitting that I struggle, but I do. When the world whispers in your ear, “This is what life should look like,” it is tough to embrace a totally different way of living. I don’t think I am alone when I say I look for people who are seen by the rest of the world as a big deal including social media influencers, pastors, political leaders, superstar musicians, athletes and actors that follow the same faith I do so that my faith in some way is validated.

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The Epistle of Jeremiah the Prophet to the Modern Church – Climate Change

Now that I have your attention… take a deep breath, relax, maybe go for a short walk or make yourself a cup of herbal tea, this isn’t going to be as divisive or political a blog as the title might suggest. As part of the race appointed to rule over nature we have a God given responsibility to be good stewards of this planet we call home (in case you are unsure if you are a member of the ruling race, looking at my picture won’t help; God gave the human race authority to rule over creation Genesis 1:28-30 (NIV)). Other than the climate change thing and bringing up race, how am I doing at avoiding controversial topics so far? 

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The Epistle of Jeremiah the Prophet to the Modern Church – Tied Up In Nots

I am concerned. I would even say I am worried but I know as followers of Christ we are often chastised when one says, “I am afraid” or “anxious” or “worried” so in an attempt to avoid the unacceptable, out of context, reality denying unbiblical response to the fear those that struggle in the face of what appears to be unsurmountable situations feel, I will stick with I am concerned. What am I concerned about? I am concerned that as a follower of Christ I will be forced to serve those who are foreign to my faith in a land that I no longer can call my own.

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The Epistle of Jeremiah the Prophet to the Modern Church – All My Friends Are Doing It

If all your friends jumped off a bridge does that mean you would? These were the wise words of parents everywhere to get children to recognize that we should never do something just because our friends did. We would always answer with a resounding NO even though we knew that if our friends were doing it we would be right there doing it too no matter how dangerous it was.

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The Epistle of Jeremiah the Prophet to the Modern Church – Sheep Stealing

It is considered the biggest offence a church/pastor can commit. Those accused of committing this offence often are unfazed while those behind the accusations feel wronged in ways that cannot be measured. Do some churches set out to steal sheep? Some. Do some churches have sheep go missing because they aren’t being good shepherds? Some. Do some sheep change sheep pens because the grass is always greener in some other sheep pen? Some. Do some sheep look for a new shepherd because the one they have isn’t shepherding at all? Some. Is the type of sheep stealing that the modern church concerns itself with actually something God is concerned about? Sometimes.

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