I want to first apologize to those who read this blog purely for comic relief. I may not always be the wittiest person; but I am sure a few of my readers may use this blog as a break from reality while they are at work. For the record, I do have more than one reader, but I only have one who is brave enough to become an official follower. I cannot apologize for what I am going to talk about. I know it may be more serious than what everyone has come to think about me, but this is my blog. The whole point of my blog is writing about whatever is on my mind, and this post is just what happens to melt my enchilada today. In the end, thinking about the following subject of this post makes me feel very happy and blessed. I just wanted to share what made me feel this way.
Today was absolutely awesome! It started off with a quiet time drinking some coffee while reading from my one-year Bible and then Rich Stearn's book, The Hole in Our Gospel. After hearing him speak at our church last week, I feel like everyone should read this book. It really gets people to think about their purpose in life, better than some guy in California made people think. Then I went to church. Last Sunday was amazing, and I did not think it could be any more amazing with the new changes in our summer program which started last week. I could not be more wrong.
For once, I was actually able to focus long enough to have a decent takeaway that keeps me thinking about how I can live my life in a way more pleasing to the Lord. This is a miracle since I do not have the best track record for paying attention during sermons. There are many reasons for my inability to listen, but that is for a different post. I must point out that it is a personal issue and is no way reflective of the teaching abilities of the priests. Someone once said that the best way to judge a sermon is whether or not Jesus had to die for the sermon to be true. This sermon did pass this test. Our rector spoke about what it means when you say "I believe in God" when you recite the Apostles' Creed. He discussed the weight of these words and what exactly one is saying when they say them. Ultimately, God is so big and complex that these words should not be taken very lightly. He is a living God. He died, but He rose again and is still alive. He is not some old, distant figure that we cannot be close to.
Following the service, there were a few options for people to go to. There is adult Sunday school. I do not know what it is about since I have never really gone because of previous commitments to children's ministry. I did hear some favorable reviews of the lesson and and anticipation for what will be taught next week. While adults were doing their thing, the children and youth were doing something new which started last week. This summer the youth are teaching the younger kids. From my understanding, there is a lesson taught by an adult for everyone and then everyone breaks into smaller groups. The beauty of this is that the youth pay attention more closely than they have in the past because they know they will have to help the children understand the lesson. The children still get their lesson because they always only get a few concepts; so it's okay if the youth are only able to discuss a few topics because that is all that the kiddos will be able to remember and comprehend. The youth get an opportunity to practice discipleship, and the children get an opportunity to see what they can aspire to in the near future. Whoever thought of this program gets a gold star, and I hope this concept is able to continue in some format for the rest of the year.
I chose to go to our parish hall where there was a small mission project going on as well as the revamped church cafe was serving food. I did this last week as well. It gives you the opportunity to serve those in need and spread God's Word which we are commanded to do in the Great Commission as well as to love our neighbors as ourselves. It also allows the opportunity for fellowship with people that I may not necessarily talk to on a regular basis. Cliques within a church community never help people grow in their faith; so this diverse fellowship is a definite plus.
Then the I stood in line for lunch at the other end of the hall. The food has been some of the best that I have ever eaten served from the church kitchen, and I have sat with a different group each Sunday with people that I probably would not go with to lunch after the service. This fellowship helps people including myself see that God did not use a cookie cutter when he created us. I always find it amazing how diverse God's people are, but at the same time we can all come together to glorify Him.
As I was getting ready to leave church, I realized how blessed I am to be in a church that gets what it is all about to be a Christian. The section I read in Stearns' book was about faith and works. Not everyone gets this argument, and many people choose to focus on only one. The book stated that we are saved by faith and saved for works. Neither one is more important that the other. Why would God save us if He didn't have a plan for us? He does loves us, but we are not toys that he just plays with. We are called to serve Him. Also, it is rare that a message from the pulpit does not need Jesus' death and resurrection to be complete. Many churches focus so much on being relevant to today's society that they completely forget what it means to be a Christian. I am very thankful that my church has not forgotten and that my faith can grow in a way that is pleasing and glorifying to God. My church realizes that following God means living at the foot of the cross while serving out His plan for us.
Later in the day, I returned to church for a class on Revelation that a friend is teaching. The lesson reinforced what I realized earlier in the day and showed how incredible and important God's Word is. It was just another blessing that the Lord has provided, and I will go to bed thinking how thankful I am that God is a living God who just also happens to be my Lord and Savior. I am also very thankful and happy that my church gets what is important.
Amen!
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