Critical!

Me thinks I am critical. Oh, I don't want to be, but I suppose I am. It's difficult for me to discern where that delicate fine line is between passion and criticism. This is especially true of the institutionalized church and matters pertaining to it. I really just don't like this grand ole institution at all. I hate to say it but I generally believe it (the institution) is in many ways the fruit of many centuries worth of the Satan's hard work. If he can convince us of just how important we are in and to the process, he knows we will pick up that ball and run with it. Human pride does that! After all, most of what goes on seems to be more about us and very little about Him (that being our Lord). Our plans, our vision, our budgets, our programs, events, and processes. To be honest, I'm not sure why we even need the Lord using this kind of thinking. It would seem that we've pretty much got it all under control. Yes, mankind picked up that ball, and we're still running!

I know......I'm doing it again. I'm being critical! Forgive me! I just can't help but wonder what could happen if?

If what you ask?

Well.....if we asked Him first.....not last.

By the way, if what I write makes you angry, pray for me. I'm probably wrong about everything. Heck, I almost hope I am.

Me

I am a prideful man.

I am critical of others.

I do not love as I should.

May God forgive and cleanse me!

Mary and Martha

God help your church to remember what it feels like to be a true "Mary".

God help us to let go of our inner "Martha" and know that there is that which is "better".

Being that no one reads this anyway, I figure why not just be honest.

Question: What in the heck has happened to the body of Christ?

What has happened to the church? Is it now a building? A club? Is it all budgets and long winded fancy sounding monologues laced with intelligent sounding speech? Is it about standing up and sitting down at the right time? Is it an order of service? Is it a group of committees that meet and talk about the Godly sounding "stuff" we're going to do for God?

I could go on, and on, and on.......

Am I the only guy in this whole stinking world that feels this way?????

So what do you do when you just can't stomach it anymore? Oh, I'm sure anyone reading this would think me to be a cocky guy. I can hear it now, "He really thinks he knows better than everyone else." "Mr. know it all!!!" ARE YOU SERIOUS!!! I HAVE NO CLUE ANYMORE!!!! ZIPPO, ZERO, NOTTA, NO CLUE!!!! Just because my cup of religion "runneth over", does not mean I know how to get it together. I DON'T! I just can't help but feel that we are sorely missing the point! By the way, I am part of that "we"!!!! As a matter of fact I love being a part of the "we". I love the "church". Not the building, but the people! I just want us to know the truth about what this is really all about. Heck, I want to know what this is really all about. If it's about something other than knowing Jesus....then I 'm just cluless.

Please know that this is simply a cry from the heart of a guy whose searching and struggling. If you read this and use what I've said for ill purposes....well, I guess you just don't get it!

If I Told You the Truth

If I told you the truth....you'd most likely be angry, but you'd be wrong.

If I told you the truth....you'd probably ask me to leave, but I would be gone before you could.

If I told you the truth....you'd ask me to resign, but I already have.

If I told you the truth....you'd avoid me, but He wouldn't.

If I told you the truth....you'd think me to be a hypocrite.....could be!

If I told you the truth....you'd think about it, but dismiss it....most likely.

If I told you the truth....I'd seem less in your eyes maybe, but I'm okay with that.

If I told you the truth....would you listen?

Would you consider my words?

Would you look for yourself instead of wearing your Sunday morning bib and opening wide for another spoonful?

Would you ask the hard questions, risk not fitting in, walk away from the business of it all.....would you....if He told you the truth?

Would you listen?

I know....it is certainly hard.....isn't it?