Hello, My Name Is Church

Hello my name is church,

I'm sure you've heard a lot about me or maybe you haven’t. I have no shortage of critics. Perhaps you have heard that I am...

Boring
Shallow
Cheap
A waste of time

Maybe you've heard that I am full of:

Hypocrites
Clowns
Greedy people
The self-righteous

Maybe you have visited me before and discovered:

Outdated music
Passionless singing
Dry preaching
and maybe even, rude people

Maybe you needed me and my help and I was:

Too busy
Too "righteous"
Too broke
Too blind

You may have you joined me and found I was:

Distant
Demanding
Dull
Preoccupied

 Maybe you tried to serve in me but were caught off guard by:

Business meetings
Committees
Demanding people
Bureaucracy

Maybe you left and were surprised that nobody:

Called
Cared
Noticed
Invited you back

Perhaps your experience has driven you to:

Speak negatively of me
Swear to never come back to me
Proclaim that no one needs me
Believe you're better off without me

If this is true, I have something to say to you:

I'm sorry
I was wrong
I blew it
I made a huge mistake

But PLEASE remember, I never said my name was:

Perfect
Flawless
Complete
Arrived

My name is church. I welcome the:

Hypocrite
Dry
Self-righteous
Shallow

I welcome the

Sincere
Passionate
Forgiving
Selfless

I cannot shut my doors to the people who make you:

Angry
Uncomfortable
Impatient
Self-conscious

So allow me to remind you that because of Jesus Christ we worship and serve together as followers who are:

Broken
Healed
Travelers
Redeemed

In order for us to all worship in the same room Jesus Christ was:

Shamed
Beaten
Killed
RESURRECTED!

Which is far worse than being:

Bored
Uncomfortable
Embarrassed
Ignored

So why not come back to church and let all of these messed up and yet REDEEMED people:

Get to know you
Sharpen you
Strengthen you
Live life with you

I can't promise you that the people will be great. This is church. It's not:

Heaven
Paradise
Perfect
The Celestial city

Again, my name is church.

God created me
God wants you here
We want you here
The world needs your witness here
You belong here

I miss you.

I love you.

I'm sorry.

Can't wait to see you.

I am excited about what God is doing in me and through me. Let’s experience it together as the CHURCH.

Be Aware, Be Very Aware. Great Article

Five Things That Cause Us To Drift Spiritually

Thanks to Dr. Mark Foley for posting this via FB.
University of Mobile

It's Time

Yes!!

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:1-8 NASB)

Little Article - What Will You Give God This Christmas?

What Will You Give God This Christmas?

From The Desk Calendar

If your problems are not big enough to pray about they most certainly are not big enough to worry and fret over. 

Luke 2:8-12

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." (Luke 2:8-12 NASB)

The Power Of The Gospel

If in preaching the Gospel you substitute your clear knowledge of the way of salvation for confidence in the power of the Gospel, you hinder people getting to Reality. You have to see that while you proclaim your knowledge of the way of salvation, you yourself are rooted and grounded in faith in God. Never rely on the clearness of your exposition, but as you give your exposition see that you are relying on the Holy Spirit. Rely on the certainty of God's redemptive power, and He will create His own life in souls.

My Umost... OC

Devotion To Jesus Christ - My Utmost...

Thankful - Choose - Continual Thanks To God

I Choose To Be Thankful

A spirit of power, love and sound discipline...

www.odb.org

Our Daily Bread is a good devotional book to use as a aprt of your daily time with God. You can receive this online, on your smartphone, your Kindle and youcan order a hard copy at www.rbc.org.

Thanksgiving Day

Positive Path Forward

A Positive Path at Great Day

Thanksgiving Thoughts - Max Lucado

Thanksgiving Thoughts From Max Lucado

Psalm 100

It's Your Revolution - Tim Timmons

Starts With Me

Some Verses From I Peter - O Yeah!

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  I Peter 1:3-5

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. I Peter 2:9-12

8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For

“Whoever desires to love life
and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit;

10 let him turn away from evil and do good;
let him seek peace and pursue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

I Peter 3:8-11

 

Always Giving Thanks

Always Giving Thanks For All Things - Good Article and Thoughful Questions

3

Grade yourself on the same scale that you grade others.

Carefully avoid in yourself those things which disturb you in others. - T aKempis

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. I Thessalonians 5:11 NIV

Thanks