Crucial Encounter

He died for you.

But He didn’t just die for you.

He died so we ALL had a chance at redemption.

Not just you.

Not just me.

All.

Every Sin.

Not just the ones we deem ‘forgivable’

It’s Pretty amazing.

We have all been saved and forgiven by HIS mercy grace and infinite Love.

Jesus Christ.

What a Mighty God we serve.

While I venture in to 2009, I am becoming very unsure about the American ‘Church Culture.’ and often times I feel like the Church is (As I’ve heard a lot this week) ‘Missing the Point’.  I need to remember, while the church may have some things wrong, I must remember that the message is the same.  It’s been the same for nearly 2000 years.  With all of the wrong-ness (is that a word?) that I feel about suburbanite church, I have to remember there is one constant Right.

While The Word can be twisted, screwed up, and taken out of context, there is one word that cannot be taken away.  I have to control my cynicism toward the church and make sure that I don’t direct that cynicism at God.  It’s a fine line, (As I feel that is how America has built it.) but I cannot and will not let that fog my vision.

My God is mighty to save.  And Thank God for that, because if he wasn’t I’d be on the first bus to Hell.  I have to remind myself, while I don’t agree with the suburban, churchy image, They deserve, or don’t deserve the love of Christ just as much as me.  The beauty of it all is, they are receiving it, just like I am.

My God is amazing, My God sees beyond walls, beyond the 10:30 service, and directly into my heart.  So, while I do attend Church, and while I do go to the 10:30 service, the most important thing to me is to keep my heart filled with love.  Love for him, love for my friends, family, the guy who sits next to me in church, and just as important as that, love for the poor, the marginalized, and my enemy.

It’s easy to get it twisted in this world.  It’s easy to point at a person and say, “I just REALLY wonder if they are reading the same Bible as me.”  It’s hard for me to kick myself in the ass and say, “Hey, that’s not your judgement call Andy.” I don’t know if any of this is making sense, because this is NOTHING how I had planned this blog.  I guess that’s (one of) the glorious and beautiful things about God. Perhaps what we all could use is a little biting of the tongue.  Perhaps we could all be silent for a little while and take away the good of any situation.  I’m no Solomon, but I’m sure if he read my blog, he might tell me to shut up.

As I go forward into 2009, My prayer is that I do not let my cynicism get in the way.  My prayer is that we all take a step back and look at OUR situation.  My prayer is we all stop pointing fingers, casting stones, and blaming the other guy.  My prayer is we take responsibility, accept God’s mercy and grace, and move on.  My prayer is that we realize we have no control over other people, how they handle situations, and we pray for them.  My prayer is to love.

This week has been, for the most part, great.  My only complaint.  Some people just need to learn to bite their tongues.  Some people need to think about other peoples feelings before speaking. (myself included)  It’s happened numerous times this week.  Hurtful things have been said.  For the soul purpose of hurting someone.  In what should be a celebration week, people can only act on their fear and anger.  If only we could act so easily on love.

What a glorious world it could be!

Well.  Just like I predicted, it’s Christmas again.  I knew it would happen, and I’m so good, I even pinpointed the date!  But, seriously.

Tomorrow is Christmas, and I want to take a time off from cynicism.  Some of the people who read this blog, I have never met in person.  Some of you I have, and I’m sorry.  ;)I want to take this time off and say, Merry Christmas.  It really has been an amazing year, and I feel like I was able to share it with all of you.

So, I want to take this time to just say, no matter how wrong ‘The Church’ has it.  We are doing something right.  We are forming communities across the world.  We are trying to help ‘the least of us’.   I really feel like, more and more people are getting it. (including myself)  And more and more people are really starting to hear our saviour Jesus Christ.  This time of year, we are reminded about how much God loves us.  It’s really hard to think about.  It’s really hard to wrap our heads around, but this time of year, we all try.

It’s a pretty amazing thing.  All of us, screw ups, addicts, envious, vain people, and he came to this Earth, to die for us!  Amazing.  I can’t believe it.. I don’t know that I will ever fully understand it.  But, I will try. AND.. I will try to remember in July as much as I try in December.

Anyway guys.  Thank you all for being influences and impacts in my life.  I love you guys.

I am taking a lot of things in right now. I’m not incredibly smart, so it takes me a while to process my thoughts. There are tons of things brewing in my head, but as of right now, I’ve got nothing, so I’m not going to try and force anything out here.

I can say that yesterday was pretty great considering. I got to lay around with my wife all day, (Minus Church and lunch) and just relax. And.. The Falcons are going to the playoffs! That’s a pretty awesome thing.

Yesterday was a day, when I looked at my wife, and fell in love even more. Man. I am a lucky person. The fact that I can wake up, and be MORE in love seemed impossible, yet it happens. Whats a good blog to read today? Leave it in the comments, and I’ll go check it out.