What is going on?

I see many good things going on in the body of Christ.  However, in churches I am seeing the oddest things.
Charles Spurgeon said, "A time will come when instead of shepherds feeding the sheep, the church will have clowns entertaining the goats."
Wow, did he look ahead into our time?   I do not believe there has ever been a time in Christianity when church has been more about entertainment and less about meeting with the Living God, Creator of heaven and earth.   This makes me very sad.
It seems like most pastors are not concerned about their flock maturing in Christ.   It appears that they want to keep the people immature and dependent upon the pastor. 

This is a blog I started several months ago and never finished.   I found it interesting and am publishing it because it is similar to the one I posted ... worship tain ment.

Worship - tain ment

I read a very interesting blog/article today.
the-heresy-of-worshiptainment was the name of it.
I loved it because it is what I have been saying for years.  Jesus said "if I be lifted up, I will draw all men to me."   I know that He was referring to the cross.  However, I think the concept can be applied the churches as well.
I believe that the world does not come to the church to be entertained.  If they want to be entertained they can turn on the tv or go online.   The entertainment value of the church is miniscule.   They may use the church for entertainment as satire, parody or even to laugh at. 
In my opinion, it is the weaker, immature members of the 'body of Christ' that need the entertainment.  I do not believe that it was ever the heart of God for His people to use the church as entertainment.  I don't find anything wrong with having a good time, but there is a place for everything.
This is my opinion.   I hope you will read the article above.

So you want a ministry?

Ideas for ministries:

1) being nice to people

2) smiling at random people or everyone

3) give someone an encouraging word

4) send someone a card

5) give a gift

6) call someone and tell them something nice

Good Times

I am amazed at the amount of information we take in every day.  Today, I should be on information overload, but instead seem to be like a sponge.  Waiting on the edge of my seat for the next tidbit or nugget from God.  One person described it as "crumbs from God."  Call it what you will.  All I know is that it is very exciting. 
Not too long ago I realized that "I have sung other people's songs all my life.  It's time I sing my own song!  And sing it I will!"
More recently I found out that people's praise is fickle.  One person may think your scribbles are like Michaelangelo's Cistine Chapel.  The next person may look and say they are "bad art".   God's opinion is what matters to me.  I know that He gave me every good gift and all the praise goes back to Him for anything good I may do. 

I find it interesting that God has told be that there are people who I need not be concerned about.  I find people "worship" boring.  Today in the supermarket was a magazine with three girls on the cover.  Turns out they are Kardashians.  Really?  I couldn't pick one of them out of a crowd of 5.  Even they will have to bow their knee someday to the King of kings and the Lord of lords.  I have more of a problem really with people worshipping the "clergy".   And as soon as some read that sentence they will begin spewing defensive talk.  I start cringing when I'm in a church and people start going on and on about how blessed we are to have Paster So-and-so for our pastor and etc etc ad nauseum.   First off, I don't want to get hit by a stray bolt of lightning (half kidding).  But mostly, anytime people are put before God, or exalted, trouble can't be too far behind.
Just for the record, I do believe in giving honor where honor is due.  But honor can be contained in a few sentences or a paragraph.  Gushing and a dozen sentences about how wondrous a human being is is more than honor.  It is exaltation.  That is not a good place, in my opinion.

Changing pace a bit, once I heard a rut  defined as a "coffin with the ends broken out".  I gotto tell you I am tired of ruts.  It's time to break out, fill in the ruts and go on with God.  I am believing that it's time to start believing God's word means what it says and watch God move in our communities, churches, states, nations, world and universe.  Guess that is a good place to start eh?

