My "sales pitch"...

... and why I believe.

I don't believe because it's scientific. I don't believe because I can prove it. If those were my reasons I probably wouldn't believe.

I believe because I'm a broken human being. I can't keep it together. I can't be perfect as much as I try. I can't figure out what being perfect is. I still feel that way and am that way.

It is apparent to me that our brokenness is due to us missing something and I believe that missing thing is a relationship with God. What Jesus has been recorded to say in the bible transcends criticism. He taught love and a relationship with Him... that missing thing.

God's love is my motivator. Love is the greatest motivator. I can't think of any good reason the disciples would follow so diligently and sacrifice their lives for a friend but for the fact that they new Jesus loved them. I used to believe that they were just really committed and willed their way through pain.

We lost our relationship with God when Adam and Eve broke their relationship with Him and we've been missing something (like a limb) ever since. God has an open invitation to us all to restore that relationship. It's just a matter of asking.

That's the best way I can put it with what abilities I have.

Good Story

Good story about Tony Campolo in Hawaii here. Our pastor read that story on Sunday and got a little choked up when reading it. A lot of people did. He's got his own website but I didn't have time to find the story there. www.tonycampolo.org

Unspoken sin.

Sin not spoken about. Nobody knows about it. You and God are the only two that are aware of or that think about it and care. When in such a strange vacuum how many people actually choose to walk away from the sin?.. a sin that is hid from the world of people around you? When you don't walk away because it means too much to you... What is that? Idolotry, I guess, and possibly an indicator of something else in your life being starved? It may sound like I'm talking about deep dark secret sin but that's not necessarily true.

It's got to be the most painful sin when you know an action is wrong and keep doing it and don't have the control to stop. No one else knowing about the sin and you're so afraid someone will find out. That's what I call a nightmare and I have a hard time showing patience for people who can't find empathy behind the huge shadow of their own judgement of the sin itself.

Well, I'm getting dangerously close to doing exactly what I'm complaining about. Judging the judgmental isn't any different I suppose. In general other people's sin seems to be a seed of a great deal of our sin i.e. pride, ignorance, foolishness etc. Self included.

What's the difference?

What's the difference between a believer and a nonbeliever other than what they say about what they believe? Can and should you be able to tell?

It's good to be restless.

I guess the opposite of that would be content. If I'm not restless or am content, I don't feel the need for change. I'm not expecting anything to happen and am ok with that or even prefer that. How boring and dangerous at the same time!

If every Tuesday night I have to watch my favorite show and something comes up in real life, what do I do? I don't have a favorite Tuesday night show, but I know there are other meaningless comforts that I'd probably struggle with giving up if I got that call.

Now, if I have no specific comforts but just like to hang around the house and do things and I resist the opportunities to maintain comfort, how far away from the Tuesday-night-show-syndrome am I? I think it's not about what you are doing. It's about what you could be doing... OR even thinking about.

Don't miss the opportunity God lays out before you.

www.jakecolsen.com

I just finished reading a book called "So, you don't want to go to church anymore?" directly off of the above website . Jon from Mythic Reality recommended it to me.

It's a fictional story that points out the failures of today's church and it's structure in regards to the parishioner and their relationship to "Father".

I have my own frustrations with church and this solidifies them. I don't think I'm committed to leaving church. I wouldn't rule it out either though. I guess I look at church as a possible opportunity to connect with people that are in a situation like mine. People who are looking for a relationship with God through fellowship with Him and others. The church doesn't really help too much with that but I guess I would defend the church by saying it's at least a place to meet with people who are "trying" to head in the same direction. The frustration is trying to find people like that amongst people who are putting their trust in the system and doing what is recommended by the church and thinking that is what will bring them to Him. I'm pretty new in this and don't have a great relationship with God so my prayer is as I grow in Him the people who are heading that way will be more obvious. Regardless to that, finding Him first is priority one and whatever I need from there should follow. I guess if follow that line of thinking I won't be so frustrated after all (I should be looking for him first). If you seek Him you will get what you need. With or without the modern church or other people.

Anyway, good book. I recommend it. Thanks to Jon for Recommending it.

Questions

In the work world, what does it say about you if the non-believers around you see you as one of their own? If you have a career where if you were as outspoken as Jesus about Faith, you would loose your career, should you be in that career? What should be the approach to co-workers who know you have some commitment to at least some sort of religon, if they have made it clear they are not interested? ... or how about if they haven't made it clear and have actually left an opening for discussion? What direction do you take then in that discussion? Have you ever spoken out at work? If you do get on to "that topic" do you explain what your beleifs are as far as doctrine and rules you follow or do you speak of what you believe and that you believe it is the truth. What's the approach? and how can you tell you're doing a horrible job?