Why Should Church Be Boring?

I for one cannot stand when church is boring. Now, everyone has their own preferences when it comes to church just like they do with everything else. And that's fine. People should attend a church where they feel they fit in and where they can be supportive of the work that's going on there. If you can't support the church you're in then I'll be the first to say go somewhere where you can instead of being a discouragement to those around you.

However, I personally don't understand why when you attend services in a lot of American churches you could easily mistake where you are for a funeral home, not a church. There could be several dead bodies around you and you wouldn't know it. You'd just say, "They're not dead, they're just in church." Unfortunately I find myself guilty of acting this way at times. Shame on me.

I fear we as Christians have our outlook wrong when it comes to how we should behave in church. I don't think God is so pleased with our lack of enthusiasm at times. Some people don't understand the desire to have that loud music and clapping with flashing lights and dare I say it...jumping up and down and dancing! And I'm not saying this is the only way that you can worship but why do so many people get all freaked out about those who like to have a little more pizazz at church? I don't get it.

If you don't want to get excited about church that's your choice and I can't tell you how to worship. But I will say this, Christians should be to the most excited people on the face of this earth because of everything Jesus has done for us and our lives should reflect that inside and outside of the four walls of the church. I admit I don't always do the best of conveying that message.

The world is surrounded by so much death as it is. They don't need to think that the Church is the same. I think it's safe to say that overall the world does not see the Church as attractive. Why would they when we can at times be so very boring? We preach hellfire and brimstone (and there is a time and a place for that) but find it hard to mention the amazing love and grace of God. We tell them that what we have is what they need and yet we don't give them any reason to believe that it's true. We live our lives and attend church so many times with an "I do it because I have to" attitude and "There's so many rules and regulations" instead of "I'm free from legalism and it's such a joy to be a Christian". No wonder they don't want to have anything to do with us.

In Romans the Bible says it's the kindness of God that leads us to repentance, not legalism and boredom. If we don't have anything to be excited about then the world might as well continue to live in sin. At least they're having fun. Sadly that's more than they can say about us at times.

I really don't think Jesus is in heaven saying, "Look at my children. They are going way overboard with the way they're celebrating everything I've done. I mean, really, all I did was live a perfect life, suffer a gruesome death on a cross and miraculously rise from the dead. And all I did was forgive their sins so they don't have to spent eternity in hell. I gave them the right to be called sons and daughters of God and I made them the very righteousness of God. They've been set free spiritually, emotionally and physically and can have abundant life while on earth and can have direct access to you, Father. I really don't know why they're so excited. They should just calm down. I wish they wouldn't make such a big deal out it."

I guarantee you, that's not what Jesus thinks. If anything I'm afraid He's wondering why we aren't more thankful for what He's done and looking for every opportunity to share it with the world. I think He's standing in our churches watching us during worship and asking, "Isn't what I've done worth more than this to you? Can't you go a little overboard for me? I saw you last week while you were watching that football game and you were pretty into it. Can't you get that energized for me? Jump up an down and scream for me! I want you to go crazy for me! I'm jealous for your affection. I want you to show the world that belonging to me is exciting! I want you to be as zealous for me as I am for you! You are running out of time! Go tell the world about what you've found before it's too late!"

I think we tend to forget that Jesus is right there with us in church. If we stopped to think about that more often we would probably act different but we seem to forget that. Instead I think we look at it as though He were in heaven looking down but maybe he's distracted by the Baptists down the road or the Methodists next door so He's not paying attention to us right now. No, he's right there with us and probably wondering why we're so apathetic.

Petra is one of my favorite bands of all time and I grew up listening to them. They are an awesome example of how you don't have to choose between good music or good lyrics. They never compromised either one and it seems like they have a song for everything. So, this song has been playing in my head as I write this. I will leave you with the lyrics. The second verse especially speaks to this topic.

STAND UP-PETRA

The battle cry is getting louder
The countdown's close to the final hour
The enemy is on every side
Still no match for the crucified
Victory unto victory
We are soldiers in His army

Stand up, take a stand for Jesus
Stand up, so the whole world sees us
Showing the way to a world gone astray
Shining our light with all of our might
Stand up, take a stand for Jesus
Stand up, so the whole world sees us
Following Him, serving Him
Fighting the fight that we know we will win

Out of the pews and into the streets
Making some use of our beautiful feet
Redeeming the time for the days are evil
This whole world's in such upheaval
We wrestle not with flesh and blood
But when the enemy comes in like a flood

Gotta lay our lives down
And stand up for the truth we've found
Gotta let the redeemed of the Lord say so

The joys of a laptop that can handle programs...

