Saturday, June 21, 2014

World Views


     Let's face it. We all respond to life and things that are going on according to the world view we hold.
     So what is a world view?
     It is the grid through which we see and interpret things.
     If we have a world view that we are only pawns and things happen around us that we can change and make things better. Well, that is one grid.
     Another grid is that we are a special creation made by God and have meaning. At one time we had fellowship-- a relationship with God, but lost it. But we still have worth. So much worth that God provided a way we can get back in relationship with Him. This way points back to a cross and an empty tomb.
     The world is not improving. The world, also a creation of God, is also cursed to a cycle of destruction.
    But this is not the final home of mankind. We are created to live forever. One world view would say that we are gods and can improve ourselves. The other says, no, we are not gods but creatures who were created to have eternal fellowship with out creator. This world we are in now is but a waiting station to the next.
   If you have read C.S.Lewis's The Great Divorce, it is the same idea.
   Just thought I would share this thought in this blog. Have a great day.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Prayer Is the Church's Furnace


     I am a big fan of prayer. We know that prayer is talking with God as we would talk to our friend. We let our friend know what is going on.
     On the one hand we understand  God knows all things. That would mean we can't tell God anything He doesn't already know. It also means there isn't anything we can tell Him that will shock Him. And maybe there is nothing that we can say that will cause Him to loved us less.
     He has heard it all.
      That being said we have to realize that prayer has power to get things done. Not always when we wish it to be done. There is a saying that God is an on- time God. He may not act when you want Him to but He always answers on time.
       And prayer is the church's furnace. The prayer room is often referred to as the boiler room of the church. When prayer goes up, is a saying, blessings come down.
        Recently I was handed a devotional by a member of my church. I am a deacon and need to be on the team that pushes prayer as our next step to growth. The idea is to get a group together in our zip code and form a prayer unit that will pray for growth and wisdom.
        Every pastor and congregant needs prayer/.
        That being said let me say this- this little devotional called "The Power Of Prayer" can be reviewed by me this way.-
        A devotional made up of a compilation of the works of E.M. Bounds concerning the subject of prayer.
        Set up as a daily reading per month and day it can be read through in a year’s time.
        Short excerpts with a prayer, attached this devotional will introduce you to the thoughts of Bounds without the reader having to buy and use the three booklets used  by Kobus  Sandenbergh, the compiler.

       It may do you some good but I don't care for devotionals as they seem like predigested food to me. They may offer a springboard for further and deeper exploration.and as such are useful.

      That said I still feel prayer is needed. God wants to hear from you. 
       We pray. He answers.
        In fact He has already answered. His answer is in the Bible. That is why I link prayer with Bible study.

Monday, June 2, 2014

A Welcoming Spirit


  More churches would grow and maintain fellowship if we were to greet all the people who come in to the building. Show that we are glad to have them there. Don't just leave the greeting to the man at the door who hands out the daily Sunday program. But each one of us should be aware of who is there and of visitors.
   Say hi. Listen to their needs. Find out something about them. Find out what they expect a church that is meeting their needs to look like. Not that you presently are that church. But you can change.
   Preach the word.
   Don't just hang around in little cliques. Get to know people. Be the type of person you would like to meet if you were a stranger in the midst.