Being Real

Many times I find myself dreaming of the person I want to be in the future...mostly what I dream my relationship with God will be like. Sometimes I set goals, but many times I find myself looking back to see what has impacted my present, learn to surrender and sort out that issue, and move forward into greater joy with God. But I also find that at times religion instead of relationship comes forth. Sometimes it is pain or temptation that I'm dealing with that makes me put on a facade so that people don't think that there's something wrong with me. It makes me wonder, how many times do we put on that facade...the religious stuff just so people can see that our "faith" is genuine. How many times do we have to fake it before we make it?

This Christianity thing is serious. It's a serious relationship with a real being. It's a serious thing because God told us from the get-go that we can't keep this to ourselves. But we do. Jesus accepted the outcasts...why can't we? Jesus accepted the dirty...why can't we? Jesus dined with the sinners...why can't we? Jesus even ministered to the aliens in the land...why can't we?

Sometimes God has to use pain...real pain...in order to wake us up and get our attention. And I'm talking about some real personal stuff here - it hurts, but man is the joy amazing! It's kinda like reminding us that we are a live and that we are real so be real. It's not about the number of lives we save...how much money we give in the offering pot...how many friends we have. I've stood behind the curtains many times looking around to see where people are at...do you know how many people I've seen who watch the pastors preach, who listen to the worship leaders, who come to the Bible studies, who pray who look at the people who belong to the Church and ask "is this even real? Is any of this real?"

And it's not about pushing yourself, beating yourself up, playing the guilt/shame game in order to be that better Christian...believe me been there done that. It comes from deeper intimacy with God...that quiet time just getting to know God and opening more and more of your heart to Him. The strength to face what we must as Christians can only come from God and the people in my life who have this strength have often faced the deepest, most difficult trials in their life.

So Church, are you ready to enter into this intimacy with God? If you are you better be open to letting go of things you hold onto in your heart. Boy, am I struggling with this! But oh such sweet peace and joy...the intimacy with God...to sit at His feet...it's worth it! I just hope that before I even talk the talk that my walk is the thing that people see...I hope my walk is what transforms the lives around me...less speaking more moving! Booyah Church; you ready?!

I think the faith to move mountains comes

Oppression and Injustice

Well I finished the semester! Was it a success? Not according to academic terms but I find myself succeeding in so many other ways!

However, I find myself with my heart tenderly broken over things in this world. As if the stories of oppression and injustice people around the world have to face have been a razor slowly puncturing my heart, which now oozes out a passion to bring Jesus' love to these people. The faces I see when I sleep hearkening back to that night I contemplated suicide, wrenching my heart in two. The many videos of the evil I've seen in this world slowly breaking my heart to the point where I can no longer stand the sight of my own prosperity.

And it's all made me wonder what the Church is doing to help Christians respond to the oppression and injustice in the world. The only reason why I'm listening and responding is because of the injustice my family has faced. This life is not about worldly prosperity by any means even though a lot of Christians point to this in the Bible, this is not the prosperity I want in my life. I find it all meaningless in comparison to God's glory - which is the true prosperity in this life.

What do you see when you see the face of starving children? Do you see a child who needs clothes and food? Or do you see a child who needs the hope of the world? Do you see a woman battered and broken at the hands of evil men, or do you see a woman who needs compassion and an open door to a better life. Too often we Americans are quick to act but slow to listen. Oh, Church, how many have we wronged by becoming their crutch - by becoming the ones who think we can "save" when the only Savior in this life is Jesus. Our job is to bring them hope and open doors not be The Hope or The Open Door.

All these lives I see, slowly slipping away because they are unable to find that unconditional love. And all these lives that think they can save but who are really causing many to fall as well as themselves. Church where are we going? Have we become so consumed with our own business and prosperity that we give out of our excess? "Oh I have an $20 I can spare this month, so I'll put that in the offering." or "Oh that lady has no shoes, I'll just give her a pair I don't really use." What if we gave $200 instead of $20? What if we gave our favorite pair of shoes to someone who needed them?

My heart breaks for those who are suffering from oppression and injustice right now, but my heart breaks even more for those of us in the Church who think that we can be the answer to their prayers - we are NOT; only Jesus can be! Where would the Church be if we just became the actual body of Christ - the Church that has not been tainted or touched by man but is pure in its virginity???

Think about that.