Since I have a new laptop I am able to run some new programs that my old one couldn't handle. I've always loved photography but never have used any sort of editing program. Until today that is. I'm having a blast messing with my pictures and thought I would share a few.
This is me and my friend Amanda the day she got married.
This is my niece Sophie playing in the leaves behind my Grandma's house.
And this is the Holland lighthouse known as "Big Red". I love the water and going to Lake Michigan has always been a summer highlight for me ever since I was a little kid. It's one of the great things about living in Michigan!

HIGH TREASON

As I was debating what to blog about today I once again drew a blank. So, with nothing inspiring to say I decided to look and see what happened this day in history. Much to my history-loving pleasure, I discovered that today in 1784 the United States ratified a peace treaty ending the Revolutionary War.

Thanks to all the brave men and women who went through things that we can only imagine, we now live in a free country. Through tracing genealogy I have found out that I have several ancestors who were in the Revolution. I am proud of their sacrifice and thankful that they thought of us and what freedom would mean for future generations. I wholeheartedly believe the Founding Fathers and those who sacrificed so much during this great period of our nation's history, as well as since then to preserve our freedom would be sorely disappointed, disheartened and downright offended at that way we have treated their sacrifice and for that we should be ashamed of ourselves.

I believe the day has come where we have to pick up where they left off and fight for freedom all over again, this time in a different way. Who knows what the future holds for us in this country. Will we have the courage they had? I pray we realize what's at stake and just how much we stand to lose if we are not willing to stand up for freedom.

I will leave you with a quote:

“Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present Generation to preserve your Freedom! I hope you will make good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven, that I ever took half the Pains
to preserve it.”
― John Adams

How Much Difference Can One Person Make?

I have often heard people say, "How much difference can one person really make?" I think if people were honest they would say that one of the things they desire most in life is to feel wanted and needed. To feel like they make a difference.

The world we live in sometimes makes it hard for us to have an impact. If we don't look or dress a certain way, have the right amount of education or come from the right kind of background we can at times be made to feel that what we think or have to say is of little or no importance and it can be hard to get anyone to pay attention to us.

However, recent events in our nation show just how important one person can be. The Iowa caucuses are proof that one person's values and opinions are very important. Or to be more specific, 8 people's.

By now everyone knows that only 8 votes in the WHOLE STATE of Iowa seperated the top two candidates in the recent state caucuses. 8 votes! In the whole state! If that isn't a perfect example of one person making a difference than I don't know what is.

The Bible is full of individuals who made big differences in the world around them. Everyone laughed at David when he said he would fight Goliath. That is until he killed him. Moses didn't think he could go before Pharoah but he did and he led the nation of Israel out of Egypt. Gideon was hiding when the Lord came to him but went on to do great things. Everyone thought Noah was insane for building a huge boat. That is until it rained. On the flip side, what about Hitler? Talk about one person making a huge difference in the world and not a good difference!

We all have ideas, dreams and convictions. Things we want to say but feel like we don't have an outlet to share those things. Sometimes that is true but a lot of times it could be that we overlook some very obvious ways to impact the world around us. I relate this post to the election because this is one of the hot topics right now.

For many years I've heard people give different reasons for not voting. Some say things like,
"One vote isn't going to make a difference" others say something like, "The Lord has everything under control and whatever he wants to have happen will happen so I just need to stay out of it." I want so bad to ask these people, "And just exactly how do you think the Lord works in these situations?" Does he rig the election? I mean, seriously, how is something like an election going to "magically" end up the way God wants it to?

If you are of this line of thinking then consider this. How does God's work on earth get accomplished? If everything just happened the way God wants it to happen then there would have never been original sin and we wouldn't be dealing with things like abortion, murder, rape, theft, lying, cheating, corruption, etc.

The truth of the matter is that God uses US, His people, to bring about His kingdom on earth and most of the time we do a poor job of it. And if you think that it's must be God's will to have people in office who stand for things that are in direct opposition to the things He desires then you should think again. The Bible says in Proverbs 29:2, "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan." That tells me that God cares about things like politics which means that we should care about them too.

God's kingdom will not come on this earth until we His people bring it. And one of the ways we bring it is by getting involved in things like elections where we are privileged enough to have a voice and take a stand for what is right. All over the world there are people who wish they had the rights that so many of us take for granted. People in other countries are rising up and revolting for the opportunity to have the voice that many of us don't even use.

As our primary elections are underway and the general election approaches, consider what you can do to make your voice heard. Get out there and vote. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." You might be surprised how much difference one person can make.