Is this planned?

When someone has a role in a church service and makes a change to the flow of the service, what is that person saying about the original plan? Maybe something like "My off-the-cuff alteration is better than your prayerful, strategic planning." - or maybe not.

Serving God while distracted

If 'my best life now' means living in the power of God, what blocks my submission to Him? Lack of sleep, physical pain, worry, mind-altering substances, sin, relational instability. A whole rainbow of issues to investigate.

Implications

Why am I writing about implications?
Because we’re not too good at making decisions. We make decisions based on our available knowledge, but if we were to think about the outcome of our decisions, we’d make better ones. I want to think about all sorts of decisions and situations in order to be ready for them or for similar ones in the future.

The me I want to be

I diagnosed my car and fixed it (a faulty relay) - now I question if I'm even the person I think I am.

Do you really believe the things you say you believe?
Are you really the person you think you are?

Notice the annoyances

I've found myself annoyed by a few things recently. Presto - I now have more insights into who I am. Thank God I don't have to stay this way!

What annoys you?

Transparent Secrecy restated

How will we know how each other make decisions unless we talk about it? Your decisions are personal, but if you keep the private, no one can learn from them.

Thoughts from service at First Baptist Auburn 6/12/2011 where the speaker enumerated the benefits of keeping your spiritual life a secret.

Transparent Secrecy

"your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you." If God intends me to be motivated by rewards, don't I need to see both the action and the reward? If my mentors never tell me what they do 'in secret,' how will I be able to correlate their relationship with our Savior?

You can't go to church...

I was at church this morning doing church with my church and thought about what the church is doing today. (?!?) How much does our ambivalent use of 'church' affect our spiritual lives?

Translated *I was at the weekend service this morning paying attention and being involved with my congregation of fellow believers and thought about what the whole group of Christ-followers on earth is doing today.

Celebrating Kingdom Work

One day I hope to hear 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master.'

Thank you to everyone who labors for the Kingdom. With God's help, we can make a difference!

Church is 'FUN'?

If I want to have fun, I probably won't end up at church. If I want to see myself as part of something bigger than I am alone, I probably will end up there. Don't advertise church events as 'fun' if you want me to come.