Today was an interesting day. I am really wrestling inside. Nick and I were checking the mail and saw an advertisement for a desk for sale for $10. Being newlyweds, a $10 desk is just our style :) So, we called the lady, went right over and started hauling the desk from building 9 to building 10. In the midst of the move, a 9 year old boy named Christian appeared out of nowhere and asked us if he could help? We were taken a back, as most 9 year olds are not on their own in the middle of the day, and most 9 year olds dont normally offer to help adults carrying heavy furniture. So, Christian came along to help. No parents in sight. It was obvious that Christian just needed someone to listen to him and recognize that he was alive and there. After our project was done, we invited Christian to have a popsicle with us. (As it is 102 degrees today) We thanked him and tried to say goodbye, but he just wanted to tell us all about his life. Turns out, he did not even live in our building. He was just wandering around today hoping that someone would pay attention to him. My heart hurts. How many of us are like that kid named Christian? How many of us Christians are like that kid named Christian? Where is the community? Where are the leaders (parents, pastors) We all just want to be loved. Isn't that the message of Christ? What are we going to do about it?
Hmm...
Song for thought- "He is the Love" David Crowder- All I Can Say
7.29.2005
7.28.2005
Links to good music
www.davidcrowderband.com
www.nickcarletonband.com
www.christomlin.com
www.delirious.co.uk
www.foolishthings.com
www.joshholloran.net
www.desperationband.com
www.nickcarletonband.com
www.christomlin.com
www.delirious.co.uk
www.foolishthings.com
www.joshholloran.net
www.desperationband.com
Resources for those on the journey
Check out these sites...
www.sacramentis.com (Sally Morgenthaler's site)
www.theooze.com
www.emergentvillage.com
www.tnl.org (The Next Level Church in Denver, CO)
www.jonnybaker.blogs.com (Alternative Worship Movement in the UK)
www.vintagefaith.com (Dan Kimball's site)
www.sacramentis.com (Sally Morgenthaler's site)
www.theooze.com
www.emergentvillage.com
www.tnl.org (The Next Level Church in Denver, CO)
www.jonnybaker.blogs.com (Alternative Worship Movement in the UK)
www.vintagefaith.com (Dan Kimball's site)
7.27.2005
Re-thinking Church
A Forgotten Generation...
July 4, 2000 was an unforgetable day in my life. I had spent the previous 20 years trying to control my own life and my own future. When all of that came crashing in on my head, I felt like there was nothing left but pieces of my broken heart scattered on the floor. I walked into a place called the Next Level Church, and my life has never been the same. It has been 5 years now that I have been a follower of Christ, and I am still trying to figure out exactly what that means. Sometimes I cannot even sleep at night, because I don't feel like I fit in with this thing we call church. I "go to" church, I "work" at a church, but what is "church?" and why do we "do" church?
My heart is deeply saddened by the confusion. Here I am, I am 25 years old, and I love Christ with all that I am. I try every day to honor and glorify Him with my whole life. I feel as though God has given me specific gifts to use for Him. Then I "go" to church, and there are thousands of people with money, all dressed up and they seem to be doing the same thing every week. They show up, they do the "church thing" and then they go home. It feels fake to me. REALLY FAKE!
Then, I sit, and I read God's Word. The two seem to contradict each other. I am confused! I feel as though I have had a pretty eclectic experience with church, and for that I am grateful. But, now I am left wondering, what is the point of it all? Is this what Christ intended? What is my role in the body of Christ? Where can I use my gifts? Do I really have gifts? Why is my generation so disconnected from church? Will that ever change? Am I abnormal? What is normal anyways? Could God use me to change this thing called church?
SO MANY QUESTIONS! SO MANY DREAMS! SO MANY DISAPPOINTMENTS!
I hope that this blog can be a place for me to think and share my questions, dreams and disappointments, and invoke authentic conversation with others who want to re-think church as well.
July 4, 2000 was an unforgetable day in my life. I had spent the previous 20 years trying to control my own life and my own future. When all of that came crashing in on my head, I felt like there was nothing left but pieces of my broken heart scattered on the floor. I walked into a place called the Next Level Church, and my life has never been the same. It has been 5 years now that I have been a follower of Christ, and I am still trying to figure out exactly what that means. Sometimes I cannot even sleep at night, because I don't feel like I fit in with this thing we call church. I "go to" church, I "work" at a church, but what is "church?" and why do we "do" church?
My heart is deeply saddened by the confusion. Here I am, I am 25 years old, and I love Christ with all that I am. I try every day to honor and glorify Him with my whole life. I feel as though God has given me specific gifts to use for Him. Then I "go" to church, and there are thousands of people with money, all dressed up and they seem to be doing the same thing every week. They show up, they do the "church thing" and then they go home. It feels fake to me. REALLY FAKE!
Then, I sit, and I read God's Word. The two seem to contradict each other. I am confused! I feel as though I have had a pretty eclectic experience with church, and for that I am grateful. But, now I am left wondering, what is the point of it all? Is this what Christ intended? What is my role in the body of Christ? Where can I use my gifts? Do I really have gifts? Why is my generation so disconnected from church? Will that ever change? Am I abnormal? What is normal anyways? Could God use me to change this thing called church?
SO MANY QUESTIONS! SO MANY DREAMS! SO MANY DISAPPOINTMENTS!
I hope that this blog can be a place for me to think and share my questions, dreams and disappointments, and invoke authentic conversation with others who want to re-think church as well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
