Christian Priorities

Tonight I listened to an incredible message from two ministers from a Church of Christ in Detroit. They talked about how their congregation is not in an area where a church would normally grow. They talked about how they have to read the Lord's Prayer everyday to keep focus--that everything is about GOD'S WILL AND NOT OURS! "Thy will be done." They talked about how they are up to three services on Sundays and that there is another service about 10 miles away at a mission work. They talked about how much of their flock are folks who came from a life wanting nothing to do with church. They also talked about how they lost a lot of members over time because of "bringing in folks that made those more established members uncomfortable."

I am always struck by Christians using that word "comfortable." Last time I checked, WE WERE NOT CALLED TO BE COMFORTABLE! Jesus did not live a comfortable life. The apostles did not live comfortable lives. None of the prophets lived comfortable lives.

Perhaps we need to be less concerned about "being comfortable" and more focused on getting out of our church buildings and taking the Gospel message to lost and hurting people!

LETS GO CROWD HEAVEN!

Bruce

Ministers In The Media

If you watch CNN and all the other news networks like I do, you have seen all kinds of "Christian" ministers shouting all kinds of controversial epitaphs and big news statements. Whether it is Reverend Jeremiah Wright screaming out on one end of the spectrum or conservative white evangelicals on the other end of the spectrum screaming out. Certainly it is not up to me to judge what each of those Christians do and I do not make a habit of condemning other Christian leaders or their congregations.

However, sometimes I wonder if we all stopped shouting as much--and just focused on the mission of Jesus Christ--if we might see larger glimmers of hope around us? Perhaps if church leaders spent more time teaching and training their flocks for ministry--more lost people might be brought to Christ? Perhaps if more church leaders went back to the basics of the elementary teachings of Jesus--there might be more love and kindness among us?

Serving the Lord and executing Christ's mission to bring a lost world to redemption and salvation--is NOT ABOUT US! IT IS NOT ABOUT ME! IT IS NOT ABOUT YOU! Maybe we all need a little more humility. Maybe we all need to go back and look at the early church leaders in the Book of Acts and see how they were spending their times and efforts.

Just some thoughts?

God Speed,

Bruce

Easter Sunday

I think it is wonderful that so many Christians celebrate Easter Sunday--in a biblical way and not in the worldy way. However, let us all be more driven to celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ--everyday! All 365 days of the year! Let us honor God that way and not just on special occasions.

Grace and Peace,

Bruce