After spending the past couple months going to a pile of different churches, we went last week to one that we kind of enjoyed. We may have finally found our new church!
http://www.freedomkw.com/
Friday, October 26, 2007
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Thinking outloud about God's will and church denominations
Quakers and Existentialists have a similar problem, starting out to promote the great truth of the subjective experience of Christianity. Ending up being hijacked by people who talk about subjective experience of whatever God.
Most other Christian institutions have a similar problem; Starting out to promote what they have experienced as the fundamentals of Christianity along with a love for Christ. Ending up being hijacked by people who talk about the rules, theologies, and denominational "party lines" that cause division... Usually in the name of unity.
Churches, and quakers, and Existentialists, and Nature can all be used by God as forms of evangelism. God can use your church. ;But his ultimate goal is not to have you conform to a denominational party line.
There are many things things that I could say here as being God's ultimate goal, but I'm not going to take a swing at that today.
Most other Christian institutions have a similar problem; Starting out to promote what they have experienced as the fundamentals of Christianity along with a love for Christ. Ending up being hijacked by people who talk about the rules, theologies, and denominational "party lines" that cause division... Usually in the name of unity.
Churches, and quakers, and Existentialists, and Nature can all be used by God as forms of evangelism. God can use your church. ;But his ultimate goal is not to have you conform to a denominational party line.
There are many things things that I could say here as being God's ultimate goal, but I'm not going to take a swing at that today.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Apparently "God Hates Religion", according to the meeting house.
That's funny because I don't think I hate religion.
I don't hate church either.
I don't even hate denominations,
but what I realized the other day is that I do hate the denominations "party lines".
Why does each denomination hold so tightly to core beliefs that alienate other denominations?
More on this as time allows...
That's funny because I don't think I hate religion.
I don't hate church either.
I don't even hate denominations,
but what I realized the other day is that I do hate the denominations "party lines".
Why does each denomination hold so tightly to core beliefs that alienate other denominations?
More on this as time allows...
Monday, October 8, 2007
Daniel 4
..God is in control of the earthly kingdoms and can put people in power and take away their power...
...In social work language, we wouldn't say that Nebuchadnezzar was prideful, we would say that he had power and control issues...
- When Nebuchadnezzar looks at the city, he sees only his own work.
- When we look at our own lives do we see only our own work or do we see God's work?
Proverbs 16:18
Luke 18:9-14
Micah 6:7-9
There are 2 deeper issues that come to mind from reading this scripture:
1) seems like a salvation story... it's in the old testament, reads like Nebuchadnezzar is reconciled to God in some sense or at least acknowledges God's power. There is no mention of the law. This fits with the author of Romans use of Abraham as a person saved by grace (Romans 4). Interesting... The law and grace as represented in the bible are confusing themes at times. Especially O.T. law and grace.
2) "Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes." When I think of all the chaos in the world and it's leaders, this seems like a difficult teaching. I guess that we can all rest safely knowing that God knows what he's doing... but in the case of some world leaders, it wouldn't have been my first guess to think they were given their position by God.. hey, it's a complicated world after all. I guess that we really don't know the mind of God.
Who are you most like in Daniel Chapter 4?
- The faithful Daniel
- The Prideful Nebuchadnezzar
- Nebuchadnezzar as he experienced the insanity of God's wrath
- Or a redeemed Nebuchadnezzar who has realized the falsities of his thinking and gives all praise and glory to our most high God.
...In social work language, we wouldn't say that Nebuchadnezzar was prideful, we would say that he had power and control issues...
- When Nebuchadnezzar looks at the city, he sees only his own work.
- When we look at our own lives do we see only our own work or do we see God's work?
Proverbs 16:18
Luke 18:9-14
Micah 6:7-9
There are 2 deeper issues that come to mind from reading this scripture:
1) seems like a salvation story... it's in the old testament, reads like Nebuchadnezzar is reconciled to God in some sense or at least acknowledges God's power. There is no mention of the law. This fits with the author of Romans use of Abraham as a person saved by grace (Romans 4). Interesting... The law and grace as represented in the bible are confusing themes at times. Especially O.T. law and grace.
2) "Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes." When I think of all the chaos in the world and it's leaders, this seems like a difficult teaching. I guess that we can all rest safely knowing that God knows what he's doing... but in the case of some world leaders, it wouldn't have been my first guess to think they were given their position by God.. hey, it's a complicated world after all. I guess that we really don't know the mind of God.
Who are you most like in Daniel Chapter 4?
- The faithful Daniel
- The Prideful Nebuchadnezzar
- Nebuchadnezzar as he experienced the insanity of God's wrath
- Or a redeemed Nebuchadnezzar who has realized the falsities of his thinking and gives all praise and glory to our most high God.