The Love of God

Surely by now everyone knows that God loves them, right?  Apparently not.  Last night I was listening to a podcast by Larry Randolph.  He was talking about the cripple at the Gate Beautiful.  The cripple who Peter & John met as they were going up to the temple to pray.  This man had been at the temple every day since he was a child.  He was taken there to beg for bread.  He had been there when Jesus was brought to the temple and Anna and Simeon had prayed over the infant Jesus.  The cripple had been there when Jesus taught in the temple court.  Larry Randolph put this in a way that cut through my callousness.  He said this cripple had experienced all that the church had to offer.  This cripple had heard the Levites chanting the word of God.   Despite all he had heard and seen he had not had an encounter with God.  
I think that this is indicative of the society we live in.  We live in an age when there is more unchurched than ever before.  However, how many people have been innoculated against the gospel, the very thing that can change their lives.  They have experienced all kinds of Christians.  They've seen the televangelists on the tv.  But they have NEVER experienced God's love.   How can this be?  How can I call myself a Christian and be more concerned with the World Series or the Olympics than showing the love of God to another?  How could I be so selfish?
I believe there are two reasons and neither of them are good ones.  First of all, to do something, to interact with people costs me something.  Yes, it will cost me everything.  They may reject me.  Better that they reject me than God rejects me.  I call myself a child of God, but I have largely been uncaring towards humanity.  I have been uncaring toward God's creation.
The other reason is because I have not allowed God to fully heal me.  I am allowing and praying for that now.  If we have hidden hurts, hidden wounds, our love arteries are stopped up so to speak.   I believe that if the church will allow God to put His finger on our hurt and let Him heal those wounds, that it will change everything.  We will be able to receive God's love, and be able to show the love of God.
This will change the atmosphere, the world, and everything.  God gives us His love so we can spill over on other people. 
One other thing I want to say.  I want to recommend those who need healing to watch this video.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoC1ec-lYps  It is Jesus Culture -- How He Loves Us.  You may want to watch it over and over.  Yes, it's that good.

updating blogs today

Today I am not bursting with energy, but am bursting with creativity and ideas.  For a long time I have believed that God puts creativity in each of us.  It comes out in different ways.
But lately (last couple weeks) I have been reading some awesome books.  Some that I've read lately:
The Coming Shift by Larry Randolph
The Prophetic Ministry by Rick Joyner
The Apostolic Ministry by Rick Joyner
Just started There Were Two Trees in the Garden by Rick Joyner
Am reading a book about worship by Chuck Pierce

At some point in the near future I will write about what I did/am doing in August 2012.

Ruth Fazal, Jill Austin & More

Finally, it came today. Dancing with Destiny by Jill Austin. It seems like I’ve waited a long time for this book to arrive at my door. I had this fantastic idea. I could put on some Ruth Fazal music and read my newest book. I went to youtube and put in Ruth Fazal. Apparently I forgot just how enthralling and passionate her music is. Wow! Ok, so my idea got put on the back burner for a few minutes. I wanted to do a short blog about it.

I know virtually nothing about Ruth Fazal. I know she plays the keyboard and the violin. She sings and has an anointing. The presence of the Lord rests on her music. As I listen I think of those who only like “Rock” music. Some might think her music boring as it is softer. Yet it is passionate and weighty. It bears the “glory of God”. The music speaks right to one’s heart, actually it seems her music speaks the language of one’s heart. Kind of pulls out those deep emotions that most of us try to hide.

It is becoming more and more apparent to me that it is easier and easier to tell who spends time in the presence of God. I believe that the Bride of Christ will learn to abide in His presence. She will renew her love for her Bridegroom. Living in His presence and singing love songs to Him, only for Him.

So much is tangled up in my brain that it is hard for me to make sense of all that God is doing. He has more facets than a diamond, and as He reveals more and more the awe multiplies. I do realize that I’m not meant to make sense of it. I’m meant to flow with the River that flows from His presence.

A Word for the Body of Christ

Disclaimer: I do not claim to be a prophet or even prophetic.

I believe that God has words for the church.

Awake my love. I believe that God is trying to awaken the church. Song of Solomon 2:10-14 " My lover spoke and said to me, "Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me. 11 See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. 12 Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. 13 The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me."

It's time to prepare in two ways. #1 Prepare for the return of the bridegroom, Jesus Christ. The time of His return is getting closer. Just as John the Baptist went before Christ, the church must prepare the world for the return of Jesus Christ. #2 It's time for the Bride to make herself ready. Jesus is returning for a bride without spot or wrinkle.

There is a shifting in the spirit, a shifting in the atmosphere. A change in worship. A renewing of singing of lovesongs to our Lord, Saviour and Bridegroom. This comes from the secret place, the intimacy between the church and Jesus. New songs of declaration as the church learns to take her rightful place. As she learns to move in the authority Jesus gave to her. As we, the church, rise up and seek for righteousness and justice, new declarations will be spoken and sung. The mouth of the church will speak forth into being what God desires to be done on the earth.
Awake! Awake! Rise up, o church! Rise up Bride of Christ! Brush off the dust, wipe the slumber from your eyes.

I see the body of Christ sitting up, stretching and preparing for the battle that is ahead.