Thursday 29 November 2007 at 6:20 pm
We had a great lesson with the VB youth tonight. The subject was heaven and hell. There was lots of interest in it among a majority of the youth and it brought on good discussion that lead to even more questions. Though we did examined scripture, we also compared it to how some modern day religious people (including Christians) live and a specific comment was made by one of my regular but suprisingly quiet youth (who has been wit us over six months now). I feel it apt to post here.
He asked, "So if what it [Bible] says is true, and there is a heaven and hell, and cuz I know I'm going there cuz of my all the sin I keep doing, why is it that they (religious people) act like its ok and just let me die without tellin' me how to be saved?" We had already worked through why hell was made and why all humans deserve to go there and what salvation was. His question could have been a slight on modern day Sunday
church going christians he knew, but nevertheless, I realized it was an real question to him and
it half way broke my heart since he was honestly looking forward to the answer. Furthur discussion led to the obvious question, if they (or we "religious people," christians alike) actually believe what the Bible says, why arent [we christians] actively telling other people so people wont go spend an eternity in hell?
No doubt, my youth are smart, they are honest, and the fact that this one young man brought up the comment only brought a blank stare of approval from many of the the other youth. I asked how many felt that to be true a true question of themselves or someone they knew, and many hands went up. I would hate to think that no one else would care if they died and went to hell.
So I take their place in asking the question, if I were an inner-city youth, why do Christians act like its ok to not tell me how to be saved?? The answer should be obvious, but still worth stating, IT- IS - NOT - OK.
Is there a subtle point to be made here? Hardly...
Monday 26 November 2007 at 8:59 pm
So something made me very angry today.. very very angry. In a way I have not been for a while. One of the residents here, lets call her Mary, was condemned at a local church she has been a member of for a few months. Mary was told apparently by the leadership of this church that she is in
unforgivable sin because she and her husband are divorced, and her
teenage daughter, who Jessica disciples one on one weekly, is a child that does not want to know God at all. In
fact, Mary was given counsel to kick her own daughter out of the home after she turns 18. Whats worse, this was said in front of her daughter who cried and cried that evening, telling God what her teacher said is not true. False teaching and hypocricy at its worst...
My wife and I have known Mary and her family for a couple years now and have come to love them dearly. Lord allowed us to be there during certain crisis in their lives, including major surgery, and now this. We see the children on a regular basis even outside of our weekly youth nite and kids club programs. Lord has really grown our hearts close together and they have been a mutual blessings in our lives on as well.
Scripture says "be angry and sin not, for the wrath of man works
not the righteousness of God.." but when I first heard of this incident today, it was very hard to
keep from marching right down to the doorsteps of that modern day
religious establishment, teaching its bad thology, and give its leadership and the wayward teachers
a piece of my small and not so humble opinion of them. This one church in question, so seemingly believes it has the right to criticize
and condemn yet does not hold any personal relationship with this special
family outside of the few hours, one or two days a week, that they attend as transportation allows. How can a church do that?
When Mary spoke with my wife during a ladies bible study tonight in our home, she asked us for guidance afterwards. Her question was, "Where should I go to worship now?" She felt rejected by that local church there after that event, but also didnt know where else there was a church that she should attend. The question was brought up afterwards, should she attend a local church much farther away then she can afford the time and travel? That would be ok I guess, but is that the only solution? Is there a better answer? If we are the church, another way to see it is how can we bring the church to Mary?
Jesus said in John 4, those who worship Him must do so in "spirit and in truth." It does say those who worship him must only do so in a building with a pulpit, for those who live in the USA? If as Jesus says, worship is spiritual, then it is not limited but includes anywhere and everywhere, even in an apartment complex if need be. Therein lies a nugget of truth from Jesus. Are we leading others to worship where they are and wherever they are? Or do people have to go to a buiilding only on Sunday and Wednesday to be ministered to? Are we leading others to worship Him in spirit and in truth for that matter, nevermind location? Another good way to put it, is the church mobile? Do we bring Jesus and his body to the people around us where we live, or do the lost have to find their way into a local church building to ever hear the gospel?
I am really praying how Jess and I can continue to minister to Mary and her family.
Tuesday 20 November 2007 at 11:33 am
TURKEY'S WITH A TESTIMONY WOULD YOU LIKE YOURS RAW OR DEEP FRIED?
We are winding up our Thanksgiving outreach for 2007. This year just stop us from getting bored and comfortable the Lord decided that in the midst of giving out 160 uncooked Thanksgiving meals that we should also have two International Thanksgiving Events where we serve the food on the property.
The Lord has proven Himself faithful and all have went well. Amy, George, Jess, Dan and myself are exploring new levels of exhaustion but all have went well.
Tuesday 13 November 2007 at 6:41 pm
Heres what I got into past Monday..
-spent some time playing football with youth at Valleyrbook, and got to know some a bit better..
-prayed with Ms Bettie, an older lady, who said that she was so glad last time I stopped by to pray with her, and said she knew I would somehow drop by and pray with her today
-met a new family at VB that just moved in and invite their children to kids club
-got to meet a new mother and son at Bradford, and the mother was really excited to know there was somewhere safe her son could hang out (at youth nite) with other teenagers his age, in a christian environment
-hung out with two mens I've gotten to know in this apartment, one of them is a new believer, and we all had a small Bible study and got to know each other much more, both are interested in having another guys night and also interested in spending time in God's word together, Praise the Lord!
Monday 12 November 2007 at 10:00 am
I had an opportunity to spend some time with one of my residents this past week. I knew he was going through financial trouble and he had a large family. I prayed with him for his need then we talked some more about how God uses circumstances and crisis in our lives to draw us closer to him. As he shared with me about his past and how as a child, went unwillingly to sunday service and only heard you had to follow the ten commandments to get to heaven. He had not heard Jesus died for his sins, he only heard Jesus was a good person everyone was suppose to know. As we examined the ten commandments and how jesus paidn the penalty for our sins, in the process of our conversation he said, "I didnt want to before but now I want to learn more about this Jesus you are telling me. I really thought if I just try to be a good person and try hard I can get to heaven." We talked a bit more and then I asked him would he believe this person of Jesus and give over to him full control of his life and plans and financies. He suprisingly said yes, even after I said we could not promise to help him with his financial need.
Hefore he left, he asked me if there was a men's bible study I had or somewhere that he could go to to learn more about Jesus. So I am excited, I guess we'll have a guys night shortly! Praise the Lord!
