Finally!

So here I am. 2 unfinished blogs, one week no food, and 1 amazing night at church, and here I am. Honestly I have been struggling trying to find what topic to write about. It didn't really hit me until tonight.

So 2 unfinished blogs. Yeah I am pretty good about the consistency of writing in my blogs. But lately I haven't had the words to finish them. I started with Authenticity because that's what I was learning from my pastor. Then, I started writing about building community, because that is what's been on my heart. Although both are great topics and both are meaningful, I just couldn't find the means to finish them. Maybe that's a blog for a later time. Many of you know that I have been on a fast for a week (thank goodness it's finished). I know that the left hand isn't supposed to know what the right is doing, but I must bear witness to what I've been through. So my "fast" consisted of no solid food, just water, a coffee here and there as well as a protein shake (limited to about 3 a day). I realized that when a person fasts, it more of a mental struggle more than a physical one. Granted, the growling stomach and frequent dizzy spells might contradict my case, but as soon as I figured that I wasn't in "need" of what I'm so used to taking advantage of, I was ok. Let me tell you, I saw the world in a whole new light. The whole reason for my fast was multi-level. First and most important reason was to build a better relationship with GOD. The other reason was because there were so many things on my mind at the time and I wanted to lift them up to GOD. Day 1 wasn't so bad, kinda hungry but it was tolerable. Day 2-3 was a little more difficult. By the last day, I was fine again. I trusted that GOD would take care of me, and he did. I never though I could've lasted 1 week with no real food in my stomach and not be cranky. But GOD was walking there beside me helping me with every step and everyday. I thank HIM, I also thank Chris for his words of encouragement. There was a day that I doubted why I was doing the fast, but Chris brought me back to realize why.

So you're probably asking what happened at church monday that could've sparked a blog that I could actually finish. Well…. The message tonight was about "American Consumer Christians". To dwell in this a little deeper, an American Consumer Christian is a term that was used to describe the believers that are more into what the church looks like, than why we even go to church in the first place. It makes me wonder, do we have it too good? I've been thinking, how would it be without the perfect worship band, comfy chairs, announcement videos and flavored coffee? Would I still go to hear the word of GOD? Would I still look forward to church? I was reading "Jim and Casper Go to Church" (an amazing book by the way) and in one chapter;Casper (the atheist) made a comment about one of the megachurches. He said that the worship was a little too manicured and staged rather than a true worship, and that people were missing out on the reason for worship. You know what? I'm guilty of that too. How do I describe my church? "Wow! You need to come to my church! It was some amazing worship, silly announcement videos, quirky people and hey you also have some great coffee!" I don't have anything wrong with all this, but what happened to the GOD Spirit in the building? What happened to the church changing my life and the lives of others? Am I missing the point? I know I know I really don't have a problem with having all those things, and I understand that it lends for more people to "check it out". But what if we were to spread the Good News with such excitement and vibrancy where it becomes contagious? What if we would spread the love by doing, not by singing? Wouldn't you think people would want to "check it out then"? Don't you think people would be drawn to that excitement?

Dear children let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. John3:18

"He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved" Mark 16:15

So as you have all been reading in some of my past entries, GOD has wanted me to get into leadership within the church, and you all know that I have been wrestling him on that topic. I have decided to trust him and start a "home-church", which is similar to a small group. Here is how HE's telling me to make it different. There will be no chairs, probably no flavored coffee, and no amazing worship band (although we will have some sort of worship). What we will have is community, accountability, fellowship, a sense of ownership and belonging as well as some serious GOD presence! I want to take the "American Consumer Christian" mindset out of the picture. I want to make it about GOD, and about people. Will people show up? I don't know. Will those who do show up experience GOD and walk away with something? I trust GOD will make his presence known. I don't know if this came to mind when I was fasting or when I was listening to Scott preach at Revo last Monday, but I always wanted a small group that also was a simplified to the core, but made a huge impact within the community. I don't know, maybe that's what I'm supposed to bring to this "Table"…..Well for now, I'll wrestle and wait.

"Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace." Matt 6:6